Walkup, Melodia, Kelly + Schoenberger

09/17/2026

The Walkup firm is thrilled to congratulate Andrew McDevitt, Rich Schoenberger and Ian Head for their selection as the Marin Trial Lawyers of the Year for 2026. The announcement was made last night at the annual MTLA awards dinner. This well deserved recognition was the result of the teams work on the Van Tussenbrook v. Yamaha trial where a $26 million dollar was returned in a side-by-side recreational vehicle product liability trial. Among an exceptional group of nominated verdicts, the work of Rich, Andy, Ian stood out both for the result achieved and the expertise, creativity and perseverance required to achieve it.

09/15/2026

On this week’s Cause of Action podcast, Walkup’s Spencer Pahlke is joined by Lori Andrus - AAJ Past President.

Some law students know right out of the gates that practicing law is their calling. Today's guest, Lori Andrus, started her career on Capitol Hill, and went to law school with every intention of staying in politics. Her goal was to use her knowledge of the law to shape policy. But along the way, Lori fell in love with litigation. She now has her own plaintiffs' firm, Andrus Anderson, and tackles some of the same issues she imagined herself fighting for in Washington. Lori shares her journey to the plaintiffs' side, her landmark equal pay victory against Disney, and how to network your way to a job you'll love.

New episodes weekly. Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cause-of-action-with-spencer-pahlke/id1885669285?i=1000789767372

Learn More: https://causeofactionpodcast.com

Suggestions for topics? Questions for our guests? Email the show at [email protected].

09/14/2026

Join the California Coast Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates for its Fall Membership Meeting on Friday, September 18, featuring guest speaker Doris Cheng, ABOTA President-Elect and 2027 National President.

The evening will bring together colleagues for a cocktail reception, dinner, and a conversation with Doris on leadership, advocacy, and the year ahead for ABOTA.

📍 Cliff House Inn & Shoals Restaurant, Ventura
🗓 Friday, September 18, 2026
⏰ Reception at 6:00 p.m. | Dinner & Presentation at 7:00 p.m.

Seating is limited. Reserve your seat by September 15 at calcoastabota.org or scan the QR code.

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. —Twenty top law students from 10 leading law schools will compete in San Francisco Sept. 17–20 in a fast-paced trial competition designed to test courtroom skills, adaptability and strategic decision-making under pressure.

The 5th Annual Flash Trial Competition will take place at the JAMS Conference Center in San Francisco. Hosted by UC Berkeley School of Law, the competition brings together some of the nation’s top law students for an intensive test of trial advocacy, preparation and courtroom adaptability.

Unlike traditional moot court and trial competitions, competitors receive their case files just 45 to 60 minutes before each round. They must rapidly analyze the facts, develop a theory of the case, prepare witnesses and exhibits, and then walk into the courtroom ready to argue.

As part of the competition, teams will again have access to Eve Legal, a cutting-edge legal AI platform, building on last year’s inaugural introduction of AI into the Flash Trial experience. Competitors will have an opportunity to learn how the technology works before the competition and will have access to the platform during the rounds as they prepare their cases. The experience gives students hands-on exposure to a tool increasingly becoming part of the modern lawyer’s toolkit, while allowing organizers to explore how, and whether, AI influences preparation and trial strategy under the intense time constraints of a Flash Trial.

The participating law schools are:

-Baylor Law School
-Chapman University Fowler School of Law
-Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
-University of Denver Sturm College of Law
-Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
-University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
-University of South Carolina School of Law
-UC Davis School of Law
-UC Law San Francisco
-UCLA School of Law

The Flash Trial format is also gaining traction beyond law school competitions, such as ABOTA using it to train young lawyers and more law schools and legal organizations adopting it. “The courtroom is changing,” said Spencer Pahlke, who also teaches at Berkeley Law, serves as Co-Director of the school’s External Trial Competition Program, and coaches several trial advocacy teams. “Events like this give us a front-row seat to what’s next.”

Co-sponsors of this year’s competition include Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger; JAMS; Eve Legal; Berkeley Law; Vartabedian Katz Hester Haynes; and MG + M.

More information at: https://www.flashtrials.com

09/11/2026

Walkup, Melodia, Kelly + Schoenberger is proud to serve as a Gold Sponsor of Bike MS® 2026, one of the world’s largest fundraising cycling events supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Each year, thousands of cyclists come together to raise critical funds that fuel groundbreaking MS research, expand support services, and advocate for the nearly one million people living with multiple sclerosis across the United States. Since its inception, the Bike MS community has raised more than $1.4 billion to advance the Society’s mission of curing MS while helping those affected live their best lives.

This year’s Northern California ride takes place September 19–20, 2026, with routes ranging from 23 to 102 miles, beginning in San Francisco and Rohnert Park. Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or riding to honor a loved one, every mile helps move us closer to a world free of MS.

Walkup is honored to support this incredible event and the dedicated riders, volunteers, and advocates making a difference. We wish all participants a safe, successful, and inspiring ride.

More information on Bike MS at: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/2722

09/11/2026

Today, we remember those whose lives were lost on September 11, the families who carry their memory, and all those forever changed by that day. Twenty-five years later, we continue to honor their lives and legacy.

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we honor the people whose commitment and hard work make a difference in the lives of others. Today is a moment to pause and recognize the time, care, and effort you give throughout the year.

09/04/2026

Season 11 starts now!

Summer Recap (0:00:00). EATS, a bizarre tournament application, losing the license to kill, and being polite to robots: we remember the community's biggest and silliest events from the summer.

Chatting with the Champs (0:16:52). Berkeley's Top Gun winner Becca Goren -- along with coach Aaron Laycook and second chair Dylan Hughes -- talks about how her high school coach didn't recruit her, vents about how her Top Gun teammates ditched her during the tournament, showcases her hidden elbow talent, and shares what she did with the $10,000.

Season Preview (0:45:16). Spencer and Justin forecast the four major storylines for the new season.

Interview: Syracuse's Tyler Jeffries (0:55:47). The season's first competition is the National Trial League, and we talk to its director -- about cheerleading, adult kickball, being coached by Joanne Van D**e, and trying to keep up with all of Todd Berger's tournament ideas.

Mailbag (1:25:31). What is your number one piece of coaching advice?

Listen to "Episode 153 - "It Has to be Fun" (Season Preview)" at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1834655/episodes/19712016-episode-153-it-has-to-be-fun-season-preview


You can find this episode and previous episodes at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and our website: www.unscripteddirect.com.

Justin & Spencer

09/04/2026

The Walkup Trial Skills Lab offers free continuing legal education activities for experienced plaintiff-side attorneys practicing in California. Sessions are led by senior partners and veteran trial lawyers at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, drawing on decades of courtroom experience in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and medical negligence litigation. Each one-hour program is designed to qualify for 1.0 hour of California General MCLE credit upon completion.

In this video, Walkup Shareholder Michael A. Kelly discusses why we created the Walkup Trial Skills Lab and why "Anyone who participates will take home at least 1 useful thing they can use in trial".

Learn more about Walkup Trial Skills Lab and register for a session at: https://www.trialskills.com