MARTIN J. AMBACHER
MARTIN J. AMBACHER
Managing Partner
Pleasant Hill
Mr. Ambacher is the Managing Partner of the McNamara Law Firm. He specializes in defense of public entities, including cities, counties, and water districts, in a wide variety of complex personal injury, dangerous condition of public property, inverse condemnation (arising out of landslides, flooding, storm drain and sewer line functioning, and water main breaks, and regulatory takings), ordinance enforcement, and civil rights claims; and the defense of health care providers, including hospitals, doctors, physician assistants, and nurses, in medical malpractice actions and before regulatory agencies. In addition, he has handled employment defense (wage and hour, meal/rest breaks, wrongful termination, EEOC and Labor Commissioner claims); real estate litigation including defense of landslide, soil movement, water intrusion and flooding, easement, and property line dispute cases; personal injury and property damage defense; product liability defense; defense of environmental claims; and miscellaneous other matters such as Internet and other defamation claims, and fraud claims.
Mr. Ambacher is an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), has been named to Northern California Super Lawyers for several years, and is a member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, the State Bar of California, and the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada, including having served on the Board of Directors; and formerly the Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee for Contra Costa County Bar Association. He has been a speaker at numerous seminars on various litigation topics. Mr. Ambacher also serves as a volunteer mediator with the Contra Costa County Superior Court and conducts private mediations. In his “spare” time, Mr. Ambacher can be found mountain biking, running, and swimming as he trains for mountain bike races, triathlons, marathons, and various other physical endeavors.
EDUCATION
Santa Clara University School of Law
Juris Doctorate, 1989
Pacific Lutheran University
B.B.A. in Finance, 1986
ADMISSIONS
State Bar of California
United States District Court – Northern and Eastern Districts of California
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Over 33 years of experience in all aspects of civil litigation including pleadings, law and motion, discovery, expert discovery, mediation, arbitration (both binding and non-binding), court and jury trials, and appellate work, in State and Federal Courts. Over 30 jury and court trials, and numerous binding arbitrations. Mediator through the Contra Costa County Superior Court’s ADR program and privately, with over 150 mediations handled.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) – Associate Level.
Contra Costa County Bar Association
Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada (previously served on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Public Entity Substantive Law Committee, Law Firm Management Committee, and Bench-Bar Committee)
Served on the Contra Costa County Bar Association Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee (2013-2017)
Contra Costa County Superior Court Bench-Bar Committee
HONORS/AWARDS
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) – Associate Level.
Super Lawyer – Northern California
TRIALS/CASE AND SETTLEMENTS
Mr. Ambacher has tried over 30 jury and court trials, and numerous binding arbitrations.
Experience
Over 33 years of experience in all aspects of civil litigation including pleadings, law and motion, discovery, expert discovery, mediation, arbitration (both binding and non-binding), court and jury trials, and appellate work, in State and Federal Courts. Over 30 jury and court trials, and numerous binding arbitrations. Mediator through the Contra Costa County Superior Court’s ADR program and privately, with over 150 mediations handled.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) – Associate Level.
Contra Costa County Bar Association
Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada (previously served on the Board of Directors and as Chair of the Public Entity Substantive Law Committee, Law Firm Management Committee, and Bench-Bar Committee)
Served on the Contra Costa County Bar Association Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee (2013-2017)
Contra Costa County Superior Court Bench-Bar Committee
HONORS/AWARDS
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) – Associate Level.
Super Lawyer – Northern California
TRIALS/CASE AND SETTLEMENTS
Mr. Ambacher has tried over 30 jury and court trials, and numerous binding arbitrations.
