Honors and Awards
Orange County-ABOTA names Gerald A. Klein 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year


Gerald A. Klein was named 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Orange County American Board of Trial Advocates. ABOTA is one of the most prominent trial lawyer organizations in the country, which only admits experienced trial lawyers with at least 10 jury trials. This is the highest honor a California trial lawyer can receive. This award is given annually to a trial lawyer who exhibits
the best traits of a trial lawyer – excellence in advocacy, a distinguished career and a reputation for civility, ethics and fair play.
The Best Lawyers in America

The Best Lawyers in America, an internationally recognized organization, honors Klein & Wilson by including them in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers publication. Klein & Wilson is ranked as a “Tier 1” law firm in commercial litigation, legal malpractice, intellectual property, and real estate litigation.
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by their peers. For more than three decades, Best Lawyers lists have earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public, as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.
See Mr. Klein’s profile Here
See Mr. Wilson’s profile Here
See Mr. LeBoff’s’s profile Here
Mark B. Wilson named Best Lawyers 2021 and 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in trade secrets law.
America’s Top 100 Attorneys

In 2016, both Mr. Klein and Mr. Wilson were selected to join America’s Top 100 Attorneys. Membership in America’s Top 100 Attorneys is meant to identify and highlight the accomplishments of the nation’s most esteemed and skilled attorneys in all areas of practice. Only 100 attorneys in each state received this honor.
AVVO continues to rate both Gerald A. Klein, Mark B. Wilson, and Michael S. LeBoff AVVO’s highest rating, a perfect 10.0 Superb

To view Mr. Klein, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. LeBoff’s profiles, including practice areas, client reviews, and peer endorsements, visit the following links:
AVVO’s mission is to assist the public in making the best decisions for their important legal needs by providing an unmatched level of transparency and unbiased profiles for individual attorneys. AVVO profiles contain helpful information including the attorney’s trial history, experience, background, disciplinary history, and reviews from clients and peers.
Best Law Firms

Klein & Wilson achieved a 2025 “Tier One” ranking in Orange County, California in the categories of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs Intellectual Property Litigation and Real Estate Litigation.
See Here
Clients’ Choice Award 2017

Year after year Klein & Wilson has been recognized for its excellent and professional work. It is our honor to have been selected by our clients for the 2017 AVVO Clients’ Choice Award 2017. Our clients have spoken and agreed – Klein & Wilson is the best choice.
Coast Magazine – “Top Lawyers”
Coast Magazine listed Gerald A. Klein and Mark B. Wilson in its 2016 edition of “Top Lawyers” in the area of litigation. The list was developed from peer endorsements as well as experience, education, training, speaking, publishing and awards. Read more.
Gerald A. Klein and Mark B. Wilson Awarded “AV” Rating, the Highest Rating for Skills and Ethics by Martindale-Hubbell

Martindale-Hubbell awarded both Mr. Klein and Mr. Wilson, as well as the firm, its highest rating of “AV.” The “A” represents the highest rating a lawyer can receive for professional skills, as ranked by other lawyers and judges. The “V” is the highest rating an attorney can receive for ethical standards. (See, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings). Accordingly, when clients hire Klein & Wilson, they can be assured they will be represented by attorneys judged by their peers to have the highest professional standards and ethics. To view Mr. Klein and Mr. Wilson’s profiles, visit the following links:
- Martindale-Hubbell Profile for Gerald A. Klein, P.C.
- Martindale-Hubbell Profile for Mark B. Wilson, P.C.
Martindale-Hubbell, the owner of Lawyers.com, was first published in 1868 and is the most prestigious attorney rating service in the world.
Gerald A. Klein Invited to Membership to the American Board of Trial Advocates (“ABOTA”) on October 3, 2009

Gerald A. Klein was granted membership to the American Board of Trial Advocates on October, 2009. ABOTA is one of the most respected trial advocacy bar associations in the country and membership in ABOTA is by invitation only. Members must meet strict requirements of trial experience.
ABOTA was founded in 1957 and is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. First and foremost, ABOTA works to uphold the jury system by educating the American public about the history and value of the right to trial by jury.
Klein & Wilson Designated As Among The Elite Law Firms In Orange County

The OC Register Metro Magazine, a publication of the Orange County Register’s magazine division, ranked the most viewed newspaper publication in the country, has honored Klein & Wilson in multiple prestigious and notable designations. To learn more, view the following links.
- Klein & Wilson Listed Among OC’s Top Attorneys Raising The Bar and Setting New Precedents (2013)
- Klein & Wilson Named As One of OC’s Most Notable Lawyers in OC Metro Magazine (2012)
- Klein & Wilson Listed in The Dean’s List: OC’s Top Attorneys, OC Metro Magazine (2011)
- Klein & Wilson Named Among OC’s Top Attorneys in OC Metro Magazine (2010)
Legal Leaders(™) Presents Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers of 2015

Orange County Bar Association

In 2001, Gerald A. Klein was elected as Chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s (“OCBA”) Business Litigation section, the largest section in the OCBA. In 2006, Mr. Klein served as the Education Chair for the OCBA.
Mr. Wilson was the 2016 Chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s Business Litigation Section.
Mr. LeBoff served as co-chair of the Commercial and Business Litigation Committee, the largest committee in the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation, until August 2019. Mr. LeBoff currently serves as Co-Chair for the Orange County Bar Association’s (“OCBA”) Business Litigation Section and as Co-Chair of the Professional Liability Litigation Committee. Mr. LeBoff is also the former chair of the OCBA’s Banking and Lending Section.
Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (“OCTLA”) Awards Gerald A. Klein with Its Prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year Award on Two Occasions

OCTLA, the leading trial lawyers organization in Orange County, has twice honored Gerald A. Klein with its prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award. To learn more, view the following links.
- Gerald A. Klein Named Trial Lawyer of the Year for Legal Malpractice in 2009
- Gerald A. Klein Named Trial Lawyer of the Year for Business Litigation in 2003
OCTLA was formed in 1963 to: (1) protect the rights of people who have been harmed by the wrongful acts of others; (2) to provide superior education and training for attorneys; and (3) promote and support laws which correct injustice and protect access to the civil justice system.
Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (“OCTLA”) Awards Mark B. Wilson with Its Prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year Award

OCTLA, the leader trial lawyers organization in Orange County, has honored Mark B. Wilson with its prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award in legal malpractice. To learn more, view the following link.
OCTLA was formed in 1963 to: (1) protect the rights of people who have been harmed by the wrongful acts of others; (2) to provide superior education and training for attorneys; and (3) promote and support laws which correct injustice and protect access to the civil justice system
Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America®

The attorney directory of Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America® is one of the most celebrated and respected groups of attorneys in the country. Membership is extremely selective, carefully screened and limited to the most qualified and accomplished attorneys in the United States.
With these high standards, less than one percent (1%) of the attorneys of America have been invited to be a member of Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America. Lawyers may join in all areas of law practice from the United States. Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America celebrates attorney accomplishments.
Super Lawyers®

Gerald A. Klein, Mark B. Wilson, and Michael S. LeBoff Identified As Super Lawyers® by Los Angeles Magazine as Top 5% of Attorneys in Los Angeles and Orange Counties
The attorneys named in Super Lawyers® Magazine are the top attorneys in their respective practice areas, selected by their peers. The Super Lawyers® Magazine selection process begins with a survey conducted by Los Angeles Magazine, sent to more than 65,000 attorneys in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Attorneys were asked to vote for the best lawyers they had personally observed in action. Each lawyer was given a score based on the number of votes received and the source of those votes, votes of lawyers from other firms carry more weight than those from lawyers in the same firm. Only the top five percent of attorneys in Los Angeles and Orange Counties make it to the list. To view their Super Lawyers® profiles, visit Mr. Klein’s Here, Mr. Wilson’s Here, and Mr. LeBoff’s Here.
Gerald A. Klein and Mark B. Wilson have also been listed in both the 2019 Super Lawyers ® Top 50 Orange County List and the 2019 Super Lawyers® Top 100 Southern California List.
Super Lawyers® has selected both Gerald A. Klein and Mark B. Wilson for inclusion in Super Lawyers® Magazine every year from 2005 to present. To learn more, view the following links.
Gerald A. Klein
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Mark B. Wilson
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Super Lawyers® Top 50 Orange County List

Each year, Super Lawyers® recognizes the top lawyers in Southern California via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research, and peer evaluation. The Southern California lawyers who receive the highest point totals during this selection process are further recognized in Southern California Super Lawyers Top Lists. Both Gerald A. Klein and Mark B. Wilson have been listed in Super Lawyers® Top 50 Orange County List.
The American Lawyer

The award-winning national publication, The American Lawyer recognized Klein & Wilson as among the top lawyers in California.
The American Lawyer is the leading source of daily news, analysis, and information about the business of law as practiced by the most accomplished lawyers across the U.S. and around the world. The American Lawyer provides up-to-the-minute news and analysis and is the daily destination for people looking to stay on top of the legal industry.
The Orange County Attorney Journal

The Orange County Attorney Journal is a trade publication that specializes in featuring niche law firms. Klein & Wilson was named The Firm of the Month in the October 2015 edition of this magazine because of the firm’s decision to grow and its excellent results for clients. The partners of Klein & Wilson candidly talk about the reasons behind its decision to grow and training a new generation of excellent trial lawyers. Read the article Here