Richard J. Annen is the Managing Partner of SPARBER ANNEN MORRIS & GABRIEL and head of the firm's Litigation Department. He received his Juris Doctor and Master of Business degrees cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, where he was associate editor of the Notre Dame Law Review and received a Distinguished University Scholarship from the Notre Dame College of Business Administration. Mr. Annen received his B.B.A. magna cum laude from Western Michigan University. Mr. Annen was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1978, and to the California Bar in 1980. He is licensed to practice before all courts of the State of California and all federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Claims. He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, State Bar of California, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Mr. Annen was a Senior Associate with the law firm of Rogers & Wells from 1980 through 1984, where he specialized in general business and real estate law and securities law. From 1984 through 1986, Mr. Annen was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of a San Diego-based real estate development and investment firm. In 1986, Mr. Annen joined Imperial Federal Savings Association, rising to the position of Executive Vice President and General Counsel, where he remained until 1991 when he re-entered private practice.

Mr. Annen has extensive experience in a wide range of complex civil litigation including commercial and business tort litigation, personal injury, and medical malpractice, and has had numerous jury and bench trials and participated in all forms of alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Annen is certified in trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Annen also has substantial experience in the areas of commercial, securities, and real estate transactions.

Mr. Annen has represented the interests of insureds for many insurance companies, including Universal Underwriters, Chubb Insurance, and California Casualty Company. He has represented insurance carriers with respect to coverage issues, bad faith litigation, declaratory relief actions and comprehensive general liability policy issues. He has negotiated numerous multi-party settlements involving resolution of liability insurance issues in connection with settlement of underlying litigation and claims arising from real estate litigation, personal injury, professional and director and officer liability, products liability, and wrongful termination.