Ford, Walker, Haggerty & Behar provides clients with legal services in all areas of civil litigation. Building upon our strong tradition in insurance defense, we have expanded into other areas of general casualty defense, including representation of self-insured entities, public and closely held corporations, municipalities, professionals and other individuals who value the aggressive pursuit of their legal rights by a team of experienced and innovative attorneys.

The backbone of the firm continues to be a general liability defense practice with emphasis on defending claims in the areas of products liability, professional liability, automobile negligence, construction defects, municipal defense, insurance coverage, bad faith, environmental law, catastrophic injuries, and trial practice.  The firm has become widely recognized for its defense of large exposure personal injury claims, many of which are the subject of media scrutiny. The best measure of our success is the loyalty of our clients. Most of our largest insurance clients have been with the firm since its inception.

Responsive Communication

The Firm stresses open and frequent communications with clients to insure that the services provided meet the clients' expectations. Communication is furthered by direct e-mail links and a firm culture that stresses timely reporting at all phases of legal action. Our billing systems are also flexible, providing the information required in a format and with a frequency that conforms to a client's preferences. We offer seminars, in our clients' offices, as a further means of sharing critical legal information.

Cost-Effective Representation

We are dedicated to delivering cost-effective legal services with optimal results. As a mid-sized firm we have a depth of attorney resources to apply when specific fields of expertise are required. The firm has developed an excellent reputation for its trial attorneys and success in trial. We provide not only case analysis, but also estimates and budgets up front, so that our client can determine an appropriate course of action with full knowledge of the costs involved. When in the best interest of the client, we advocate alternative dispute resolution as a cost-effective alternative to litigation.

Experienced Counsel

G. Richard Ford, Timothy L. Walker, William C. Haggerty and Jeffrey S. Behar founded our firm in 1991. All four were senior partners at Shield & Smith, a large Los Angeles insurance defense law firm. They brought with them a group of talented lawyers with experience in defending general casualty litigation claims. From an original nucleus of eight partners and sixteen associates, we have steadily grown to more than forty lawyers as our client base and areas of' service have expanded.

Convenient Locations

The Firm has offices servicing both Northern and Southern California counties and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Long Beach provides a convenient geographic position from which to serve our major clients in both Los Angeles and Orange counties. Our offices are located in the top two floors of the World Trade Center, which is the centerpiece of a revitalized downtown Long Beach. Although the majority of the Firm's Southern California practice is concentrated in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, Ford, Walker, Haggerty & Behar also engages in all phases of litigation in federal and State courts in San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Kern Counties for clients located across the United States and internationally.

Our Sacramento office is geographically located to serve our major clients in all Northern and Central Valley counties.

Our San Diego office provides cost efficient representation for clients demanding strong legal support in San Diego County’s growing communities.

Our Las Vegas office serves our clients throughout the state of Nevada.