GMSR - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- an Appellate Fellow
- Appellate Fellow
Annie Guidroz joined GMSR as an Appellate Fellow after spending her last semester of law school as a law clerk with the firm. As an Appellate Fellow, Annie conducts legal research, assists in drafting briefs and articles, helps attorneys prepare for oral argument, and cite-checks briefs and motions.
Annie received her law degree from Loyola Law School, where she was a member of the Scott Moot Court Honors Board and earned awards for both written and oral advocacy in the ABA Regional Moot Court Competition. During law school, in addition to working at GMSR, Annie externed for the Honorable Stephen V. Wilson at the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and drafted habeas corpus petitions as an intern for the Loyola Project for the Innocent and Federal Public Defender's Capital Habeas Unit.
A New Orleans native, Annie enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her dachshund Chance. She is happy to call Los Angeles home.
Education
5J.D., Loyola Law School of Los Angeles (2022), Order of the Coif; Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review (Articles Editor); Scott Moot Court
B.A., Tulane University (2018), Political Economy, Phi Beta Kappa.
Job Titles:
- First Generation Professionals
David Hackett has a broad-based appellate practice and has served as lead counsel for numerous appeals, writ petitions, and dispositive pre-trial and post-trial motions in state and federal courts. He frequently helps trial counsel, businesses, insurers, and individuals to navigate appellate and post-trial issues and consults with clients and trial teams regarding record preservation and critical briefing in all phases of litigation. He has substantive experience across a wide variety of topics, including: agency and partnership, anti-SLAPP motions, arbitration, civil procedure, contracts, constitutional law, employment, family law, health care, intellectual property, probate, real estate, secured transactions, state and federal regulations, and tax, among many others.
David received his law degree from Loyola Law School, where he was the class valedictorian. He then served as a law clerk to Judge Gary A. Feess of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and to Judge Alfred T. Goodwin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Between clerkships, he was an associate in the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins, where his practice included complex civil litigation, international arbitration, internal corporate investigations, and white-collar defense.
David graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA and he is still a dedicated Bruins fan. One of his prized possessions is an autographed copy of Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success.
Outside the courtroom, David is a proud husband and father of two children.
Some of David's appellate victories include:
AIX Specialty Insurance Company v. Timed Out, LLC (Oct. 5, 2023, B320255) 2023 WL 6475087 - Court of Appeal held that nightclub's standard commercial insurance policy did not cover infringement of models' rights of publicity or a variety of other intellectual property infringement claims.
Tufeld Corp. v. Beverly Hills Gateway, L.P. (2022) 86 Cal.App.5th 12 - Court of Appeal rejected challenge to ground lease's validity, applied Civil Code section 718's 99-year limit on city lot leases, and ordered lease enforcement through 2102.
Baral v. Schnitt (Jan. 28, 2022, B298050) 2022 WL 263108 - Court of Appeal reversed jury's compensatory and punitive damages awards and trial court's denial of JNOV, ordering entry of defense judgment on all business tort claims.
Ray v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. (9th Cir. 2021) 2021 WL 4902357 - Ninth Circuit affirmed judgment, rejecting plaintiffs' belated effort to change insurance bad faith theories.
Southern California School of Theology v. Claremont Graduate University (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 1 - Court of Appeal reversed judgment against the Claremont Colleges, ordering full enforcement of their property purchase rights worth more than $30 million.
Kanno v. Marwit Capital Partners II, L.P. (2017) 18 Cal.App.5th 987 - Court of Appeal affirmed judgment, comprehensively analyzed the parol evidence rule's governing principles and application, and complimented "all counsel on the excellent briefing and oral argument in this case."
Education
J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (2009). Summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review (Articles Editor).
B.A., University of California Los Angeles (2003). Magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
Ted Xanders is a Co-Managing Partner of Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland. For over two decades, he has helped trial counsel, corporate counsel, individuals, and insurers in both trial and appellate courts. His services include preparing summary judgment and post-judgment motions, monitoring trials, and ultimately preparing successful appellate briefs.
Ted has successfully represented clients in appeals and writs that span the legal spectrum, including administrative law, antitrust, bankruptcy, business contract and tort, employment, entertainment, family law and leave, government tort liability, immigration, insurance, legal and medical malpractice, personal injury, products liability, real property, and unfair business practices. He joined the team of appellate lawyers at GMSR in 1997, after seven years as a business litigator with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
He is a member of the election-only California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and he is on the Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Amicus Committee for the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC). He received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1989, where he was a finalist in the William Minor Lile appellate moot court competition, received the Johnson & Swanson award for appellate advocacy, and was Notes Editor for the Journal of Law & Politics. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree (Political Science) magna cum laude from Duke University in 1985. Ted is an avid world traveler, backpacker, and photographer, and has visited nearly fifty countries.
Education
J.D., University of Virginia School of Law (1989), Journal of Law & Politics (Notes Editor), Finalist, William Minor Lile Moot Court, Johnson & Swanson award (appellate advocacy).
B.A., Duke University (1985). Magna cum laude.
Jeff Gurrola discovered his passion for appellate practice while working as a litigator in a major international firm. Having begun his career in this fast-paced environment, Jeff thrives under pressure and provides efficient, excellent legal analysis. His time working as an in-house litigation attorney also gave him a deep understanding of the legal and business considerations his clients face when pursuing an appeal.
At GMSR, Jeff regularly briefs and argues a wide variety of civil appeals in both California and federal appellate courts. He also consults with trial attorneys before, during, and after trial to advise on key legal issues and help prepare them to pursue or defend against any subsequent appeal.
In addition to serving client needs, Jeff assists GMSR partner Laurie Hepler in her role as Contributing Editor of Eisenberg, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Appeals and Writs (The Rutter Group), the authoritative treatise on civil appellate practice in California.
When he's not wrestling with thorny legal issues (and even sometimes when he is), Jeff enjoys traveling, hiking his way up tall mountains around California, and watching The Golden Girls.
Education
J.D., Yale Law School (2012); Yale Law & Policy Review (Managing Editor, Lead Editor), OutLaws LGBT Student Group (Activism Chair).
B.A., University of Southern California (2009), Magna cum laude, Political Science & Interdisciplinary Studies; Phi Beta Kappa, Order of the Torch, USC Mock Trial Team (Captain), Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society (Chapter President).
Kent Toland has handled appeals before the California appellate courts involving commercial real estate, anti-SLAPP law, property rights, secured transactions, contracts, and writs of attachment, among other subjects.
Before joining GMSR, Kent was a litigator at a midsize California law firm. That in-the-trenches experience gave him a robust understanding of all phases of litigation, and makes him well-situated to advise clients and trial counsel on preserving issues for appeal.
Outside of his legal practice, Kent enjoys exploring national parks, reading history, biking along the coast, and spending time with his wife and son.
Education
J.D., Columbia Law School (2019), James Kent Scholar, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
B.A. in Government, Harvard University (2014), Magna cum laude
Laurie Hepler is a leading San Francisco appellate lawyer, who collaborates with clients to address all aspects of the appellate process objectively and strategically. For 30 years, Laurie has helped trial counsel, corporate counsel, insurers and individuals keep their wins, reverse their losses, and develop the law. Successful first- and second-chair trial experience back up her appellate expertise.
Clients retain Laurie in state and federal courts throughout California and the U.S. She has briefed and argued countless California appeals, including three California Supreme Court wins, and has argued in the highest courts of two other states and several federal circuits.
Laurie has been honored with two prestigious California Lawyer Attorney of the Year ("CLAY") Awards, in 2000 and 2013. Since 2005, she has been certified as an Appellate Specialist by the State Bar of California, and for 2023-24, she serves as President of the highly selective California Academy of Appellate Lawyers. She is ranked by Chambers and Partners USA for California Appellate Law, and in 2020 was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.
Her clients' appellate matters span a wide range of subjects, including employment, product liability, insurance coverage, contract disputes, personal jurisdiction, and unfair competition. But the subject counts less than the forum: appellate courts know Laurie, and she knows them.
She is Contributing Editor for the leading treatise on California appeals-Eisenberg, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Appeals and Writs (The Rutter Group).
Laurie's community service includes serving on the Board of Trustees of her temple, and making weekend meals for Samaritan House. From 2016 to 2022, she led a large mealmaking team that produced over 30,000 meals.
Education
J.D., UCLA School of Law (1992).
B.A., University of Pennsylvania (1988). Magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
Marco A. Pulido is an experienced appellate attorney who has litigated dozens of appeals involving a wide variety of cutting-edge legal issues in California and beyond.
In recent years, Marco's efforts have been instrumental in securing numerous wins and positive developments for clients in high-stakes appeals. Examples include:
Securing California Supreme Court review of an appellate decision reversing the enforcement of a forum selection clause.
Winning a California Court of Appeal affirmance of an interlocutory judgment staying a duplicative action on claim-splitting grounds.
Prevailing in an administrative agency appeal, leading to a full dismissal of a citation and its associated penalty and abatement requirements.
Achieving two separate Ninth Circuit affirmances in cases involving section 1983 claims.
Persuading the Ninth Circuit to affirm an order denying preliminary injunctive relief in a case involving Fair Housing Act claims.
Obtaining a full affirmance in the Ninth Circuit of a summary judgment order dismissing breach of contract and trademark claims.
Before joining GMSR, Marco worked at a large, international law firm where he successfully litigated both trial and appellate cases, and worked seamlessly with trial counsel to implement case-winning legal strategies. Marco honed much of his skillset while serving for two years as a federal judicial law clerk for the Hon. Bruce J. McGiverin and externing for Justice Richard M. Aronson on the California Court of Appeal.
Marco has been active in the legal community, too. He previously chaired the Appellate Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association and polished scholarly articles as an editor of the American Bar Association's Appellate Practice Journal. Articles he coauthored have been published by the ABA, Washington Legal Foundation, Law 360, The Defense Counsel Journal, The Recorder, and OC Lawyer, among others.
Remaining mindful of the importance of helping those in need, Marco has dedicated hundreds of hours over the years to pro bono cases and amicus briefs filed in state and federal appellate courts-including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Education
J.D., University of California, Irvine, School of Law (2015), cum laude; Executive Board, Lead Article Editor, and Notes Chair, UC Irvine Law Review.
B.A., California State University Fullerton (2012), summa cum laude.
The Court of Appeal reversed adverse jury verdict in dispute between Quincy Jones and MJJ Productions, reducing the judgment by $6.8 million
Quincy Jones sued MJJ Productions, claiming it owed him money related to three Michael Jackson albums he produced in the 1970s and 1980s. A jury awarded Jones $9.4 million. As co-counsel for MJJ on appeal, GMSR challenged $6.8 million of the award, arguing they were unsupported by Jones's producer agreements. The Court of Appeal agreed, holding that, as a matter of law, the contracts were not susceptible to Jones's interpretation. The Court of Appeal also rejected Jones' cross-appeal, holding that the trial court properly denied leave to add a financial elder abuse claim and that Jones was not entitled to prejudgment interest.
Bob is a leader of the appellate bar, a past president of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and a past president of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (and a member of its Hall of Fame). He has been a California Lawyer of the Year and recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America®. He has represented individuals, companies, insurers and public entities in the California Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the California Courts of Appeal. He also actively collaborates with local counsel on cases before several state Supreme Courts.
Mr. Meadow was lead counsel of a team that obtained affirmance of $320 million contract judgment against Disney arising out of Disney's refusal to pay profits owed on the wildly successful "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" program.
Mr. Meadow was lead counsel of a team that persuaded the California Supreme Court to allow reformation of wills based on extrinsic evidence-overturning a principle of will interpretation that dated back nearly 500 years to the first Act of Wills. In doing so, the Court aligned California with modern academic and judicial thinking on how best to determine testators' intent.
Mr. Meadow was lead counsel of a team that persuaded the Court of Appeal that existing CACI nuisance instructions did not adequately express the factors that Supreme Court precedent required juries to consider. The court articulated new criteria that have since been embodied in a CACI jury instructions.
Timothy Coates is one of the country's leading appellate attorneys representing public entities and their employees. Over the past thirty-eight years, Tim has briefed and argued over 250 appeals in the state and federal appellate courts, including seven victories in the United States Supreme Court. Tim has been recognized as the "go-to" lawyer for governmental entities in civil appeals and related law and motion proceedings in major cases in the areas of civil rights, environmental regulation, employment, and general tort liability.
Tim has also represented managed care organizations and other healthcare providers in medical malpractice actions, breach of contract and bad faith claims, and regulatory matters under the Medicare and Medicaid Acts.
In media, Tim is regularly acknowledged for his success and impact on the law. Reuters named Tim one of the "Top Petitioners" in the United States Supreme Court based on his success in having review granted in that Court, and the Los Angeles Daily Journal recognized Tim as one of the top 100 attorneys in California based on his success in the Supreme Court. In addition, Tim has received the prestigious California Lawyer of the Year award for his United States Supreme Court work. He has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer in the area of appellate practice and has also been named in The Best Lawyers In America® (Appellate Law).
Education
J.D., UCLA School of Law (1983). UCLA-Alaska Law Review.
A.B., University of Southern California (1979). Phi Beta Kappa.