How much does it cost to hire Frances for a general case?

Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Frances walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

Does Frances offer a free consultation?

Frances charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Frances's office. Some general attorneys offer free consults — check Frances's current terms during booking.

How long do general cases in California typically take?

Simple general matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Frances gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

Can Frances take my case if I'm outside Los Angeles?

Frances is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Frances will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

What should I bring to my first meeting with Frances?

Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Frances will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

Is Frances accepting new general clients right now?

Frances's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Unclaimed · Is this you?

Frances M. O'Meara, General Attorney in Los Angeles, California

Over 37 years of legal practice · focused on General, Insurance, and Litigation · 4.8/5 rating from 34 verified client reviews

PartneratWood Smith Henning Berman Llp

Los Angeles, CA

Practicing general in Los Angeles since 1989.

37+: Years practicing
4.8 ★: 34 client reviews
1: Bar admission

Practices in

General Insurance Litigation Personal Injury

Are you Frances M. O'Meara?

This profile was built from public bar records and is still unclaimed. Claim it free to control your photo, bio, and fees — and get client inquiries sent straight to you.

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Quick answer

Frances M. O'Meara is a partner based in Los Angeles, CA. The practice focuses on General, Insurance, and Litigation. Frances has over 37 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Wood Smith Henning Berman Llp. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 34 client reviews.

Based in: Los Angeles, CA
Experience: over 37 years
Known for: General · Insurance · Litigation

Handles General, Insurance, and Litigation matters from Los Angeles, CA.
Over 37 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
Recognized with AV Preeminent.

Areas of practice

Legal matters Frances takes on

Frances concentrates on general, insurance, litigation, and personal injury. Each area below outlines the kind of case Frances handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.

General cases in Los Angeles, California

Frances takes general matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Frances agrees to represent you.

Insurance cases in Los Angeles, California

Frances takes insurance matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Frances agrees to represent you.

Litigation cases in Los Angeles, California

Frances takes litigation matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Frances agrees to represent you.

Personal Injury cases in Los Angeles, California

Frances takes personal injury matters in Los Angeles, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Frances agrees to represent you.

Biography

Meet Frances M. O'Meara — general lawyer in Los Angeles

Frances O’Meara is a partner in WSHB’s El Segundo office, part of the firm’s Los Angeles presence, serving clients throughout Southern California. She specializes in defending attorneys, accountants, architects, insurance agents, real estate brokers, appraisers, doctors, and nurses in complex errors and omissions cases. Frances is certified by the California State Bar as a Legal Malpractice Specialist and is a distinguished member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). She provides strategic counsel to professionals and law firms on legal, ethical, and risk management matters, including loss control, cybersecurity, and data privacy.

Frances works directly with major insurance carriers throughout the United States, non-insured attorneys, large corporations, healthcare providers, and financial institutions. She has extensive experience in D&O financial lines and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on fidelity, fiduciary, and surety claims investigation and litigation. Frances also defends healthcare providers with claims related to healthcare management, assisted living, dental malpractice, and nursing.

She is experienced in defending general liability matters arising from premises liability, trucking, automobile, and accident claims involving property damage, personal injury, and wrongful death. Her clients have included bars, restaurants, property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, and trucking companies.

Frances also has experience in employment litigation, including discrimination claims, employment contracts, retaliation, sexual harassment, and sexual assault/molestation claims. She additionally handles fidelity and bond matters throughout the State of California.

Newsroom

News

•WSHB Partner Frances O'Meara Earns ABOTA Membership
Firm News, 1.29.26
•Frances O'Meara Named 2025 Woman of Influence by Los Angeles Business Journal
Firm News, 5.26.25
•Frances O'Meara Named CLM Professional of the Year in Outside Defense Counsel Category
Firm News, 4.10.25
•Partner Frances O'Meara Named Finalist for CLM Professional of the Year in Outside Defense Counsel Category
Firm News, 2.19.25
•WSHB Partner Frances O'Meara Selected as Finalist for CLM Professional of the Year Award
Newsroom, 3.1.24
•Powerhouse Trial Partner Frances O’Meara Joins WSHB
Firm News, 7.19.22

Events, Seminars & Speaking Engagements

•Speaker, "How Generative AI is Changing the Practice of Law," CLM Annual Conference, Dallas, TX (April 10, 2025)
•Speaker, "Insurance Law in California," The Seminar Group, Marina del Rey, CA (March 21, 2025)
•Speaker, "YP 'Poutine' Together a Legal Malpractice Defense Checklist To Spot Common Summary Judgment Arguments," ABA National Legal Malpractice Conference, Vancouver, BC - Canada (September 18-20, 2024)
•Speaker, "To Be or Not to Be in Arbitration," Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming (DLAW) (August 1, 2024)
•Speaker, "Nuclear/Catastrophic Exposure," Professional Liability Defense Federation (PLDF) (June 4, 2024)
•Speaker, "Beware of Breaking Bad Lawyers: The Impact of Badly Behaving Lawyers on the Legal Profession," ClaimsXchange Education on Location Conference, Nashville, TN (April 18, 2024)
•Speaker, "Breaking Bad: The Impact of Badly Behaving Lawyers on the Legal Profession," CLM Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA (April 3, 2024)

•Speaker, "The New Old Game in Town," Allied World (March 2024)

•Speaker, "With Apologies to Rod Stewart: We Don’t Stay Young Forever," DRI Professional Liability Seminar, New York, NY (November 29-December 1, 2023)
•Instructor, "California Fair Claims Regulations," CapSpecialty, Hartford, CT (September 25-27, 2023)
•Speaker, “Selecting and Working with Expert Witnesses” and “Investigating & Evaluating Professional Lines Claims," CLM Claims College, Baltimore, MD (August 16-19, 2023)
•Instructor, CLM School of Professional Lines (2023)
•Instructor, CLM School of Professional Lines (2022)
•Speaker, "Professional Liability: How to Overcome Obstacles Perpetuated by the Pandemic," CLM Focus (June 15, 2022)
•Speaker, "Don't Waiver from Risk Management: Learn to Spot Conflicts and Other Red Flags at Intake," Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (March 17, 2022)
•Speaker, Hinshaw Annual Legal Malpractice Risk Management Conference ( March 2022)
•Instructor, CLM School of Professional Lines (2021)
•Speaker, "Poor Decisions," ClaimsXchange (2021)
•Instructor, "Investigating & Evaluating Professional Lines Claims," CLM School of Professional Lines (September 8, 2021)
•Instructor, CLM School of Professional Lines (2020)
•Instructor, CLM School of Professional Lines (2019)
•Instructor, “All About Professional Liability Claims,” PLUS University (August 5, 2019)
•Speaker, "Alexa Draft a Motion for Summary Judgment," CLM Cyber Management and Professional Liability Conference (July 10-12, 2019)
•Speaker, "A Rabbi, a Priest, and an Imam Walk into a Bar - Alternative Judicial Forums for Resolution," CLM Annual Conference, Orlando, FL (March 13-15, 2019)
•Speaker, "You Got Issues: Lawyers E&O Insurance Coverage," DRI Professional Liability Seminar, New York, NY (November 29-30, 2018)
•Speaker, "Airbnb - B-ware and B-legal," CLM Management and Professional Liability Conference (July 27, 2017)
•Speaker, "50 Shades of Grey ... Hair ... Recognizing the Client with Diminished Capacity, Argo Panel Counsel Summit Seminar (June 28-29, 2017)
•Speaker, "Social Media, Fitbits, and Smartphones - Practical Tips to Handling New Sources in Discovery," Allied World Counsel Summit (May 9, 2017)
•Speaker, "The Exception Letter: When the Insured Pushes Back," DRI Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute, Chicago, IL (April 7, 2017)
•Speaker, "Succession Planning and 'Aging Out' of Attorneys: Developing a Comprehensive Strategy for Succession Planning," ACI-LPL Legal Malpractice Conference, New York, NY (October 24, 2016)
•Speaker, SoCal PLUS Cyber Insurance Conference (October 20, 2016)
•Speaker, "California Fair Claims Act," Allied World (May 19, 2016)
•Speaker, "TMI: The Positives of Over Sharing," ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar (March 4, 2016)
•Speaker, "Claims Handling Experts: How to Find Them, Manage Them, and Win with Them," Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee CLE Seminar (March 6, 2015)
•Speaker, "Anticipating and Resolving Claim Issues In a Tough World," Claim Advocacy & Bad Faith Workshop (October 29, 2014)
•Speaker, "California Fair Claims Regulations," RSUI (May 12, 2014), Allied World (May 13, 2014), YorkPro (July 29, 2014)
•Speaker, "Strategies for Defending Legal Malpractice Litigation," RSUI (April 18, 2014)
•Frances O'Meara to Speak at Applied Financial Lines Lawyers' Forum
Speaking Engagement, 6.18.25

Publications

•The $110 Million Verdict: A Warning Signal for the Long-Term Care Industry
Case Updates, 5.21.26
•Litigation Funding Reform Stalls Again: What It Means for California Businesses
Article, 9.2.25
•The Coming Storm: Defending Insurance Agents and Brokers Against E&O Claims in the Aftermath of the L.A. Fires
Article, 3.28.25
•California Supreme Court Eliminates Prejudice Requirement for Waiver in Arbitration Agreements
Case Updates, 9.26.24
•Don’t Miss Your Shot: Preserving the Power of Arbitration
Article, 10.23.23
•Beware: Arbitration Clauses Might Not Be the Costs-Saving Solution in the Long Run
Case Updates, 5.16.23
•Attorneys Duty to Notify Opposing Party of Intent to Seek a Default
Case Updates, 10.31.22
•California Targets Litigation Funding With New Regulations, Los Angeles Daily Journal, March 16, 2026
•You Don’t Want to “Shoot a Missed Approach” from Your Adjuster’s Desk, October 17, 2016
•A Cautionary Tale: Regarding Arbitration Agreements in Professional Liability Retainers, October 27, 2014
•California Supreme Court Upholds Class Action Waivers but Finds PAGA Representative Actions Cannot be Waived, June 26, 2014
•Suggestions for Insurance Agents Responding to Questions Regarding Mold, Mealey’s Litigation Report: Insurance Broker Liability, Vol. 4, 5, July 8, 2008

In the News

•The $110 Million Verdict: A Warning Signal for the Long-Term Care Industry
•WSHB Partner Frances O'Meara Earns ABOTA Membership
•Litigation Funding Reform Stalls Again: What It Means for California Businesses
•WSHB Wins ICRAA Cases, Helping to Shape the Landscape for Landlord and Property Management Liability

Honors & Recognitions

•Selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants (2024 - 2026) and Insurance - Law (2025 - 2026) in Los Angeles, CA
•Named a Woman of Influence: Attorney by the Los Angeles Business Journal (2025)
•CLM Professional of the Year Award - Outside Defense Counsel (2025)
•Selected as an AV Preeminent Attorney - Judicial Edition - by Martindale Hubbell (2025)
•Named to Los Angeles Business Journal's Top 100 Lawyers List (2024)
•Finalist, CLM Professional of the Year Award - Outside Defense Counsel (2024)
•Southern California Super Lawyers (2013 - 2026)
•Pasadena Magazine Top Attorney - Professional Malpractice (2023)
•Named a Woman of Influence: Attorney by the Los Angeles Business Journal (2023)
•Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Attorney
•Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
•VIP Woman of the Year - National Association of Professional Women (2014)
•Designation of Certified Litigation Management Professional: CLM Litigation Management Institute, hosted at Columbia Law School - October 2013

How Frances handles general matters

Who Frances represents

Frances reviews new inquiries case-by-case for general, insurance, and litigation matters in Los Angeles and the surrounding California area.

Credentials

Education, bar admissions, and languages

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
J.D. · 1988
Stanford University
M.S. Stanford · 1979

Jurisdictions

Frances's state bar admissions

California
1989 · ACTIVE

Frances studied at J.D. in Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and M.S. Stanford in Stanford University.

Law school and academic background

Frances completed J.D. in Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and M.S. Stanford in Stanford University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Frances runs in California is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Recognition

Recognition and thought leadership

Frances has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.

AV Preeminent

Legal awards and honors

AV Preeminent.

Affiliations

Frances's professional memberships and bar associations

Litigation Counsel of America
bar_fellowship

Locations

Frances M. O'Meara's office in Los Angeles

Frances's primary office is at 401 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1070, Los Angeles, CA, 90024-3702. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

Wood Smith Henning Berman Llp

401 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1070

Los Angeles, CA 90024-3702

Open in Google Maps

Client feedback

Client reviews of Frances M. O'Meara — 4.8/5 rating from 34 verified client reviews

Every review below is from a verified client of Frances. Reviews cover communication, case outcome, and value — the three signals that matter most when comparing general attorneys in Los Angeles.

4.8

34 client reviews

Client ratings are sourced from public records and editorial research. Reviews on LawyersListed are accepted from verified clients once Frances M. O'Meara claims this profile.

Read all reviews

Hiring guide

How to hire Frances M. O'Meara — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new general attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Frances usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

Frances charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Frances's office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Frances will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a general attorney in Los Angeles, California

A short list to run through before you commit: How many general matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Frances

Frances discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in general practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every general matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Frances confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

Frances's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many general practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about Frances M. O'Meara

How much does it cost to hire Frances for a general case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Frances walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Frances offer a free consultation?
Frances charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Frances's office. Some general attorneys offer free consults — check Frances's current terms during booking.
How long do general cases in California typically take?
Simple general matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Frances gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Frances take my case if I'm outside Los Angeles?
Frances is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Frances will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Frances?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Frances will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Frances accepting new general clients right now?
Frances's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Areas served

General attorneys serving Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego in California

Frances handles general matters throughout California. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified general attorneys in that community.

More counsel

If Frances's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these general attorneys in Los Angeles handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.