Practice Areas
Barry Himmelstein
For over 25 years, Barry Himmelstein has represented consumers and small businesses in groundbreaking class actions involving widespread violations of consumer fraud and antitrust laws.
Formerly a partner in Lieff Cabraser Heimann and Bernstein, he has recovered billions of dollars for clients and class members victimized by large corporations in a broad range of industries, including banking, pharmaceuticals, energy, real estate, direct marketing, and telecommunications.
With offices in Northern California, Barry represents plaintiffs statewide and nationally in federal multidistrict litigation proceedings.
Barry has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer every year from 2009 through 2024.
Awards & Recognition
- Northern California Super Lawyer, 2009 – 2024
- Vice-Chair for Membership, Consumer Financial Services Committee, State Bar of California, 2010
- Lawdragon Finalist, 2009
- Contributing Author, California Class Actions Practice and Procedure (2003)
- Community Service Award, Jack Berman Advocacy Center, American Jewish Congress, 1996
Education
- University of California, Hastings College of Law,
- J.D., magna cum laude, 1991
- Note and Articles Editor, Hastings Law Journal
- Order of the Coif
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor,
- B.G.S., with distinction, 1982
Prior Employment
- Partner, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, San Francisco (1997-2011)
- Associate, Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco (1992-96)
- Law Clerk to Hon. Charles A. Legge, Northern District of California (1991-92)
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third, Seventh, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of California
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
Noteworthy Decisions
- In re HSBC Bank, USA, N.A., Debit Card Overdraft Fee Litig., 13-MD-2451 ADS AKT, 2014 WL 1598017 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 21, 2014)
- Cannon v. Wells Fargo Bank. N.A., C-12-1376 EMC, 2014 WL 324556 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 29, 2014)
- Gutierrez v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 730 F. Supp. 2d 1080 (N. D. Cal. 2010)
- Gutierrez v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 2010 WL 1233810 (N.D. Cal. 2010)
- In re Checking Account Overdraft Litig., 694 F. Supp. 2d 1302 (S.D. Fla. 2010)
- In re Checking Account Overdraft Litig., 677 F. Supp. 2d 1367 (J.P.M.L. 2009)
- In re Neurontin Marketing and Sales Practices Litig., 748 F. Supp. 2d 34 (D. Mass. 2010)
- In re Neurontin Marketing and Sales Practices Litig., 433 F. Supp. 2d 172 (D. Mass. 2006)
- Natural Gas Anti-Trust Cases I, II, III & IV, 2006 WL 5377849 (Cal. Superior 2006)
- California v. NRG Energy, Inc., 391 F.3d 1011 (9th Cir. 2004)
- In re Western States Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litig., 346 F. Supp. 2d 1123 (D. Nev. 2004)
- In re California Retail Natural Gas and Electricity Antitrust Litig., 170 F. Supp. 2d 1052 (D. Nev. 2001)
- In re Synthroid Marketing Litig., 110 F. Supp. 2d 676 (N.D. Ill. 2000)
- Medimatch, Inc. v. Lucent Technologies, Inc., 120 F. Supp. 2d 842 (N.D. Cal. 2000)
- In re American Family Enterprises, 256 B.R. 377 (D. N.J. 2000)
- Ammari Electronics v. Pacific Bell Directory, 2011 WL 5547588 (Cal. App. 2011)