Harry W R Chamberlain II

Shareholder

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Direct: (213) 891-5115
Mobile: (213) 819-8744
Fax: (213) 896-0400
Email: [email protected]
Offices: Los Angeles, Sacramento
Bar Admissions: California, District of Columbia, North Carolina

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Harry Chamberlain is a Shareholder of Buchalter, an Am Law 150 firm with a dozen U.S. offices. For over 40 years, he has served as trial and appellate counsel on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, and a variety of public and private sector clients in complex litigation matters. He is certified as an Appellate Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, arguing hundreds of appeals, including numerous cases before the California Supreme Court and the highest state and federal courts across the country. His First Amendment practice has produced significant precedents defining the law of defamation, trade libel and constitutional privileges.

Before joining Buchalter, Harry was general counsel for California-based professional liability insurers, and he managed the law department of a national group of commercial insurance and financial service companies. He is past president of California Defense Counsel and the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, preeminent associations of civil trial and appellate lawyers. He writes and lectures widely on topics concerning complex litigation, the First Amendment and constitutional law.

Honors and Recognitions

State Bar of California Certified Specialist–Appellate Law
Super Lawyers–2005 to Present
Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2023-2025
Best Lawyers in America, Insurance Law, 2025
Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyer, Appellate Law, 2023
AV Preeminent Rated By Martindale-Hubbell

Areas of Practice

Insurance Law
Litigation
Appellate Law

Additional Specialties

First Amendment and Constitutional Law
Defamation, Trade Libel
Trade Secrets, Unfair Competition
Regulatory and Legislative Practice
Employment Law
Insurance Law
Products Liability & Mass Tort Ligation
Professional Responsibility
Complex Litigation, Class Actions

- 15
  
  Aug
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers in America
  
  Awards
- Buchalter, is pleased to announce that 99 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of [...]
- 03
  
  Apr
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain Quoted in Law360
  
  Press
- Calif. Justices Rule Living Wills Not A Path To Arbitration March 29, 2024 By: Hannah Albarazi Chamberlain told Law360 in an interview Friday that he doesn’t know whether [...]
- 01
  
  Mar
- Buchalter Appellate Specialists Harry W.R. Chamberlain II and Robert M. Dato argue that the California Supreme Court should uphold a validly appointed agent’s arbitration agreements with health care providers
  
  Firm News · Appellate Law
- Harry Chamberlain and Robert Dato, members of Buchalter’s Appellate Group, presented arguments on behalf of clients Country Oaks Partners and Sun Mar Management Services in [...]
- 09
  
  Jan
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers
  
  Awards
- Buchalter is pleased to announce that several attorneys in the Firm’s Los Angeles & Orange County offices were named 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys [...]
- 17
  
  Aug
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers in America
  
  Awards
- Buchalter is pleased to announce over 80 of the Firm’s lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with [...]
- 01
  
  Jun
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2023 Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
  
  Awards · Firm News
- Buchalter is pleased to announce that 23 attorneys from the firm’s Sacramento office have been named 2023 Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine. Their exceptional expertise and [...]
- 10
  
  Jan
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers
  
  Awards
- Buchalter is pleased to announce that several attorneys in the Firm’s Los Angeles & Orange County offices were named 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys [...]
- 18
  
  Aug
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2023 "Best Lawyers in America"
  
  Awards
- The firm is pleased to announce over 60 Buchalter lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose [...]
- 20
  
  Jan
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers
  
  Awards
- Buchalter is pleased to announce that fifteen attorneys in the Firm’s Los Angeles & Orange County offices were named 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys [...]
- 29
  
  Jan
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers
  
  Awards · Press
- Buchalter is pleased to announce that sixteen attorneys in the Firm’s Los Angeles & Orange County offices were named 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys [...]
- 18
  
  Aug
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain II Quoted in Bloomberg Law
  
  Press
- California Elder Abuse Damages Capped Despite Covid Concerns (1) August 17, 2020 By Maeve Allsup “Harry W.R. Chamberlain II of Buchalter APC told Bloomberg Law the majority [...]
- 17
  
  Aug
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain II Quoted in Bloomberg Law
  
  Press
- Bloomberg Law California Elder Abuse Damages Capped Despite Covid Concerns (1) By: Maeve Allsup “Harry W.R. Chamberlain II of Buchalter APC told Bloomberg Law the majority [...]
- 17
  
  Mar
- Harry W. R. Chamberlain II Quoted in Association of Southern California Defense Counsel’s Verdict Magazine (Winter 2019-2020 issue
  
  Press
- As published in Verdict Magazine “Participating in ASCDC for a quarter of a century has defined the most important aspects of my career, and significantly influenced my [...]
- 15
  
  Jan
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers
  
  Awards
- Buchalter is pleased to announce that twenty attorneys in the Firm’s Los Angeles & Orange County offices were named 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys [...]
- 04
  
  Feb
- Buchalter Attorneys Named 2019 Southern California Super Lawyers
  
  Awards · Firm News
- Several attorneys in the firm’s Los Angeles & Orange County offices were named 2019 Southern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys have attained a high degree of peer [...]
- 16
  
  Aug
- Latham Beats Malicious Prosecution Claim For ‘Bad Faith’ Action
  
  Press
- Bloomberg BNA’s Daily Manual of Professional Conduct August 10, 2017 By Joyce E. Cutler A summary judgment motion that went in an employer’s favor provided a malicious [...]
- 21
  
  Dec
- Buchalter Successfully Defends Law Firm Targeted in a $60 Million Defamation Suit.
  
  Press
- Buchalter successfully defends law firm targeted in a $60 million defamation suit. A California appeals court affirms lower court ruling: California attorneys’ press [...]
- 01
  
  Mar
- Hacking Complaints Losing Steam, Court Papers ID Links to Criminal Indictments
  
  Press · Litigation
- Commentary: Harry W.R. Chamberlain II Work Comp Central, March 1, 2016 Harry Chamberlain offers first hand insight into a case involving an insurance fraud defense firm accused [...]
- 29
  
  Feb
- Hacking Suits Against Defense Firm Begin to Crumble
  
  Press · Litigation
- Commentary: Harry W.R. Chamberlain II, Esq. The Los Angeles Daily Journal, February 29, 2016 Harry Chamberlain offers commentary in the Los Angeles Daily Journal article about [...]
- 20
  
  Jan
- Buchalter Nemer Attorneys Named 2016 Southern California Super Lawyers
  
  Awards
- Buchalter Nemer is pleased to announce that 15 of the Firm’s attorneys have been selected as 2016 Southern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys have attained a high [...]
- 01
  
  Oct
- Buchalter Experiences Prolific Growth
  
  Firm News
- Buchalter is pleased to announce that it has experienced substantial growth so far this year across all offices. “Our growth has been a direct result of increasing demands for [...]
- 21
  
  Aug
- Press · Litigation
- Commentary: Harry W.R. Chamberlain, II Law 360, August 21, 2015
- 21
  
  Aug
- Press · Litigation
- Commentary: Harry W.R. Chamberlain II The Daily Journal, August 21, 2015
- 20
  
  Aug
- Calif. High Court Broadens Scope of Time Bar in Atty Suits
  
  Press
- Commentary: Harry W.R. Chamberlain II Law360, August 20, 2015
- 31
  
  Jul
- Buchalter Wins Anti-SLAPP Motion – LA Court Dismisses Massive Malicious Prosecution Arising From Medical Fraud Litigation
  
  Awards · Litigation
- A Southern California judge threw out a $40 million malicious prosecution complaint Michael D. Drobot filed against three law firms and more than 30 people who sued him for his [...]

Areas of Practice

Insurance Law
Litigation
Appellate Law

Additional Specialties

- Webinar
  
  Webinar: Bad Faith Insurance Litigation in CA
  
  April 16th, 2024 Insurance Law · Litigation
- Shareholders Cecilia O’Connell Miller and Harry Chamberlain along with Special Counsel Susan White served as a faculty members for the PINCUS titled Bad Faith Insurance Litigation in CA. This Two-Part Webinar series focuses on insurance Bad Faith cases in a [...]
- Webinar
  
  Buchalter Webinar: Navigating Insurance Resolutions: A Comprehensive New Year's Presentation Unveiling Solutions to Policyholder Challenges
  
  January 10th, 2024 Insurance Law
- Join our enlightening New Year’s presentation focused on illuminating the resolutions to challenges faced by policyholders in their quest for insurance claims. Participants can embrace valuable insights into common barriers and legal complexities that [...]
- Presentation
  
  Presenter, Mediating During Appeals
  
  July 20th, 2023
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain II presents "Mediating During Appeals," at Will Work for Food News Webinar on July 20, 2023.
  
  To view the presentation, click here
- Presentation
  
  Speakers, Appraisal Process for Insurance Claims: Understanding the rules of appraisal and obtaining prompt and effective resolution of your client’s insured property losses
  
  February 24th, 2023
- Shareholder Harry W. R. Chamberlain II and Of Counsel Jeanine M. Donohue presented at the Federal Bar Association.
  
  This virtual event took place on February 24th, 2023, and delved into the topic of "Appraisal Process for Insurance Claims: Understanding the Rules of Appraisal and Obtaining Prompt and Effective Resolution of Your Client's Insured Property Losses."
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, Insurance Solutions for Cyber Security Risks
  
  May 3rd, 2022
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain II, discusses "Insurance Solutions for Cyber Security Risks," at the California Lawyers Association on May 2022.
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, 7th Annual Advanced Appellate Program
  
  February 15th, 2022
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain, II will be speaking at the 7th Annual Advanced Appellate Program, presented by Pincus Professional Education.
  
  Designed for intermediate to advanced practitioners, this two-part webinar will delve into essential appellate topics, such as: appealable orders, writs - decision options and more, what to do when you have a divided panel and other oral argument challenges, and a behind the scenes look at the 9th Circuit, among others.
  
  To register for the event, or to pre-order the recording, please visit the Pincus website. Please use code FOSAPP10-CA to receive a 10% off "Friend of the Speaker" discount.
- Webinar
  
  Pincus Professional Education: Insurance Solutions for Covid-19 Business Losses and Claims
  
  May 13th, 2020
- Shareholder Harry W.R. Chamberlain II will be a guest on a Pincus Professional Education Webinar on the topic of “Insurance Solutions for Covid-19 Business Losses and Claims.” This two-hour webinar will give you an in-depth look at the various [...]
- Presentation
  
  Guest, Kabateck LLP Civil Action Podcast
  
  April 17th, 2020
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain II joins hosts Brian Kabateck and Shant Karnikian, on the Kabateck LLP Civil Action Podcast for their latest podcast episode "Discussion with Harry Chamberlain II." The group discuss the origins of the of the Anti-SLAPP statute, protecting the free speech of lawyers, and tips for preserving a good record for appeal.
  
  To listen to full podcast, click here.
- Webinar
  
  Pincus Webinar: Understanding the Legal Impact of Covid-19 as it Affects Your Clients, Your Life and Your Business
  
  April 8th, 2020
- This 90 minute webinar will discuss the most important and most critical legal issues you and your clients are now facing right now, and provides suggestions on how to approach them. It covers the latest governmental regulations and the suggestions that are [...]
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, Be the Trial Attorney Your Dog Thinks You Are and Your Appellate Attorney Wants You To Be
  
  March 2nd, 2018
- Harry Chamberlain II will be speaking at The Riverside County Bar Association- Appellate Courts Section "Be the Trial Attorney Your Dog Thinks You Are and Your Appellate Attorney Wants You To Be."
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, Second Annual Appellate Conference
  
  January 27th, 2017
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain II and Robert M. Dato will be speakers at Pincus Profesional Education's Second Annual Advanced Appellate Conference in San Francisco, CA.
  
  According to the Pincus Website:
  
  Pincus Professional Education has gathered an all-star panel together for its 2nd Annual Appellate Conference coming to Los Angeles and San Francisco in January of 2017. This program will be taught by Certified Legal Specialists in Appellate Law, appellate justices, supervising staff attorneys at multiple appellate courts and other top practitioners who have spoken at our programs on many occasions and received excellent reviews every time!
  
  The seminar will delve into the advanced topics that are rarely touched on in full-day CLE courses.
  
  This is an intermediate to advanced level appellate course that assumes a good understanding of appellate practice. Bring your questions! There will be plenty of time with the panel to address higher level appellate issues.
  
  Location:
  
  The Marker San Francisco
  
  501 Geary St.
  
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  
  Harry W.R. Chamberlain II
  
  Direct: (213) 891-5115
  
  Email: [email protected]
  
  Robert M. Dato
  
  Direct: (949) 224-6245
  
  Email: [email protected]
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, Lawyer Defense Committee of the ASCDC
  
  December 13th, 2016
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain II will be a speaker at the Lawyer Defense Committee of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel in Los Angeles, CA.
  
  Harry Chamberlain is past president of ASCDC. He co-chairs the appellate group at Buchalter, and has managed corporate law departments for major U.S. insurance and financial services companies. As a lawyer and client, he handled hundreds of professional liability cases and argued numerous appeals deﬁning the standard of care for attorneys nationwide.
  
  Location:
  
  545 South Figeuroa Street
  
  Los Angeles, CA 90071
  
  Harry W.R. Chamberlain II
  
  Direct: (213) 891-5115
  
  Email: [email protected]
- Publication
  
  Ex-Hospital CEO Says Attys' Prostitution Claim Defamed Him
  
  Law360 · November 9th, 2016
- By: Bonnie Eslinger September 21, 2016 Law360, Los Angeles (September 21, 2016, 11:10 PM EDT) — A former hospital CEO at the center of a health care [...]
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, Meeting the Counter-Attack When Fighting Insurance Fraud
  
  March 1st, 2016
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain will be speaking at the NCFIA Annual Convention. Mr. Chamberlain will be speaking on the topic, "Meeting the Counter-Attack When Fighting Insurance Fraud."
- Presentation
  
  Co speaker, Brave New World: Electronic Briefs and Record on Appeal
  
  February 25th, 2016
- Harry Chamberlain II and Robert Dato discuss "Brave New World: Electronic Briefs and Record on Appeal," at the Nikko Hotel in San Francisco, CA
- Publication
  
  Advanced Appellate Practice Roundtable
  
  Pincus Cont. Legal Ed. · 2012
- By: Harry W.R. Chamberlain II, Esq.
- Publication
  
  Out of Balance: ‘Balance-Billing’ Unfairly Puts the Patient in the Middle
  
  OC Lawyer · 2012
- By: Harry W.R. Chamberlain II, Esq.
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, The Seven Deadly Sins: Why Lawyers Get Stung by Juries in Legal Malpractice Cases
  
  July 7th, 2011
- Harry Chamberlain discusses "The Seven Deadly Sins: Why Lawyers Get Stung by Juries in Legal Malpractice Cases," at the Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, Anti-SLAPP: It's Not Just for Defamation Anymore
  
  December 1st, 2008
- Harry W.R. Chamberlain II will be speaking at the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada Annual Seminar. Mr. Chamberlain will be speaking on the topic, "Anti-SLAPP: It's Not Just for Defamation Anymore."
- Presentation
  
  Speaker, Tactical Advantage? The Do’s and Don’ts of Summary Adjudication
  
  March 10th, 2006
- Harry Chamberlain discusses "Tactical Advantage? The Do’s and Don’ts of Summary Adjudication," at CAALA Vegas
- Publication
  
  The "Nuts and Bolts" of Anti-SLAPP
  
  Firm Publication · 2004
- Download
- Download the PDF to read the full publication written by Harry W.R. Chamberlain, shareholder at Buchalter.

Areas of Practice

Insurance Law
Litigation
Appellate Law

Additional Specialties

• Harrod v. Country Oaks Partners, LLC (2024) 15 Cal.5th 939, pending cert. petition: Consistent with the Federal Arbitration Act, may the California Legislature prohibit a patient’s appointed agent who is acting under the patient’s advance medical directive from agreeing to arbitrate disputes with medical providers?

• Jarman v. HCR Manor Care (2020) 10 Cal.5th 375 (amicus): Health & Safety Code provides only a limited private remedy of $500 “per lawsuit” for nursing home’s alleged violations the CA Patient Bill of Rights.

• Parrish v. Latham & Watkins LLP (2017) 3 Cal.5th 767 (amicus): Malicious prosecution action by former employees against their employer’s counsel was barred by the “interim adverse judgment” rule based on denial of a pretrial motion, even though the trial court later found employer’s action was in bad faith.

• Winn v. Pioneer Medical Group, Inc. (2016) 63 Cal.4th 148 (amicus): Aggravated “neglect” within the meaning of the Elder Abuse and Dependent Care Act requires plaintiff to show that the defendant health care provider had a “custodial relationship” with the elder patient.

• Lee v. Hanley (2015) 61 Cal.4th 1225 (amicus): Defining when the one-year statute of limitations for actions against an attorney (Code Civ. Proc. § 340.6) applies to a former client’s claims relating to performance services encompassed within a lawyer’s “professional obligations.”

• Crane v. R.R. Crane Invest. Corp. (2022) 82 Cal.App.5th 748: Disgruntled shareholder is entitled to receive the appraised value for his shares under Corp. Code § 2000, but not prejudgment interest.

• Healthsmart Pacific, Inc. v. Kabateck (2016) 7 Cal.App.5th 416: $60 million media defamation suit was a SLAPP suit against opposing counsel barred by the “fair report privilege” under Civil Code§ 47(d).

• Thayer v. Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP (2012) 207 Cal.App.4th 141: Action by a client’s spouse claiming her husband’s attorneys mishandled a class action settlement was barred as an improper SLAPP suit.

• Prospect Medical Group v. Northridge Emergency Medical Group (2009) 45 Cal.4th 497: California law prohibits hospitals from “balance billing” their patients for medical fees owed by the patient’s HMO.

• Mayer v. L&B Real Estate (2008) 43 Cal.4th 1231: Property owner’s Due Process right to set aside invalid tax sale does not expire until possession is “disturbed” by a valid notice of sale from the tax collector.

• City of Anaheim v. Angels Baseball LP (2008) 2008 WL 5274631: Adopting the team name Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim did not violate contractual arrangements with the City of Anaheim.

• Cohn v. Corinthian Colleges, Angels Baseball LP (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 523: Mother’s Day tote bag giveaway at Angels’ baseball game was not unlawful discrimination against men.

• Kibler v. No. Inyo County Hosp. Dist. (2006) 39 Cal.4th 192 (amicus): A hospital peer review committee’s disciplinary decisions are protected under the First Amendment.

• Jarrow Formulas Inc. v. La Marche (2003) 31 Cal.4th 728: Lawyers may challenge claims for malicious prosecution under the anti-SLAPP statute and recover their legal fees if they prevail.

• Viner v. Sweet (2003) 32 Cal.4th 1232 (amicus): A client suing for legal malpractice must prove that a more favorable outcome would have resulted “but for” the lawyer’s negligence.

• Musser v. Provencher (2002) 28 Cal.4th. 274 (amicus): Attorneys may sue co-counsel for indemnification arising from errors they committed during the joint representation of their mutual client.

• Summit Financial Holdings Ltd. v. Continental Lawyers Title Co. (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1160 (amicus): Escrow agents owe no duty to protect the financial interests of third parties outside of the transaction.

• Shade Foods, Inc. v. Royal Ins. Co. of America (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 847: $14 million bad faith and punitive damages verdict reversed for insufficient evidence of malice.

• Potvin v. MetLife Ins. Co. (2000) 22 Cal.4th 1060: Case-by-case analysis is required to determine if Due Process precludes the at-will termination of a medical provider by a health plan.

• Temple Community Hosp. v. Superior Court (1999) 20 Cal.4th 464, Cedars-Sinai Med. Center v. Superior Court (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1 (amicus): No tort remedy exists for “spoliation of evidence” under California law; other evidentiary, criminal and regulatory sanctions suffice.

• Parsons v. Crown Disposal Co. (1997) 15 Cal.4th 456: Waste disposal company has no liability to a horseback rider for noises made during a garbage truck’s routine trash collection operations.

• Rubin v. Green (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1187: Absolute litigation privilege bars private actions against attorneys under Business & Professions Code §17200 based on their communications relating to litigation.

• Bay Cities Paving & Grading Inc. v. Lawyers’ Mut. Ins. Co. (1993) 5 Cal.4th 854 (amicus): Insurance policy limits available for “related” claims requires a common sense reading of the contract.

Areas of Practice

Insurance Law
Litigation
Appellate Law

Additional Specialties

Mr. Chamberlain earned his J.D. at The University of California College of the Law, San Francisco where he was an editor of Constitutional Law Quarterly and justice (president) of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. He received his B.A. summa cum laude from San Diego State University and was elected Phi Beta Kappa.

Areas of Practice

Insurance Law
Litigation
Appellate Law

Additional Specialties

Supreme Court of the United State
California, all State and Federal Courts
North Carolina, all State and Federal Courts
District of Columbia, all Courts

Areas of Practice

Insurance Law
Litigation
Appellate Law

Additional Specialties

Past president of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (2006) and California Defense Counsel (2010), preeminent regional associations of civil defense trial and appellate lawyers.
Former elected Trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (4 years)
Board Member, Counsel for Justice

Areas of Practice

Insurance Law
Litigation
Appellate Law