Name: Richard T. Bowles
Item: Richard T. Bowles
Author: rbowles

Bio

Richard T. Bowles is a 1969 graduate from Hastings College of the Law (with honors). He also
graduated in 1966 from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Science in
Business Administration with emphases in accounting, finance and personnel administration.
While at Hastings, he was a member of the Thurston Society, a writer on the Hastings law
journal and also served as a note comment editor in his final year. Mr. Bowles graduated Order
of the California.
In 1985, Mr. Bowles founded the Law Offices of Richard T. Bowles. In 1986, Michael Verna
joined him to change the firm name to Bowles & Verna. Prior to establishing Bowles & Verna,
he spent sixteen years at Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon where he served as an associate for
eight years before becoming a partner. He opened and managed their Walnut Creek branch from
1983 to 1985. While at Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon, Mr. Bowles' practice included general
litigation, with a heavy emphasis on insurance defense work including product liability,
construction litigation and professional liability matters, real estate litigation as well as general
business matters.
Currently, Mr. Bowles' general and civil practice emphasizes transactional related matters and
litigation. These matters include corporate formations and transactional matters, including
general business advice as well as various shareholder matters. Partnership matters include a
variety of partnership agreements and joint venture issues.
In the litigation arena, he has most recently been involved in corporate takeovers, partnership
dissolutions, franchise disputes, wrongful termination and discrimination litigation, as well as a
variety of professional liability, property liability, product liability cases and litigation regarding
real estate matters. Mr. Bowles is also involved in litigation involving patents, trademarks and
copyrights.
Mr. Bowles has litigated in the Superior Courts around Northern California, the Federal District
Courts, and a variety of arbitration/mediation procedures. To date, he has tried in excess of 150
jury trials. Some significant results include:
• $44 million jury verdict against a nationally known developer, including punitive
damages in a development/land fraud case;
• $7+ million bad faith judgment against a national insurance company, including punitive
damages;
• $2 million judgment in a real estate partnership dispute, with nominal punitive damages;
• $1 million judgment against a major national bank for breach of lease;
• A multi-million dollar settlement in a medical/hospital malpractice case;
• A court trial successfully amending a longstanding partnership agreement to preserve the
ownership of multi-million dollar ranch properties; and
• $3+ million condemnation trial against Caltrans.
Mr. Bowles' recent work experience in the transactional arena includes forming corporations
with related stock purchase agreements and shareholder agreements, as well as creating
partnership documents and joint venture agreements. Included within these types of activities is
considerable work with employment advice, including advice regarding provisions of policy and
procedure manuals.
Mr. Bowles is a member of the American Bar Association, the California Trial Lawyers
Association, the San Francisco Bar Association, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association.
He has served as an arbitrator for San Francisco Superior Court and Contra Costa County
Superior Court, and has been a guest speaker at various continuing education seminars including
real property, property owner rights and litigation.
Areas of Practice
• General Civil Litigation
• General Business Transactions
Litigation Percentage
• 75% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
• California, 196
• .S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• .S. District Court Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court Central District of Cali fornia
• U.S . District Court Sc,uthern District of California
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Education
• University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Fnancisco, California
o J.D. cum laude - 1969
o Honors: With Honors
o Law Review: Hastings Law Review, Articles Editor, 1968 - 1969
• University of California at Berkley, Berkley, California
o B.S. - 1966
o Major: Business
Honors and Awards
• Super Lawyers - Northern California (10+ years)
Professional Associations and Memberships
• California Bar Association, Member
• Contra Costa County Bar Association, Member
• San Francisco Bar Association, Member
• American Bar Association, Member
• Litigation Counsel of America
• Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Forum
Past Employment Positions
• Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon, Attorney/Partner, 1969 - 1985
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