California State Bar No. 95064
Nevada State Bar No. 8119

James F. Holtz focuses on trial and appellate work in complex business and corporate litigation. Mr. Holtz has a wide client base ranging from Fortune 500 companies to local businesses and individuals. He has successfully handled cases involving business and contractual disputes, real estate and environmental liability, trademark and copyright infringement, employment discrimination, ADA, product liability, personal injury, medical and pharmacist malpractice and class actions. He has tried wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases, and has a specialized knowledge of medical and pharmacology issues.

James Holtz has handled insurance coverage litigation for 30 years. He is an expert in all varieties of insurance and insurance broker disputes. The firm has handled a wide variety of coverage disputes including commercial liability, environmental liability, director and officer liability, professional liability and personal lines such as auto and homeowners insurance. Many lawyers refer their coverage matters to Mr. Holtz because of his success and reputation in this specialized area. He also is an adjunct professor at California Western School of Law, where he has taught insurance law and litigation since 2001.

Martindale Hubbell has rated Mr. Holtz AV Preeminent since 1996. He has been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer for the years 2008 through present. He also has been listed for 20 years as a Top Rated Lawyer published by The American Lawyer Magazine. Both selections are for “Business Litigation.” The organization of Law & Politics performs the polling, research and selection of Super Lawyers in a process designed to identify lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers is a comprehensive and diverse guide to outstanding attorneys, representing a wide range of practice areas. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state or region are named Super Lawyers.

Top Rated Lawyers is published by The American Lawyer and developed in partnership with Martindale Hubbell. It is based on Martindale’s AV Preeminent ratings, the highest possible review rating in “Legal Ability and Ethical Standards.”

Mr. Holtz’s efforts for corporate clients resulted in the firm having been selected as a “Go-To Law Firm for the Top 500 Companies” for its legal advice in Tort Litigation by American Lawyer Media, publishers of The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel, The Law Journal Press and The National Law Journal. General Counsel of the nation’s top 500 companies were surveyed regarding their preferred primary outside counsel in key practice areas.

Mr. Holtz is also a published author of numerous articles appearing in both legal and industry publications including the Pacific Law Journal and the Insurance Journal.

Education
University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1975
University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., 1980

Phone: 619-881-1246

In Nevada, Mr. Holtz is Of Counsel to the firm of Ranalli, Zaniel, Fowler & Moran LLC

Bar Admissions

• Admitted to practice in California and United States District Court for the District of California – Southern, Central, Eastern and Northern Districts, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Admitted to practice in Nevada, and United States District Court for the District of Nevada.

Honors / Affiliations

• Member, San Diego Defense Lawyers
• Member, San Diego County Bar Association
• San Diego Super Lawyers 2008 to present
• Top Rated Lawyers Business Litigation
• AV Preeminent peer rating by Martindale-Hubbell in both California and Nevada
• Adjunct Professor, California Western School of Law
• San Diego Magazine’s “Top Lawyers”
• “Best Lawyers in America” 2016-2020
• VEGAS INC’S Top Lawyers
• Selected as Top 1% of practicing attorneys in the United States by National Association of Distinguished Counsel

California State Bar No. 334221

Natalie C. Holtz is an associate whose practice focuses on business and general tort litigation.

Ms. Holtz graduated cum laude from California Western School of Law in 2020 and previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While in law school, Ms. Holtz served as Executive Editor of the California Western Law Review. Her comment regarding public trust doctrine issues implicated by professional big wave surfing contests in California and Hawaii was published in its journal. Ms. Holtz was also fortunate to have the opportunity to clerk for the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia of the United States District Court for the Southern District.

In her spare time, Ms. Holtz enjoys reading, cooking, and surfing.

Education
California Western School of Law, J.D., 2020 (cum laude)
University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A., English Literature, 2010

Phone: 619-881-1246