Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP is an AV rated, civil litigation firm with an unparalleled record of successful results for our clients, emphasizing prompt, economic resolution. We possess the knowledge to navigate all state and federal venues in California and Nevada for our clients. We obtain the best possible solutions for our clients, efficiently and effectively meeting our clients' objectives. Our 95% success rate in trial speaks for itself.  Although highly successful at trial, we recognize that early resolution often meets our clients' objectives, and we pride ourselves on our early and accurate evaluation of all matters.
A key ingredient of our firm's success is the diversity of our attorneys.  Our philosophy of inclusion is a cornerstone of our firm, and we are committed to diversity both within the firm and the profession of law at large. 
Our clients include numerous Fortune 500 companies and insurance companies, including the following: Cincinnati Insurance Companies, CSAA Insurance Group, Discount Tire, EB Stone & Son, Inc., Forrest River Inc., Galpao Gaucho USA, Global Indemnity Group, IAT Insurance Group, Mike Thompson’s RV, Raley’s, RVs of Sacramento, The Save Mart Companies, US Concrete, Western National Insurance Group, Woodside Hotel Group.

Featured Attorneys 

Howard P. Brody

Senior Litigation Counsel

Howard P. Brody is Senior Litigation Counsel in the Los Angeles office.  He has over 40 years of litigation and trial experience.  Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Brody was a Deputy City Attorney with the Anaheim City Attorney’s Office, Chief Deputy County Counsel in San Diego, trial counsel for Hartford Insurance, and General Counsel for a large private residential landlord with thousands of units.

Mr. Brody has tried over 70 jury trials and more than 200 bench trials to verdict.  He is admitted to practice in all California state and federal courts.

Mr. Brody earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and History from New York University.  He then earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the City University of New York before attending Southwestern University School of Law.  He graduated in the top 10 percent of his class.

Mr. Brody was recently appointed to serve as a Trustee representing the City of San Marino, Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District, and previously served on the Planning Commission for the City of San Marino.

Profile
Christina Newell Image
Christina Newell

Associate

Christina Newell is an associate in our Los Angeles office, where she represents individuals and entities in a range of disputes, including real property, landlord-tenant, and homeowner association matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Newell worked for boutique law firms representing a wide range of large and small employers in employment and workers’ compensation matters. Ms. Newell is admitted to practice before all California state courts and the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Since joining our firm, Christina has obtained many positive outcomes for clients in pre-trial motions, settlements and trials. Recent accomplishments include a successful motion for summary judgment in a slip and fall case that occurred at a client’s home and a settlement of a waiver of costs in exchange for a dismissal in a dog bite case.a space 





extra space

Profile
Cristiana C. Giannini

Associate

Cristiana C. Giannini is an associate at our San Francisco office, where she defends corporate entities, small businesses, individuals, and non-profits in various stages of litigation including alternative dispute resolution, mediation, and trial throughout California. 

Ms. Giannini’s current practice focuses on real property disputes, premises liability, personal injury, and landlord-tenant matters.  Since joining the firm in 2022, she has efficiently resolved dozens of tort and commercial liability claims, conducted depositions and expert discovery, successfully argued complex motions and demurrers, and handled all stages of arbitrations and trial preparation.  She has a broad range of experience from her prior work as a public defender in DeKalb County, Georgia, where she prevailed in multiple jury trials, and in the Bay Area non-profit sector, where she advocated for individuals seeking access to public health benefits as well as criminal records expungements.  Ms. Giannini earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and her master’s degree in Public Policy from Stanford University.  She earned her law degree at University of California, Berkeley. 

Profile

Recent Results/News