Top Attorney – John R. Brydon
San Francisco, CA/Press/- John R. Brydon, Managing Partner at Demler Armstrong & Rowland, LLP was selected for inclusion into the Top Attorneys of North America 2018-2019 edition.
“I take pride in dealing with people the way I would want them to deal with me. Being an advocate doesn’t always mean you have to be adversarial. Civility is important in the practice of law and it is an art that has been lost over years.” – John R. Brydon
Established in 1979 in Long Beach, California, Demler Armstrong & Rowland is a litigation and trial firm with offices in both Northern and Southern California. With over 35 years of experience, they specialize in defending clients in general liability and catastrophic injury lawsuits, construction litigation, insurance coverage disputes, and insurance bad faith claims. They have also successfully handled business fraud and breach of contract actions for local businesses. The attorneys at Demler Armstrong & Rowland work together as a legal team and have the expertise to handle large cases while still providing personalized service to their clients.
John R. Brydon, the managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco office, is a highly accomplished attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California and Nevada. He has successfully argued cases before the California Courts of Appeal, State Supreme Court, and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Brydon specializes in professional liability cases, including insurance broker E&O, medical, dental, and legal malpractice cases. He has a proven track record of representing attorneys in legal malpractice defense trials and has also served as an expert witness in legal malpractice matters. Additionally, he has consulted with a leading risk management consulting firm to provide placement services for troubled law firms.
With nearly 40 years of trial experience, John R. Brydon has successfully defended and tried complex personal injury, product liability, insurance coverage, and bad faith trials throughout California and other states. He has been trusted as part of the national trial teams for several corporate clients and has been admitted pro hac vice as trial counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
John R. Brydon has argued numerous cases and has been an influential attorney in landmark legal decisions. He played a significant role in the nationally recognized decision of Buss v. Superior Court (1997) 16 Cal. 4th 35, which extended the right of insurance companies to seek reimbursement for defense costs in non-covered claims. In the California Supreme Court decision of PPG Industries, Inc. v. Transamerica Ins. Co. (1999) 20 Cal. 4th 310, he successfully argued for limits on the damages recoverable against insurance companies in bad faith cases. Mr. Brydon is an active member of the DRI and Association of Defense Counsel and frequently lectures on defense strategies in bad faith lawsuits, insurance coverage disputes, products liability claims, and trial practice. He has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Defense Institute of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms, where he serves as Chairman for the 2015-2016 term. 
John R. Brydon holds a B.A. from the University of the Pacific, an M.A. in Communication Studies from California State University, and a J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He was a member of the editorial board of the Pacific Law Journal (now McGeorge Law Review) and a national finalist in the American College of Trial Lawyers’ mock trial competition. Mr. Brydon also worked as a Law Clerk to Hon. James H. Thompson, 2nd Judicial District, State of Nevada from 1981-1982.
With a reputation for excellence, Mr. Brydon is a distinguished member of several legal organizations. He has been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates for nearly 25 years, holding the rank of Diplomate. He is also a Certified Specialist in Civil Trial Law and a Diplomat of the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Additionally, Mr. Brydon has been recognized by his peers in the Super Lawyer selection process for nearly a decade and is an AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell.