By Alexi Silverman
Neil, Dymott, Frank, McCabe & Hudson APLC
Jordan Sannipoli, who was recently promoted to partner of Bickel Sannipoli APC after just five years of practicing law, knew she wanted to be an attorney when she took a general education class in college called “The Art of Trial.” Sannipoli grew up in a family of musicians and had been in the spotlight herself when she performed theatre. She realized being an attorney was similar to being a performer, so she set her sights on performing on a different stage — the courtroom. From there, Sannipoli competed on UC Irvine’s nationally ranked mock trial team and earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Sannipoli attended the University of San Diego School of Law, where she excelled in legal writing and later served as a teaching assistant. She gained hands-on experience by interning with the USD Legal Clinics, externing with a judge, and clerking at a civil litigation firm. She graduated cum laude in 2015 with her juris doctor and a civil litigation concentration.
After passing the California bar, Sannipoli started her attorney career in civil litigation at her current San Diego firm, then-named the Bickel Law Firm, which specializes in lemon law. Despite never being a “car person,” she put the pedal to the metal and found her passion in advocating for consumers against national car manufacturers. In her first year of practice, she completed not one, but three jury trials.
Significantly, Sannipoli went to trial in 2016 in Krause v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC in Ventura County Superior Court. The Krauses had returned their 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK to the dealership four times for inappropriate activation of the emergency brake engagement warning. Mercedes refused to settle the case and forced the matter to a jury trial. Mercedes flew a team of trial attorneys down from Northern California, with a 30-year trial veteran leading the defense. At trial, Mercedes’ expert witness testified the warning activation was due to user error and insisted the car was not defective.
Sannipoli argued the Krauses had used the vehicle appropriately and that the vehicle suffered from a warrantable problem. The jury returned its verdict in the Krauses’ favor. When Mercedes appealed, Sannipoli briefed and argued the appeal before the Second District Court of Appeal. The Court affirmed the verdict against Mercedes-Benz which, due to Sannipoli’s advocacy, secured final and decisive justice for the Krause family.
In her next few years of practice, it was typical for Sannipoli to maintain a caseload of 40 cases and handle all case aspects, from filing to settlement/verdict, and sometimes appeal. Brief writing is a big part of her job, but going to trial, the very aspect that drew her to become an attorney, is her favorite part.
After only six years of practice, Sannipoli made partner this year at the same firm where she started, ushering in the name change to Bickel Sannipoli. She says it is “surreal” to reach this milestone. She attributes her success to her ability to thrive under pressure and stay calm while being thrown into new situations. In conjunction with her promotion, she has also taken on a bigger mentorship role to the firm’s associate attorneys. Sannipoli’s biggest piece of advice for new lawyers is to maintain a strong work ethic and to exude confidence.
When she is not fiercely advocating for her clients, Sannipoli loves baking cookies and living a “laidback life” in America’s Finest City.
To nominate yourself or someone else for a future NLD Member Spotlight, click HERE. The NLD Member Spotlight highlights NLD members who have recently achieved something impressive in or outside of the legal field. Nominees must be an SDCBA member and a law student or lawyer with less than seven years in practice.