Strategies for Powerful Legal Writing: From Introduction to Conclusion (2026 Edition)

Jeffrey Gurrola, Partner | Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP

Jeffrey Gurrola is a partner at Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLP and a State Bar certified appellate specialist. He briefs and argues civil appeals and writ petitions in California and federal appellate courts across a wide spectrum of business and public entity disputes and cases involving tort, contract, family, and consumer law. Having previously practiced as a trial litigator and as an in-house litigation attorney, he brings a deep understanding of the considerations clients and their trial teams face when pursuing or defending an appeal or writ petition.

• Education & Credentials

Jeff earned his JD from Yale Law School in 2012, where he served as Managing Editor and Lead Editor of the Yale Law & Policy Review and as Activism Chair of the OutLaws LGBT student group. He received his BA magna cum laude in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Southern California in 2009, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, inducted into the Order of Troy, captained the USC Mock Trial Team, and served as chapter president of the Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society. He is admitted to practice in California and before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eighth and Ninth Circuits.

• Recognition & Leadership

Jeff is recognized by Best Lawyers in The Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice for 2025 and 2026. His recent results include EchoSpan, Inc. v. Medallia, Inc., in which the Ninth Circuit reinstated a $25.7 million jury verdict the district court had reduced to zero, City of Santa Clarita v. Canyon View Limited, reversing a judgment that ordered removal of a hillside solar energy system, and Friend of Camden, Inc. v. Brandt, a published decision of first impression holding that LLC members may dissolve the company by vote even while a judicial dissolution action is pending.

• Professional Involvement

Jeff serves as a Board Member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and as Co-Editor of the ABTL Report, and he is a member of the National LGBT Bar Association. He assists GMSR partner Laurie Hepler in her role as Contributing Editor of the Rutter Group treatise Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Appeals and Writs, the authoritative treatise on civil appellate practice in California. He regularly speaks to groups of trial lawyers on appellate developments and record preservation, with recent programs including Recent Developments in Appealability for Pincus Professional Education in 2025 and The Appeal Killers CLE webinar in 2023.

• Experience

Jeff specializes in appeals while remaining a subject matter generalist, regularly briefing and arguing in both California and federal appellate courts. He also consults with trial attorneys before, during, and after trial to advise on key legal issues, assist in drafting dispositive post-trial motions, and prepare attorneys and clients to pursue or defend a subsequent appeal. His additional notable wins include Riversiders Against Increased Taxes v. City of Riverside, reversing a determination that a local tax election failed constitutional requirements, and Coastline JX Holdings LLC v. Letwak & Bennett, reinstating a default judgment and an attorney fee award of approximately $300,000.

Michael Alfera, Senior Associate | Munck Wilson Mandala

Michael Alfera is a senior associate in the litigation practice of Munck Wilson Mandala in Los Angeles, where he develops winning, results oriented case strategies in complex commercial disputes. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in high stakes business and commercial litigation in state and federal courts, and clients trust him to distill complexity into clear, persuasive arguments and narratives that move decision makers. A recognized thought leader on legal writing and litigation strategy, he regularly presents CLE programs that equip other attorneys to elevate their advocacy.

• Education & Credentials

Michael earned his JD summa cum laude from Southwestern Law School in 2018 and his BA in Music magna cum laude from the University of Southern California in 2009. He is admitted to practice in California and before the United States District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of California. In law school he was a member of the championship team at the 2018 Wagner Labor and Employment Law National Moot Court Competition in New York City.

• Recognition & Leadership

In April 2025 Michael took the stage at TEDxSouthwestern, where he explored the evolving impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession. His recent presentations include Ten Tips to Transform Your Legal Writing for the Southwestern Law School Inn of Court, The Lawyer’s Guide to Impactful Writing for Justia, and prior myLawCLE webinars on legal writing and business litigation. He is also the founder of The L.A. Choral Lab, a 501(c)(3) performing arts nonprofit dedicated to advancing the modern choral art form.

• Professional Involvement

Michael serves as an Executive Committee Member and Barrister of the Southwestern Law School Chapter of the American Inns of Court and as an Executive Committee Member of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers.

• Experience

Michael has first-chaired two bench trials, including a commercial unlawful detainer trial, obtaining complete victory for his clients in both cases. He co-chaired a federal jury trial in a hotly contested trademark dispute, securing a $1.4 million verdict and defeating all counterclaims, and he second-chaired a California state trial of a business partnership dispute that produced a $2.7 million jury verdict including significant punitive damages. He also conducted four depositions in a highly contested breach of fiduciary duty and defamation case and cross-examined the same witnesses at the arbitration hearing. Earlier in his career he served as a judicial law clerk in California state court and federal court, providing research and draft work product on hundreds of cases.

SESSION 1 – The Stages of Writing: Madman, Architect, Carpenter, and Judge | 1:00pm – 1:20pm

A four stage approach to the writing process that separates creative drafting, structural planning, careful construction, and critical editing, giving each phase of the brief its own focused attention.

SESSION 2 – Understanding Your Audience and Avoiding Common Judge Pet Peeves | 1:20pm – 1:40pm

How busy courts actually read briefs, the recurring pet peeves that erode credibility before the argument begins, and the practical habits that keep the reader focused on the merits.

SESSION 3 – Crafting Engaging Openings and Leveraging Your Table of Contents | 1:40pm – 2:00pm

Techniques for openings that frame the case from the first sentence, plus strategies for turning the table of contents into a persuasive roadmap of the entire brief.

BREAK | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

SESSION 4 – Creating Memorable Themes and Impactful Conclusions | 2:10pm – 2:40pm

Building a memorable theme that unifies the brief from start to finish, and closing with conclusions that reinforce the requested relief and leave a lasting impression.

SESSION 5 – Paragraph- and Sentence-Level Hacks to Make Your Brief Shine | 2:40pm – 3:10pm

Paragraph and sentence level techniques that tighten prose, improve flow, and make the brief stand out, with concrete edits ready to apply to the next filing.