Primary Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Product Liability
Professional Liability
Admissions
- All Courts of the State of California
- Federal District Court for the State of California,
Northern, Southern, Eastern Districts
Education
- J.D., University of San Francisco, School of Law
- B.A., Economics and History, Claremont McKenna College
Geoffrey T. Macbride
Associate
Mr. Macbride is a trial attorney known for his pragmatic approach to litigation. His practice focuses on defending attorneys against malpractice claims and business owners in a variety of contractual and tort disputes.
Prior to joining Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney, Mr. Macbride worked as a legal research attorney
with the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. He directed ex parte hearings in both the
law and motion department and master calendar department. He prepared bench memos on pretrial
and post-trial motions as well as appeals. He gained a keen insight into how judges reach decisions. Mr.
Macbride uses this insight in his practice to draft briefs and prepare oral arguments that resonate with
the court.
Representative Matters
Success in litigation varies from client to client and case to case. While some matters should and must
be resolved at trial, many cases can be successfully resolved prior to trial through creative motion
practice and shrewd negotiations. Here are a few successful resolution Mr. Macbride has helped
achieve:
- Obtained a highly favorable settlement on the eve of trial after successfully opposing plaintiffs'
motion to amend their complaint. Not only did plaintiffs settle their multiple-million dollar
damage claim for pennies on the dollar, they issued a written admission to defendant that they
did no wrong.
- Obtained a highly favorable resolution after jury trial, including a defense verdict for a small
business owner, regarding a dispute over a competitive food eating contest. A customer
suffered serious injuries after completing a spicy food eating competition. The jury found the
owner entirely blameless and the customer substantially at fault for his injuries.
- Obtained a complete defense verdict in favor of attorney and law firm clients after a two week
trial. Despite plaintiff's alleged damages of over $30 million, the jury, which deliberated for only
a day, determined that defendants' representation always met the standard of care and were
not liable for any wrongdoing.
- Successfully enforced arbitration provision in attorney fee agreement despite not having a fully
executed copy of the agreement.
- Obtained a mutual release and settlement in favor of attorney and law firm clients on the eve of
trial after substantial success on motions in limine. Plaintiffs abandoned their approximately $25
million claimed damages in favor of a cost waiver.
- Convinced California State Bar to drop investigation into alleged misconduct after writing a
single letter. A client accused her divorce attorney of abandoning her and refusing to follow her
directions. Through a detailed accounting, Mr. Macbride demonstrated that following the
client's purported requests would have resulted in a substantially worse result.
Professional and Community Contributions
Mr. Macbride is a member of the State Bar of California and a member of the Bar Association of San
Francisco.
Selected Publications
- HIPAA for Hippos? Navigating Veterinarian Confidentiality Laws in California, published on www.mpbf.com, September 3, 2020
- The Post-Pandemic Litigation Surge: How to Prepare Your Restaurant for Covid-19 Litigation, Food & Beverage Magazine pp. 46-48, co-authored with Harlan Watkins, July Issue
- Prevent Experts from Presenting Hearsay to the Jury, the Daily Journal, MCLE Self-Assessment Test, February 16, 2018
- Mentioned in Cox Castle Shakes $15M Suit Over Failed Real Estate Deal, by Kat Greene, Law360.com, August 16, 2017
- Clear Termination of Attorney-Client Relationships Is Key, Law360.com, co-authored with Jason E. Fellner, August 15, 2017
Selected Presentations
- Tolling Legal Malpractice Statute of Limitations – The Uncertainty of "Continuous Representation", co-Presented with Jason E. Fellner and Mark B. Abelson at the California Lawyers Association Real Property Section's 37th Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA - April 22, 2018
- Tolling Legal Malpractice Statute of Limitations – The Uncertainty of "Continuous Representation", co-Presented with Jason E. Fellner, Bar Association of San Francisco, October 12, 2017
Academic Distinctions
- Merit Scholarship Recipient
- Intensive Advocacy Program
- Mock Trial Coach
- Best Brief, Individual Oral Argument Award, Traynor Moot Court Competition