Following nearly 14 years of distinguished service on the bench for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division, Honorable Andrew Guilford has retired and is available to serve as a mediator, arbitrator, and private judge, including special master assignments, and case evaluator.
During his judicial tenure, Judge Guilford sat by designation on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and is one of only two Central District Judges to have been invited to sit at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He served as one of the few Patent Pilot Program judges in the Central District. As a federal judge, Guilford heard over a hundred trials, sometimes sitting without a jury, on matters including patent, trademark, copyright, defective products, securities, employment, civil rights, professional liability, class actions, MDL, and of course, criminal matters.
Before his appointment in 2006, Judge Guilford served as an arbitrator and Judge Pro Tem for the Orange County Superior Court, leveraging the experience he gained as a trial lawyer for more than 31 years. At Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton for his entire career as a lawyer, he tried complex commercial cases across a variety of industries, such as major league sports, medical devices, banking and finance, real property, telecommunications, and entertainment. At a young age, he was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Judge Guilford’s love for the community and passion for giving back is evidenced in his more than four decades and countless hours lecturing and authoring for law schools, religious entities, legal publications, bar associations, and judicial organizations both nationally and internationally. As a trial lawyer and judge, he has received many prestigious awards from various bar associations, including the Orange County Bar Association’s Franklin G. West Award—the organization’s highest honor, presented to outstanding attorneys and judges whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and law.
Judge Guilford has earned a reputation for his compassionate, intellectual, fair, intuitive, and hardworking demeanor, all qualities he brings to the private sector. One attorney commented: “Judge Guilford always has been prepared, committed and well respected. Following many years of private practice on complex matters and on the bench, he treated lawyers with respect and gave them the opportunity to represent their clients, while achieving justice. He was always actively engaged and personable, and he operated with supreme verve. These attributes certainly will make him highly in demand, as both a private judge and a mediator, and rightly so.”
Judge Guilford’s interests are varied and include traveling, writing, poetry, photography, theater, and sports, being a fan of UCLA, the Dodgers, Lakers, and Rams, and playing basketball and tennis. Time with his family is most valued, and he is proud of his grandson and two granddaughters.
"Judicate West is quite fortunate to have Judge Guilford join its team. He is the cream of the crop – one of the best minds around and impeccably fair and thoughtful. The judiciary’s loss is Judicate West’s gain."
- Attorney in Los Angeles
"Judge Guilford is well known and respected for his legal acumen and willingness to commit his time, energy and skill to even the toughest, most complex cases. Judge Guilford solves problems and tackles emerging issues as demonstrated by his efforts to found an Intellectual Property focused Inn of Court and participation in the Central District’s patent pilot program. Judge Guilford is a dedicated volunteer to the legal community having led the Orange County Bar Association, Public Law Center, and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Judge Guilford has used his position to promote access to justice throughout California."
- Attorney in Orange County
"The mediator worked diligently and efforted to give us a resolution that did finally occur. He did see the issues between the parties that needed to be overcome."
- Intellectual Property Attorney
"It is exciting that Judge Guilford will be available as a neutral. With his work as a litigator handling complex civil matters before being appointed, combined with his experience on the federal bench, there are very few judges with Judge Guilford’s extensive background in the resolution of complex civil matters."
- Attorney in Fresno
"An important leader and mentor for the Orange County Bar for decades. He has great insights and perspectives from both sides of the bench that will make him a highly valued neutral."
- Attorney in Orange County
"Judge Guilford was prepared, professional, and persistent. I will not hesitate to use his services again."
- Attorney on an IP Patent case
"Judge Guilford was terrific. I look forward to working with him again and also will definitely refer him to my colleagues."
- Partner and Trial Lawyer Focused on Complex Business Litigation
"I thought Judge Guilford was terrific. I would use him again."
- Attorney on a Malicious Prosecution case
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