H. Larry Elam III Senior Trial Attorney

H. Larry Elam III's Results

$1.35 Million

Wrongful Termination

Settlement: $1,350,000 million | Wrongful Termination

Our client was an Area Manager for a large financial institution. He was terminated after he complained about another manager sexually harassing one of the employees, and after our client participated in an investigation of the complaints. The case settled through mediation for $1,350,000.

$1.25 Million

Toxic Mold Exposure

Settlement: $1,250,000 | Jane Doe v. ABC Corp.

Our clients suffered personal injuries as a result of mold exposure. The exposure killed their puppy. We were the fifth lawyer on the case. Plaintiff’s prior lawyer recommended that they accept a $90,000 settlement offer. We thought Defendant had done way too much harm to our clients and needed to fully compensate them. The case settled for $1,250,000 on the courthouse steps.

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Profile
Credentials

Bio

“The insatiable desire to help people in need is why I became an attorney. I did not realize how transparent this had been until my oldest daughter, who is newly admitted attorney, informed me that she had wanted to become an attorney. I made sure she understood that I would be proud of her no matter what vocation she pursued. I asked her why she wanted to be an attorney. Her response moved me. She said, “I have wanted to be an attorney since I was four years old.” I asked her why and she said, “because I want to help people like you.”

Henry “Larry” Elam III was born in April 1962 in Los Angeles, California. He was raised in Pasadena, California. He always knew that when he “grew up,” he would be a veterinarian. He loves animals, but despite his love of animals, he was drawn and guided to the practice of law to help people.

Work at the U.S. Attorney’s Office

Instead of seeking admittance to veterinary school, Larry embarked on a journey to become an attorney. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from California State University – Los Angeles while working full-time at the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles as a grand jury coordinator. His experiences with the United States Attorney’s office and his experience as a paralegal convinced him that he should reach for the brass ring and become a lawyer.

In August 1992, at the urging of the Assistant United States Attorneys he had worked with for several years, Larry started his law school education at Santa Clara University School of Law. Larry was a finalist in moot court during law school and worked several semesters in the Law School’s pro bono clinic. Larry graduated from law school in May 1995 and was admitted to the California Bar in December 1995.

Initial Experience as a Defense Attorney

After graduating from law school, Larry became an associate at a Washington D.C. based defense firm in San Francisco. Larry would work as a defense lawyer from 1995 to 2004, when he left the international law firm of Holland & Knight in September 2004, to start a Plaintiff’s practice with his good friend and former law partner at Holland & Knight, Mark Venardi. They called their Plaintiff’s firm “Venardi Elam LLP.” During this time at Venardi Elam, Larry found his life’s mission – helping those who have been preyed upon, marginalized, exploited, and ignored.

Switch to Representing Individuals

In 2004 Larry made the switch from a corporate defense lawyer to a plaintiff’s lawyer. Since 2004, Larry has taken on the cause of individual clients instead of defending large corporations. Larry believes that representing real people with real problems and issues is what he was born to do.

For more than 28 years, Larry has provided quality legal services to a wide range of clients located throughout Northern and Southern California. He is dedicated to helping clients achieve the results to which they are legally entitled, whether it is a favorable resolution in an employment dispute or an award of damages that fully compensates them for the life-altering severe injuries they have suffered. With a wealth of litigation experience, Larry has the skills and expertise needed to advocate for his clients’ rights in litigation, settlement negotiations or trials in both State and Federal Courts.

In recognition of his work on behalf of clients, the national directory of attorneys Martindale Hubbell has awarded Larry its AV Preeminent rating, indicating the highest standards of professional excellence.

In his spare time, Larry enjoys cooking/grilling/BarBQing, golfing, spending time with his Wife and Two Adult Daughters and training/playing with/walking with his rambunctious Rottweiler “Nala.”

Areas of Practice

Personal Injury
Amputation injuries
Catastrophic injury from automobile incidents
Wrongful Deaths
Locomotive/train-related injuries
Products liability
Wrongful termination/harassment of employees
Retaliation
Whistleblower
Asbestos
Automobile Lemon Law
Construction defects (residential/commercial)
Business disputes
Executive severance negotiation

Honors and Awards

“AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell

Bar Admissions

California, 1995
All California State Courts
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court Central District of California
U.S. District Court Southern District of California

Education

Santa Clara University School of Law
- Juris Doctor – 1995
- Moot Court Finalis
California State University – Los Angeles
- B.A. – 1991
- Dean’s List
- Major Political Science