Jeffrey E. Zinder

Jeff is an AV rated trial lawyer, whose 40 plus years have provided him with a vast array of experiences, including arguing successfully at the California Supreme Court and a published Appellate Decision in Dominguez v Financial Indemnity Company, (2010) 183 Cal App 4^th 388.  His focus has always been on trial work and a great part of that dealing with complex medical causation and products liability.  Although over 95% of his matters favorably settle, many during trial, he has secured verdicts in cases involving wrongful death, severe traumatic brain injuries, quadriplegia, severe burns and drug induced allergic reactions.   He has maintained a continued interest in the medical aspects of injuries including psychological complications.  His reputation is an aggressive litigator with a passion for a just result.  His philosophy is to know more about the facts of each unique case than any other lawyer or for that matter the expert.  He continues to take great pride in learning the facts and the “why” of each issue.  Jeff is the managing partner of the firm’s California office.

He is a native of Los Angeles, California attending public schools.  He was fortunate to be born into a middleclass family of the 50’s, whose dad worked at Lockheed Aircraft in industrial design and his mom stayed at home.  He has worked continually since early childhood and his love of animals started with caring for injured birds to having a private Wild Animal Keepers License.  In High School, he received the prestigious Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) award in his ROTC training.  He has achieved Black Belt ranking in five different martial arts, which ultimately lead to his operation of his own school in Burbank, while studying Criminal Justice at California State University at Los Angeles.  He achieved a bachelor’s degree with honors and was also the Captain of the Sabre fencing team taking the Western States Championship.  During both high school and college, his passion for martial arts lead to years of full contact competition.  He graduated from Loyola Law School and has often been invited to Judge at Moot Court competitions.  His defense background includes serving as counsel to many insurance companies, Third Party Administrators, Fraternal Order of Police and private corporations, as well as personal counsel to a host of Hollywood elite.

Prior to becoming a lawyer his work included automotive repair and classic car restoration, private security, law enforcement, sales, self-defense martial arts studio and horse breeding and training. He started as a law clerk in the firm of Patterson, Ritner and Lockwood, a well-established civil litigation firm.  After 2 years as an Associate attorney working directly for the firm’s founding partner John Patterson, who was instrumental in Jeff’s exposure to Court room trial work, he joined the firm of Mercer & Gallagher which soon became Mercer, Gallagher & Zinder. For the last 25 years he has practiced as Zinder & Koch, where he has been assisted for over 25 years by his wife Jacqueline Zinder. After working as local counsel with Brook Laskey on the defense of JLG Industries, Inc. in the Camacho case he was asked to join McCoy Leavitt Laskey and his firm became their California office.  Although his practice has had a heavy California base, he has also handled matters along with local counsel in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, and Minnesota.  Internationally, he has handled cases with local counsel matters in England, Denmark, India and China.  He has three adult children, the two eldest successful college graduates and the youngest at ASU.  He and Jackie live on a small ranch with their two dogs, three horses, a parrot and a beautiful and serene backyard with various Bonsai trees, the latter being cared for by Jackie.

Education

• California State University at Los Angeles, B.S., 1976
• Loyola University of Los Angeles, J.D., 1979

Bar Admissions

• California, 1979