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Once Legal Foes, These Two Established Firms Teamed Up to Secure California’s Largest Malpractice Recovery

Once adversaries in the courtroom, Dunn DeSantis Walt & Kendrick and Stanford And Associates have forged a powerhouse alliance—redefining legal malpractice litigation and securing a historic $125+ million settlement.

From Adversaries to Allies

For decades, the attorneys at Dunn DeSantis Walt & Kendrick (DDWK) and Stanford And Associates faced each other across courtrooms in some of California’s most contentious legal malpractice cases. One firm became known for its broad litigation firepower, including the defense of attorneys. The other built a near-mythic name for holding them accountable. In the insular world of legal malpractice litigation, few rivalries ran deeper than this one. Or had more mutual respect.

But in a recent, unexpected twist, the two San Diego-based firms—longtime adversaries—have joined forces. And the result? One of the most powerful legal collaborations in California, marked by a groundbreaking $125+ million settlement over the summer, which now stands as the largest legal malpractice recovery in state history.

“This unique partnership allows us to combine decades of experience in this important niche practice area,” says David Cardone, founding partner at DDWK. “Together, we’re able to pursue claims with insight that very few firms can offer because we’ve lived on both sides of the table.”

Dan Stanford, founder of Stanford And Associates and widely regarded as one of the most seasoned legal malpractice litigators in the country, echoes the sentiment: “The collective expertise of the two firms now presents an unrivaled team. I don’t believe there’s another group in California, or the country, better equipped to handle high-stakes malpractice litigation.”

It’s a story of mutual respect forged through years of combat. Now, that intensity is being channeled in one direction: securing justice for clients wronged by the very legal professionals who were responsible to protect them.

Legendary Lineage: The Firms Behind the Names

The origins of DDWK trace back to the 1960s, when J. Lawrence Irving, who would later become a federal judge, and several of his colleagues left a prominent San Diego law firm to forge their own path. Over generations, that legacy evolved into the formidable firm known today as Dunn DeSantis Walt & Kendrick. With a legal team that includes partners and staff who’ve been with the firm for decades, DDWK has cultivated a deep bench of courtroom-tested professionals known for litigating high stakes matters, including the defense of law firms.

Along with Cardone, the DDWK team includes standout attorneys Kevin DeSantis, Jim McFaul, Brad Lebow, and Adam Yarbrough—each of whom brings years of experience litigating legal malpractice claims. DeSantis, like Dan Stanford, is one of California’s first attorneys to be recognized by the State Bar as a certified specialist in Legal Malpractice Law. Their collective defense background adds great depth to the alliance.

By contrast, Stanford And Associates built its reputation on the other side of the aisle. Led by Dan Stanford, a longtime veteran of legal malpractice litigation, the firm has filed more claims against attorneys and law firms than any other in California. Stanford has long been the go-to name for those seeking to hold negligent attorneys accountable—an almost singular force in this highly specialized area of law.

The irony is rich: DDWK, long known for its successes in the defense of professional liability cases, now finds itself partnering with one of the attorneys it once faced off against most frequently.

“Having fought them for decades, I knew just how good they were,” Stanford says of DDWK. “I wanted to be in the foxhole with them—not against them.”

That combination—Stanford’s unmatched experience prosecuting malpractice claims and DDWK’s intricate understanding of defense tactics—has resulted in what many in this specialized legal community, including fellow practitioners and mediators, see as a dream team.

The Turning Point: A Case, a Dinner, and a Decision

The seeds of the alliance were planted in 2020, when Cardone approached Stanford about teaming up on a commercial dispute involving an AmLaw 100 firm. The case required the pursuit of malpractice claims, and Stanford brought a plaintiff-side expertise that complemented DDWK’s litigation chops. The collaboration proved successful and more importantly, seamless. The die was cast. Cardone and Stanford began to undertake more cases together.

But the real turning point came in late 2023, after Cardone and Yarbrough secured one of the largest jury verdicts of the year. Stanford took Cardone out to dinner to celebrate. Over that meal, he made a proposal that would change the trajectory of both firms: why not form a deeper, more strategic alliance?

“After that win, I realized something,” Stanford recalls. “This wasn’t just a good team; it was the right team. We shared the same values, the same obsession with detail, the same willingness to fight hard and smart. And deliver results. The time was right to formalize what we had started.”

A decision was made to unite under a shared mission: take on only a small number of high-value, high-stakes malpractice cases, and pursue them with full force.

To streamline collaboration and build day-to-day synergy, Stanford physically moved into DDWK’s downtown San Diego office in 2024. “Being in the same office lets us work faster, think bigger, and be more responsive,” he says. “It also gives me a chance to share lessons with their younger attorneys, something I’m enthusiastic about, and proud to do.”

Record Breakers: Inside the $125M Milestone

Their biggest case to date came earlier this year when the two firms secured what appears to be California’s largest legal malpractice settlement ever: a staggering $125+ million pre-litigation resolution.

The case was complex, high-stakes, and emotionally charged. The client had suffered catastrophic losses due to egregious missteps by one of the nation’s most prominent firms. The client’s leadership didn’t want just any lawyers—they wanted a team that could combine insider knowledge, litigation firepower, and demonstrated courtroom success. 

“They hired us specifically because of this collaboration,” Stanford explains. “They said, ‘We wouldn’t have hired either of you alone. But together, we believe you can win.’ That was powerful.”

For six months, the team worked around the clock to build a nine-figure case. They prepared a litigation-ready complaint, assembled a blue-ribbon panel of expert witnesses, and applied unrelenting pressure to the defendant firm and its insurers. Their strategy: prepare so thoroughly for trial that the only logical outcome was settlement.

“We prepared for war and got peace,” Yarbrough says. “But only because we built a nuclear case.”

The client, who had expected years of drawn-out litigation, was stunned and thrilled when the case resolved early. “This case set a new standard, not just for results, but for what collaboration at the highest level can really accomplish,” Stanford adds.

The Alliance in Action: What Comes Next

Fresh off the record-breaking win, the team has wasted no time in tackling a new slate of high-stakes claims.

One current case involves a young man who tragically lost his arm in a 2020 boating accident on the Colorado River. His original attorneys, from a high-profile Los Angeles-based personal injury firm, initially estimated the claim was worth in excess of $50 million. But then they settled the case for a mere $50,000—believing no further recovery was possible. DDWK and Stanford And Associates disagreed. They identified additional parties and uncovered avenues for substantial recovery.

“Being able to help someone who’s been hurt twice—once by the accident, and again by his own legal team—is what drives us,” says Yarbrough. “These cases aren’t just about dollars. They’re also about dignity.”

Another case centers on an Orange County investment advisor who was encouraged by his attorneys to settle with the SEC without being warned that the deal would effectively shutter a large part of his business. The result? Tens of millions in lost revenue, and a steep decline in the size of his firm.

“Cases like this are our bread and butter,” says Cardone. “High-value losses. High-level legal missteps. We specialize in navigating the complexities of the underlying cases and forging an effective path forward.”

And they don’t shy away from trial. While many firms hope to settle, DDWK and Stanford make it clear: they’re always ready for a jury. “Some cases demand a courtroom,” Stanford says. “And we look forward to putting justice in the hands of jurors.”