Reed Smith is pleased to announce that partner Raymond A. Cardozo was today named one of California’s Top Leading Commercial Litigators for 2025 by the Daily Journal.
Cardozo was honored by the Daily Journal for his three decades representing “Fortune 50 companies, California’s world-renowned public universities, and the judicial branch, among others.” Called one of California’s ‘Frontier Lawyers,’ Cardozo was likewise honored for arguing unprecedented legal theories on the boundaries of the law in novel and widely varying causes of action before appeal courts.
For example, the Daily Journal highlighted a recent matter involving novel issues around California’s whistleblower employment statue (Labor Code §1102.5, punitive damages and the recovery of attorneys’ fees).
The Daily Journal likewise highlighted a recent case involving an effort to block the University of California San Francisco’s new hospital project. In winning the case, Cardozo also obtained a writ asserting the University’s immunity from local zoning laws.
“This immunity ruling is extremely important to projects by state entities throughout California,” Cardozo said. “Moreover, a terrific project of tremendous benefit to the people can go forward without further obstruction. I feel like we helped build something here.”
A highly prolific practitioner, Cardozo has led more than 200 appellate matters in the state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, California Supreme Court, federal circuits and state appellate courts, while also handling complex commercial litigations at the trial court level.
At Reed Smith, Cardozo has served a variety of leadership roles, including as global chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, a member of the firm’s Senior Management team, San Francisco office managing partner, practice group leader of the firmwide Appellate Group, and as a partner member of the firm's Diversity Committee.
Prior to joining Reed Smith, Cardozo served as a deputy attorney general in the Office of the California Attorney General. He is also a former president of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a former chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco's Appellate Practice Section, and a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.
Cardozo has also served on the Board of Directors of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and on the Leadership Council of the Center for Youth Development Through Law.
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