IVAN PUCHALT
PARTNER
Ivan Puchalt is a standout among trial lawyers in the field of personal injury and employment law. Known for his relentless advocacy of consumer rights, Ivan has successfully handled numerous high-profile cases involving public safety, whistleblower protections, and catastrophic injuries. His achievements have earned him nominations for Consumer Attorney of the Year from the Consumer Attorneys of California in 2013, 2014, and 2018.
In 2024, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) recognized Ivan as one of five finalists for Trial Lawyer of the Year. Ivan’s trial practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury, employment, products liability, wrongful death, and municipal liability. Knowing the odds are stacked against average citizens, Ivan strongly believes that courts and juries are the true equalizers and has earned a reputation for taking tough cases to trial.
Most recently, Ivan achieved a $6.1 million jury verdict in June 2024 on behalf of two former UC Riverside faculty members-turned-whistleblowers who sued the UC Regents for retaliation, alleging California Whistleblower Protection Act violations by UC Riverside's Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. The plaintiffs reported that their Department Chair was misappropriating a $15 million state grant that was intended to expand mental health care and telepsychiatry services to underserved people in the Inland Empire who did not have access to mental health care.
Ivan secured an $11.2 million verdict in Yolo County Superior Court in April 2024 against Nor-Cal Beverage Co. Inc., a beverage industry giant in a case centered around a dangerously designed driveway to a loading dock. Ivan represented a 69-year-old truck driver delivering goods in West Sacramento. The plaintiff had to cross double yellow lines and park against traffic to prepare his 53-ft trailer for unloading. While opening the trailer doors, he was struck by a passing van, causing severe injuries.
As lead trial attorney, Ivan won a $6.8 million jury verdict for damages to a volunteer at the City of Los Angeles' North Central Animal Shelter. The 36-year-old animal shelter volunteer endured a life-altering injury while performing her duties. The plaintiff was viciously attacked by an owner-surrendered, 84-pound German Shepherd, resulting in devastating injuries to her right forearm, including shattered bones and arteries. Ivan was able to prove gross negligence at trial, enabling his client to overcome a written waiver she had signed.
As co-lead trial attorney, GBW partner Ivan Puchalt obtained a $39.5 million verdict in a complex wrongful termination and whistleblower case against the UC Regents. Representing an oncologist at the University of California, San Diego, Puchalt navigated the intricacies of the case that involved a $10 million gift for research at UCSD. The 55-year-old doctor alleged that the university diverted the funds to the Moores Cancer Center which was inconsistent with the donor’s intent.
Ivan helped obtain a $36.1 million verdict in San Bernardino Superior Court on behalf of an 11-year-old girl who suffered life-altering injuries when a car struck her while she tried to cross the street in order to board her school bus. In the wake of this massive judgment, transportation administrators from school districts across the nation are reexamining their district’s safety policies and are working to implement new safety measures to prevent another accident like this from happening again.
Playing a critical role at trial, Ivan helped secure a $10 million settlement from The Regents of The University of California in a whistleblower retaliation case. The trial helped expose rampant economic waste, kickbacks and other misconduct at UCLA Medical Center. This case earned Ivan a nomination for 2014 Trial Lawyer of the Year from Consumer Attorneys of California.
Ivan achieved a $7.6 million jury verdict against the City of San Diego for a man paralyzed by a falling queen palm tree, earning Ivan a nomination for 2013 Trial Lawyer of the Year from Consumer Attorneys of California. He also penned an article on how to handle cases involving fallen trees, especially those that fell during storms, for the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles’ Advocate Magazine. In a bad faith insurance case against UNUM group, Ivan successfully won a $4.2 million verdict on behalf of a dental hygienist who was wrongfully denied the benefits of her disability policy.
Ivan earned a B.A. degree in History magna cum laude from the University of California at Berkeley in 1998. In 2006, Ivan received his J.D. degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Ivan is a member of the State Bar of California. Ivan recently served as an at large board member with Consumer Attorneys of California where he has been committed to working on legislation to assist consumers and injury victims. Ivan is profiled in Attorney at Law Magazine for his success in fighting for public safety.
A United States citizen, Ivan was born in Brazil. He is fluent in Spanish. He enjoys traveling, musical composition and recording, soccer and basketball.
Ivan, his wife Ayana and two children reside in Santa Monica.
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
Education
- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California J.D. – 2006
- Honors: Intern, Western Law Center for Disability Rights
- University of California, Berkeley, California
- B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) – 1998 Major: History
Honors & Awards
- 2024 “Trial Lawyer of The Year” Finalist, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA)
- Top 40 Under 40 2014, National Trial Lawyers
- Trial Lawyer of the Year Nominee, in 3 separate years, by Consumer Attorneys of California: 2013, 2014, and 2018
- Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyer, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, 2014 – 2023
- Southern California Rising Stars, 2010 – 2014
- Southern California Super Lawyers, 2015 – 2023
- Trailblazer West, 2021
- Recipient, "Daily Journal's" Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California, 2024
Published Works
- When is a work email subject to the attorney-client privilege?, LA Daily Journal, 2024
- The COVID-19 Effect on Damages, LA Daily Journal, 2024
- Defendants can be held liable for injuries on non-owned property, LA Daily Journal, July 2024
- Trees: A primer on how to beat the "Act of God" Defense, Advocate Magazine, March 2022
- Out on a Limb: How to Litigate Against Dangerous Trees, The Recorder, February 2020
- Whistleblower Protections May Help to Improve Patient Safety
- Standing of Parents to Sue for the Wrongful Death of Their Married Child
- Back to Nature: Beware of Immunity Traps, Advocate Magazine, November 2012
