Judge Lawrence P. Riff

Judge Lawrence P. Riff sits at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles County, having been appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown on July 16, 2015. His pre-bench career spans nearly three decades of private practice and in-house litigation work, including a partnership at Steptoe and Johnson LLP from 1997 until his appointment, a prior partnership at Lane Powell PC from 1989 to 1997, and earlier work as a trial attorney at Southern Pacific Transportation Company. He earned his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. This background reflects a career grounded in complex civil litigation and corporate defense work before ascending to the bench. Based on publicly available case coverage, Judge Riff's docket includes complex civil matters of significant scale. Recent news coverage associates his court with a coordinated Roblox addiction lawsuit proceeding as a California JCCP, a relocation suit against Disney in which at least one claim was dismissed, and a suit involving California entities and underpayment claims. The JCCP coordination assignment in particular signals that Judge Riff handles high-volume, multi-party complex litigation. No analyzed rulings, attorney observations, or ingested content are available at this time, which limits the depth of behavioral and procedural analysis that can be offered. The profile data from court records and public sources provides a factual foundation for understanding his background and current docket, but attorneys should conduct independent research into his specific rulings and courtroom practices before appearing before him.

Given Judge Riff's extensive background as a civil litigator and partner at two major law firms, attorneys should expect a judge with substantial familiarity with complex civil procedure, discovery disputes, and motion practice. His in-house experience at Southern Pacific Transportation Company also suggests exposure to corporate and transportation-related litigation. Attorneys presenting complex commercial or tort matters should be prepared for a bench that understands sophisticated legal arguments and does not require basic procedural education. The presence of a JCCP coordination on his docket — the Roblox addiction lawsuits — indicates that Judge Riff is assigned to or capable of managing large-scale coordinated proceedings. Attorneys in complex or coordinated matters should be prepared for structured case management, clear scheduling orders, and organized presentation of issues across multiple parties. Familiarity with JCCP-specific procedures and the California Rules of Court governing coordination proceedings is essential for any attorney appearing in those matters. Because no ruling analyses or attorney observations are available, attorneys cannot rely on established behavioral patterns for this judge at this time. Independent research into his published orders, tentative rulings (if available through the court's online system), and any reported decisions is strongly recommended before any appearance.

• critical

  Research Published Tentative Rulings

  The Los Angeles Superior Court posts tentative rulings online for many motion hearings. Reviewing any available tentative rulings from Judge Riff's department is the most direct way to understand his current analytical approach and procedural preferences.

• critical

  Review JCCP Procedural Rules if Applicable

  If appearing in the Roblox addiction JCCP or any coordinated proceeding before Judge Riff, attorneys must be fully versed in California Rules of Court governing JCCP matters, including coordination trial judge procedures.

• important

  Analyze the Disney Relocation Dismissal Order

  The reported partial dismissal in the Disney relocation suit is a concrete data point about Judge Riff's willingness to grant dispositive motions. Obtaining and reviewing that order will provide direct insight into his pleading standards and motion-to-dismiss analysis.

• important

  Prepare for Sophisticated Bench Questioning

  Given his background as a partner at Steptoe and Johnson LLP and Lane Powell PC, Judge Riff has extensive experience with complex civil motions. Attorneys should prepare for detailed, technically informed questioning and avoid oversimplifying legal arguments.

• important

  Identify Department-Specific Local Practices

  Stanley Mosk Courthouse departments often have standing orders and local practices beyond the California Rules of Court. Attorneys should obtain and review any standing orders issued by Judge Riff's department before filing or appearing.

• ›Arrive fully prepared on procedural and substantive issues; Judge Riff's career as a civil litigator at major law firms reflects a high baseline expectation for attorney preparation.
• ›In JCCP or coordinated proceedings, follow all coordination-specific scheduling and filing protocols precisely, as these proceedings require strict adherence to structured case management.
• ›Do not assume familiarity with basic civil procedure will substitute for case-specific preparation; a judge with decades of litigation experience will expect counsel to know the record and the law in detail.