Big law firm shifts usually happen behind closed doors. You wake up one morning, and the sign on the building is different. That’s basically what happened recently with Behar Gibbs Savage Paulson, a name that has quickly become a heavyweight in the California and Nevada legal scenes.
If you’ve spent any time looking into civil defense or high-stakes litigation lately, you’ve probably seen these four names pop up. But this isn't just a new brand. It's actually a massive evolution of a legal powerhouse that has been around for decades under a different banner.
The Story Behind the Name Change
Honestly, law firm branding can be a bit of a snooze, but the story here is actually pretty interesting. For years, the team was known as Ford, Walker, Haggerty & Behar (FWHB). They were the "go-to" for insurance companies and big corporations facing massive lawsuits.
Then came June 30, 2025.
The old firm dissolved. It wasn't a messy breakup, but rather a strategic pivot. Most of the heavy hitters, led by Jeffrey S. Behar, branched off to form Behar Gibbs Savage Paulson LLP. It’s like when a classic rock band splits up, but the lead singer and the best guitarists stay together to start a new project.
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Where they are located now
The firm didn't just move across the street; they kept their stronghold at One World Trade Center in Long Beach, California. They actually occupy the top two floors. If you've ever seen the Long Beach skyline, you know the building—it's the 27-story tower that looks over the harbor.
They also have a massive presence in:
- Las Vegas: Operating out of Howard Hughes Parkway.
- San Diego: Holding down the Broadway corridor.
- Santa Ana & Sacramento: Covering the rest of the California legal hubs.
What Behar Gibbs Savage Paulson Actually Does
Most people don't hire these guys for a simple traffic ticket. They are a trial law firm. That means they live in the courtroom. Their specialty is "civil defense," which is a polite way of saying they protect companies and individuals when they get sued for millions of dollars.
One of the big things they handle is personal injury defense. If a major retailer has a slip-and-fall that turns into a multi-million dollar claim, or if a product is alleged to be defective, this is the team that gets the call.
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They also dive deep into:
- Professional Liability: Defending doctors, lawyers, and architects.
- Employment Law: Handling the messy stuff like wrongful termination or harassment claims.
- Complex Business Litigation: Basically, when two big companies start fighting over a contract and neither wants to back down.
The $36.4 Million Headache
You can't talk about the transition to Behar Gibbs Savage Paulson without mentioning the Infinity Insurance case. This is a real-world example of why law firms change or why clients get nervous. There was a verdict in Chatsworth where a jury awarded a motorist $36.4 million.
Infinity Insurance actually sued their former counsel (the old firm) claiming they "bungled" the case. While the lawsuit targeted the predecessor firm, it’s a perfect example of the high-stakes environment these attorneys operate in. When you're dealing with $36 million verdicts, there is zero room for error.
Meet the Key Players
It helps to know who is actually behind the letterhead. Jeffrey S. Behar is the name at the front of the line. He’s been licensed since 1977. Think about that for a second. That’s nearly 50 years of trial experience. You can't fake that kind of institutional knowledge.
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Then you have Patrick J. Gibbs, James Douglas Savage, and the rest of the partnership. These aren't just "paper partners." They are active trial lawyers.
- James Savage: He’s based in the Long Beach office and is known for being a shark in civil litigation.
- The Team: The firm isn't just four people; it’s a mid-sized powerhouse with 50 to 200 employees depending on how you count their satellite offices.
Why This Matters for the Legal Industry
The shift to Behar Gibbs Savage Paulson marks a trend in "Legal Tech" integration. They aren't just using old-school law books anymore. The firm has been very vocal about using cutting-edge litigation strategy—basically using data and tech to predict how juries might react or how a judge might rule.
It’s a bit of a "Modern Law" vibe. They kept the decades of experience but ditched the stuffy, outdated corporate structure of the old firm.
Actionable Insights for Clients and Peers
If you're a business owner or an insurance carrier looking at this firm, here’s the "so what":
- Check the Transition: If you had an open file with Ford Walker, it likely migrated to BGSP. You need to ensure your representation agreements are updated.
- Trial Ready: This firm is not a "settlement mill." They are known for taking cases to a jury. If you want a quick, quiet settlement, you have to be clear about that up front, because their natural instinct is to fight.
- Geographic Reach: Since they have offices from Sacramento to Vegas, they are great for companies that operate across state lines. It saves you from hiring five different firms.
The legal landscape in 2026 is faster and more aggressive than it was even five years ago. Behar Gibbs Savage Paulson seems to be the industry's response to that—a firm that's old enough to know the tricks but new enough to use the tech.