Biography | Edward P. Garson

Ed Garson is a trial lawyer with experience in large, complex, high-exposure civil matters involving a wide range of issues, from professional liability and financial fraud to construction accidents and property damage.

A primary focus of Ed’s practice involves the defense of construction liability and defect matters, with particular experience representing steel erectors and crane companies in personal injury, property damage and impact claims. Ed also has a significant practice defending insurance brokers and agents, architects and engineers, financial advisors, lawyers, and real estate brokers and agents in professional malpractice litigation.

Ed’s litigation approach emphasizes early, cost-effective claims resolution, with the ability to go to trial if that strategy best serves the interests of the client. He has taken many cases to verdict, including trials lasting more than six months. He has appeared before California federal and state courts and argued appeals in the California Court of Appeals, California Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also has been admitted pro hac vice in the Territory of Guam and the State of Washington in order to try major cases on behalf of clients.

Prior to joining Wilson Elser in 1987, Ed was a deputy attorney general for the Office of the Attorney General for the State of California, Torts and Condemnation Division.

Areas of Focus

Construction
Ed has handled all types of construction-related legal matters, from dispute resolution to contract negotiation. He has defended contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers and material suppliers in construction liability and defect cases. He has developed extensive experience defending construction matters involving injuries to ironworkers, as well as equipment suppliers such as cranes, scissor and aerial lifts. He also has handled environmental exposure cases involving silica, asbestos, ground and water pollution, and construction-related toxic releases. His knowledge extends to issues of construction contract terms and conditions, additional insured coverage, and contractual indemnity.

Professional Liability
In the professional liability area, Ed has defended insurance brokers and agents, architects and engineers, financial advisors, lawyers, and real estate brokers and agents in both trials and appeals. He is the co-coordinator of the firm’s insurance professionals group within the Specialty Professional Risks practice. The group is focused on the representation of insurance brokers and agents, as well as other types of insurance professionals such as MGAs, TPAs, actuaries, investigators, program administrators and loss control/risk management consultants, in the defense of errors and omissions claims.

Education

Golden Gate University School of Law (J.D., with highest honors, 1980)
- Golden Gate Law Review, editor
State University of New York at Buffalo (M.A., 1976)
Cornell University (B.S., 1975)

Bar Admissions

California

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

Professional Affiliations

State Bar of California, Litigation Section

Awards & Honors

Selected for inclusion in Northern California Super Lawyers, 2018-2019

Ed Garson is a trial lawyer with experience in large, complex, high-exposure civil matters involving a wide range of issues, from professional liability and financial fraud to construction accidents and property damage.

A primary focus of Ed’s practice involves the defense of construction liability and defect matters, with particular experience representing steel erectors and crane companies in personal injury, property damage and impact claims. Ed also has a significant practice defending insurance brokers and agents, architects and engineers, financial advisors, lawyers, and real estate brokers and agents in professional malpractice litigation.

Ed’s litigation approach emphasizes early, cost-effective claims resolution, with the ability to go to trial if that strategy best serves the interests of the client. He has taken many cases to verdict, including trials lasting more than six months. He has appeared before California federal and state courts and argued appeals in the California Court of Appeals, California Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also has been admitted pro hac vice in the Territory of Guam and the State of Washington in order to try major cases on behalf of clients.

Prior to joining Wilson Elser in 1987, Ed was a deputy attorney general for the Office of the Attorney General for the State of California, Torts and Condemnation Division.

News Briefs

Nine Wilson Elser Attorneys Named to Northern California 2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

July 18, 2019

$74 Million Cliffhanger Ends with Affirmance on Appeal

Edward Garson (Partner-San Francisco), William Cook (Partner-Detroit), and Francis Torrance (Of Counsel-San Francisco) brought to a satisfactory conclusion the hugely contentious case, TransMart, Inc. v. San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART). In the underlying case, defended by Ed Garson, Francis Torrence and other members of the San Francisco team in 2019, TransMart entered into an option contract with BART, giving TransMart the opportunity to lease space in BART’s train stations for retail space. When the deal fell apart and BART rejected TransMart’s effort to exercise the option, TransMart sought $90+ million in damages. The jury unanimously ruled against the plaintiff’s breach of contract action and 9–3 against their breach of covenant of good faith claim. On April 28, 2022, Ed argued the appeal and Bill was the chief author of the appellate briefs. The Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District wasted no time in agreeing with Ed and Bill in all respects. Another great win for BART, a long-standing client of the firm.

Edward P. Garson and William S. Cook