Bio
Adjunct Professor Yakov Wiegmann was born in Russia and immigrated to the U.S. as a child in 1989. He obtained his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 2001, and his J.D. from UC Law San Francisco (then known as UC Hastings) in 2006. While in law school, Professor Wiegmann worked as a law clerk at an immigration law firm and at the Federal Public Defender’s office.
Following his graduation from Hastings, Professor Wiegmann began working as an associate at the San Francisco civil litigation boutique Morgenstein & Jubelirer LLP, which combined with national full-service firm Schiff Hardin LLP (now ArentFox Schiff) in 2007. He became a partner at Schiff Hardin in 2014. In 2016, Professor Wiegmann left Schiff Hardin with a number of his partners to found Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP. In 2021, Professor Wiegmann joined Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, where he is currently a partner.
Professor Wiegmann’s practice focuses on civil litigation with a concentration in product liability and toxic tort defense, as well as the defense of technology companies in transportation-related litigation. He has also represented plaintiffs and defendants in aviation, catastrophic personal injury, commercial, and trust litigation. In addition, Professor Wiegmann has provided pro bono representation to immigrants, including asylum seekers and special immigrant juveniles (SIJ).
Professor Wiegmann has been selected for inclusion in the Northern California Super Lawyers® (2025) and The Best Lawyers in America® (2024-2025). He has also received the UC Law, San Francisco, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies’ Excellence in Pro Bono Asylum Award (2024).
Professor Wiegmann lives in Berkeley and enjoys running, skiing, learning to surf, hiking/backpacking, camping, travel, motorcycling, and spending time with his wife Wendy and their children Liev and Julianna. He serves on the boards of the Embarcadero YMCA and the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada.
Education
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UC Law SF College of the Law
J.D. 2006 -
UC Berkeley
B.A. 2001