“My goal is to take as much stress as possible out of the litigation process and resolve matters quickly so my clients can get back to business and back to real life.”
Crystal left Big Law in 2007 and joined Livingston Law Firm upon the recommendation of her trusted law school professor, C. Delos Putz (who also taught LLF’s founder and managing shareholder, Renée Welze Livingston). She began as an associate and became a shareholder in 2012. She is the firm’s go-to attorney to unravel complex and unusual factual and legal scenarios. With over 20 years’ experience defending commercial litigation, product liability, including pharmaceutical and medical devices, premises liability and general liability matters in state and federal courts throughout California, Crystal recognizes litigation is stressful and not a usual part of her clients’ everyday life. She puts 100% effort into each of her cases in hopes of resolving litigation as early and as efficiently as possible. Crystal’s clients appreciate her responsiveness, candor and attention to detail. Crystal is an AV-Preeminent rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected multiple years as a Northern California Super Lawyer and Rising Star. In addition to her law practice, Crystal teaches law and motion at a Bay Area law school.
Experience
JFK School of Law at National University Adjunct Professor
May 2015-Present Pleasant Hill, CA
Courses currently involve teaching students the basics of law and motion, including preparing and opposing various types of motions and preparing for hearings.
Bingham McCutchen Associate
October 2003-October 2007 Walnut Creek and San Francisco, CA
General civil litigation defense practice with emphasis on representation of corporate clients, including major financial institutions, in business litigation and contract matters, including breach of contract, unfair competition, and class actions. Advised clients regarding land use entitlements and performed land use/environmental due diligence for private entities.
California Supreme Court Legal Extern
Fall 2002 San Francisco, CA
Legal extern for California Supreme Court Justice Joyce Kennard during fall semester of 2002. Responsibilities included analysis of cases for potential review and summary of cases at weekly staff meetings, legal research, editing and cite checking draft opinions, and preparing first drafts of opinion.
Publications
Past President Highlight: Dennis F. Moriarty, ADC Defense Comment, Fall 2021
Past President Highlight: Julia A. Molander, ADC Defense Comment, Spring 2020
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Strategies for Successfully Moving to Change Venue Based on Inconvenience (Co-author Craig A. Livingston), ADC Defense Comment, Summer 2017
Thirty Years and Going Strong – The CCCBA Women’s Section, Contra Costa Lawyer, February 2015
Five Things New/Junior Associates Should Know, Contra Costa Lawyer, December 2014
Litigation Sub-Law Newsflash: Supreme Court Finds Primary Assumption of Risk Doctrine Applies to “Nonsport” Recreational Activities, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, January 2013
To Offer or Not to Offer – That is the Question: Considerations in Making a C.C.P. § 998 Offer of Compromise, ADC Defense Comment, Summer 2009
Published Decisions
Teixeira v. County of Alameda(9th Cir. 2017) 873 F.3d 670.
Delana v. CED Sales, Inc. dba Odessa Gun & Pawn, et al. (2016) 486 S.W.3d 316.
Jankey v. Lee (2012) 55 Cal.4th 1038, cert. den. (2013) 133 S.Ct. 1810.
Speaking Engagements
Bird's-Eye View: Inception and Litigation of a New File, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, Basic Training Series XXIV, San Francisco, CA (September 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
There's No Place Like Home...Or Is There?, Contra Costa County Legal Professionals Association, Walnut Creek, CA (October 2019)
Encore Performance: Puttin' on the Writs: Putting Your Best Foot Forward to a Successful Writ Petition, Contra Costa County Bar Association, Concord, CA (February 2019)
Puttin' on the Writs: Putting Your Best Foot Forward to a Successful Writ Petition, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, 59th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (December 2018)
Technology? Not Billable...Not for Me: Technology Proficiency: An Ethical Obligation to your Client, National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL (September 2018)
Trending Employment Law and Diversity Issues for Silicon Valley, Mock Trial Demonstration, National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms Regional Conference, San Jose, CA (August 2018)
Pretrial Preparation and Submissions, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, Basic Training Series XXII, San Francisco, CA (October 2017)
Paths to Partnership: One Size Does Not Fit All, Contra Costa County Bar Association Women’s Section, Walnut Creek, CA (January 2016)
Preparing for the Uncommon Battle, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada, Basic Training Series XX, San Francisco, CA (October 2015)
Professional Associations
Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada
Contra Costa County Bar Association
National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF)
Bar Admissions
United States Supreme Court – 2018
State Bar of California – 2003
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit – 2015
U.S. District Courts
Northern District CA – 2004 Eastern District CA – 2005 Southern District CA – 2018
Personal
Crystal enjoys spending time with her Australian husband and two sons, especially on family game night (and even more so when she wins). She is also an avid reader and movie watcher.
Education
University of San Francisco School of Law Juris Doctor Magna Cum Laude June 2003
Pepperdine University Bachelor of Arts Psychology Cum Laude August 1997
