Doris Cheng
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in San Francisco, California
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Products Liability; view more
Licensed in California since: 1998
Education: University of San Francisco School of Law
Call today:
415-981-7210
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger
650 California Street26th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108 Visit website
Details
Widely recognized for her legal work, Doris Cheng has been ranked as one of the top 50 women lawyers and top 100 lawyers in Northern California. She is listed among the Best Lawyers of America®, LawDragon 500 Leading Lawyers, SuperLawyers® and San Francisco Best Lawyers. She has been chosen as Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers of America for 2017.
Ms. Cheng is a partner in the law firm of Walkup Melodia Kelly & Schoenberger in San Francisco. She has obtained seven and eight figure settlements and verdicts on behalf of catastrophically injured plaintiffs. She is the current President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (San Francisco Chapter). She is the Immediate Past President of the Bar Association of San Francisco and the Justice & Diversity Center. She is a past President of the San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association. She has been inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and American College of Trial Lawyers. She serves as a member of the Kaiser Arbitration Oversight Board.
As part of the Rule of Law Initiative, Ms. Cheng has conducted training programs for trial lawyers and judges in Mexico, Kosovo, and Macedonia. She has led trial skills programs in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, Antigua, Bahamas, Trinidad, Guyana and other programs in the Caribbean Basin. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) and serves as the Program Director of the NITA Teacher Training Program.
She is an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law. She has taught trial advocacy at University of Notre Dame, Emory University and University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
Ms. Cheng is a co-author of the eminent treatise, The Rutter Group California Practice Guide on Personal Injury, and the trial practice guide, Mastering the Mechanics of Civil Jury Trials.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Products: PlaintiffFocus areas
Animal Bites, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Dram Shop Laws, Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Defects, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Wrongful Death
- 50% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 50% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1998, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.walkuplawoffice.com/attorneys/doris-cheng/
- American College of Trial Lawyers, State Committee, 2015-2018, 2015
- Cal-ABOTA Board of Directors, 2019 - 2020, 2019
- American Board of Trial Advocates, National Executive Committee, 2019-2020, 2020
- President, Justice & Diversity Center, 2019
- President, Bar Association of San Francisco, 2019
- President, San Francisco Chapter, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2020
- Education Programs Chair, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, 2006
- President, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, 2015
- Mock Trial Committee, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, 2003
- Executive Committee, American Inns of Court, USF Chapter, 1999
- American Association of Justice
- Board of Directors, Bar Association of San Francisco
- Board of Directors, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2003
- Women's Caucus Chair, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, 2004
- Resource Committee, National Association of Women Judges, 2007
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- American Bar Association
- Member, Judiciary Committee, Bar Association of San Francisco, 2006
- Education Programs Chair, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, 2009
- Oversight Committee Member, Office of Independent Administrator (Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Arbitration System) 2009 - present, 2009
- Board of Governors, University of San Francisco, School of Law, 2003 - 2006
- California State Bar Association
- Chair, Judiciary Committee, Bar Association of San Francisco, 2008 - 2008
- Top 100 Lawyers, SuperLawyers, 2019
- Professional Achievement Award, University of San Francisco, 2015
- Top 50 Women Lawyers, SuperLawyers, 2020
- Top 100 Lawyers, SuperLawyers, 2020
- Top 100 Lawyers, SuperLawyers, 2017
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers, 2017
- The Robert E. Cartwright, Sr. Award is given in recognition of excellence in trial advocacy and dedication to teaching trial advocacy to fellow lawyers and to the public., Robert E. Cartwright Sr. Award, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2019
- Best Lawyers in America, 2010
- John Meehan Fellow (University of San Francisco School of Law Distinguished Alumnus), 2007
- Extern Law Clerk, Hon. Saundra Brown Armstrong, U.S.D. Court Judge, University of San Francisco School of Law
- Bar Association of San Francisco Merit Award, 2008
- With Distinction, University of San Francisco School of Law
- Recipient, John J. Meehan Alumni Fellow Award, USF School of Law, 2007
- Finalist, "Trial Lawyer of the Year", San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, 2008
- University of California
- The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) has published a comprehensive guide to conducting civil jury trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. The white paper, “Guidance for Conducting Civil Jury Trials During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” is a legal resource to address the process of reopening courts and the many issues faced by the courts, the legal community, jurors and the public., Guidance for Conducting Civil Jury Trials During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020
- Evidence and Theory Testing Lectures, NITA Northwest Regional Trial Skills Program, August 12, 2009
- Lecturer, "Right to a Fair Jury Trial Despite the Media", USF Inn of Court, April 13, 2005
- Voir Dire Lecture, NITA Western Regional Trial Skills Program, June 18, 2009
- Presenter, Demonstration Automobile Accident Trial, San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, April 12, 2005
- Regional Trial Lawyer Conference, Strategic Deposition Techniques, Squaw Creek, Olympia, CA, June 13, 2009
- Lecturer, Powerpoint for Trial Lawyers (San Francisco), April 5, 2005
- Lecturer, "Closing Arguments", USF Intensive Advocacy Program, June 4, 2009 To June 4, 2009
- Public Interest Lawyer Advocacy Training, Trainer (San Francisco), 2005
- "Suing and Defending the Professional," (San Francisco), California Continuing Education of the Bar, Practising Law Institute, 2004
- Chair & Panelist, "Evidence Advocacy", San Francisco Trial Lawyer Association, June 2, 2006 To June 2, 2009
- Lecturer "Effective Cross Examination", University of San Francisco School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, 2004
- Effective Physical Communication Strategies During Trial (Webinar Lecture - Seminar Web Live!), May 27, 2009
- "Maximizing Damages with Medical Experts", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2004
- "Impact Direct Examination", CAOC Tahoe Ski Seminar, March 21, 2009
- Lecturer "Legal Ethics", NITA Advocacy Teacher Training, 2003
- National Ethics Competition, Judge, Sacramento, CA, March 20, 2009
- Lecturer "irect & Cross Examinations", University of San Francisco School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, 2003
- Stanford Law School Mock Trial Invitational, Judge, January 24, 2009
- Lecturer "Direct & Cross Examinations", University of San Francisco School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, 2003
- Evaluating and Advocating Your Settlement, CAOC 47th Annual Conference, November 8, 2008
- "Civil Litigation", National Business Institute, 2002
- Chair & Panelist, SFTLA, Medicine for Jurors, October 14, 2008
- Lecturer "Direct & Cross Examinations", University of San Francisco School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, 2002
- "Direct & Cross of Expert Witnesses", Department of Homeland Security In-house Advocacy Training Program, Louisville, CO, 2008
- Trial Skills Training Program, Pristina, Kosovo (U.S. Dept of Justice), 2009
- Lectures: "Closing Argument" and "Direct & Cross of Experts", USF Intensive Advocacy Program, 2008
- Solicitors Advocates Training Program, Belfast, United Kingdom, 2008
- Panelist, "Women in the Law", USF Intensive Advocacy Program, May 21, 2008
- "Cross Examination", CAOC 46th Annual Conference, November, 2007
- Presenter, "Jury Selection", NITA Southern California Trial Skills Program, 2008
- "Working with Economists on Personal Injury Damages", National Business Institute, November, 2007
- Chair, SFTLA Roundtable on Arbitrations Issues, December 18, 2007
- "Persuasive Speaking in the Courtroom", April, 2007
- Chair & Panelist, "Tactical Containment of Experts", SFTLA, December 11, 2007
- Faculty & Presenter, Juvenile Court Trial Skills Program, Bar Association of San Francisco, December 1, 2007 To December 3, 2007
- Editor, California Uninsured Motorist Practice, Continuing Education of the Bar, 2005
- Presenter, "Handling the Auto Case From Bumper to Bumper, Part I: Cross Examination", CAOC 46th Annual Conference, 2007
- Presenter, "Direct & Cross of Expert Economist" (NITA National Session), Louisville, CO, 2007
- "Practical Tips For Communicating With The Jury", SFTLA, April 10, 2007
- "Settle or Serve", CAOC Tahoe Ski Seminar, March 24, 2007
- Panelist, 32nd Annual National Trial Competition (American College of Trial Lawyers & Texas Young Lawyers Assocation), February 18, 2007
- Co-Presenter: "Closing Argument: The Last Word", University of San Francisco School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, June 1, 2006
- "Direct & Cross of Experts" University of San Francisco School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program", May 29, 2006
- Presenter: Gaining the Competitive Edge: Litigating to Win Through Advanced Trial Advocacy in California (San Francisco), April 27, 2006
- Panelist, 6th Annual Bay Area Conference, Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, February 4, 2006
- Lecturer, Handling Obstreperous Opposing Counsel (San Diego)
- Lecturer, Powerpoint for Trial Lawyers (San Francisco), 2006
- "Preparing Expert Witnesses", NITA National Session, 2005
- "Direct & Cross of Experts", University of San Francisco School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program, 2005
- Guest Speaker, USF School of Law Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, April 17, 2005
Office location for Doris Cheng
650 California Street
26th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: 415-981-7210
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2010 - 2025
Top Lists
Top 50: Women Northern California Super Lawyers: 2011 - 2014, 2016 - 2025- Top 50: 2025 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2024 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2023 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2022 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2021 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2020 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2019 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2018 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2017 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2016 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2014 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2013 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2012 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 50: 2011 Women Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2025 Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2018 Northern California Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2017 Northern California Super Lawyers