Heiting and Irwin

The only past President of the State Bar of California ever elected from the Inland Empire, James Heiting handles civil litigation matters throughout California, recovering over $100 million for clients, dealing with wrongful death, serious injury, professional malpractice and transportation accidents. Also past President of Riverside's County Bar, his firm has served the Inland Empire for over 30 years.

The managing partner of Heiting & Irwin has been practicing law since receiving his doctorate degree in law in 1976. Mr. Heiting is admitted to practice before all courts of the state, the federal courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the California and United States Supreme Courts.

Mr. Heiting also served on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California, was a co-founder of the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court (training younger or less experienced members of the bar) and a charter member of the Inland Empire Federal Bar Association. He was president of the Other Bar (a statewide organization of judges and lawyers helping other lawyers and judges) 1991-1993, and a board member from 1988-2003 and again since 2006. He is or has been a member of multiple federal and state litigation, ethics, and trial associations. He is currently the American Bar Association west coast Commissioner appointed to the Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, studying, evaluating, and providing oversight and support for programs in nine states.

Mr. Heiting has served in a variety of roles in Superior Court and the Federal District Court. He is also sought after as a privately requested and court appointed arbitrator and mediator in state courts and the California Court of Appeal. He has been an invited speaker, lecturer and panelist for the State Bar and a variety of legal and community organizations.

Emphasizing civil litigation in his career, Mr. Heiting represents clients throughout the State in bringing and/or defending a wide variety of claims. He is recognized as an extremely successful, tough and tenacious lawyer.

Mr. Heiting and his wife Cindy were married in 1971 and have three sons. They live in Riverside.

Mr. Irwin is a recognized specialist in Workers' Compensation law. He has been certified as a specialist by the State Bar of California since 1995. He limits his practice to handling only workers' compensation cases.

Mr. Irwin was born in San Antonio, Texas, but has spent his entire adult life in Southern California.

Mr. Irwin has strong ties with the Riverside Community, having graduated from La Sierra High School in 1973 and having obtained an Associate in Arts degree from Riverside City College in 1975. His wife and two children were born and raised in Riverside, and both of his children currently attend the University of California at Riverside. Additionally, Mr. Irwin has been involved with coaching youth basketball, baseball, and soccer programs for over 15 years and is currently serving as the Director of Coaches for his community youth soccer league, which position he has held for the last 5 years. Mr. Irwin achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from UCLA in 1977. He earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1980. Since 1989, he has handled exclusively workers' compensation cases and is a recognized certified specialist in that field. He is a member of the California Applicant's Attorney's Association and Workers' Compensation Section of the California State Bar. A strong supporter of rights of the injured worker, he is one of a select few State Bar Certified Specialists in the area.

Mr. Serrano grew up in British Columbia, Canada and moved to California when he was 20. He graduated with honors from California State University Dominguez Hills, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. While an undergraduate student, besides many community, sports, and school activities, Mr. Serrano worked in Washington D.C. as a Congressional Intern for a California Congressman.

Mr. Serrano was recruited and attended law school on a full scholarship. He received his law degree from the University of La Verne College of Law. While in law school, he was selected to be a member of the moot court honors program and the school's moot court traveling team in nationwide competitions. He also received a CALI award in the area of Legal Research. Admitted to practice before California State and Federal Courts, he has an active practice in both. He has argued before the California Court of Appeal for the Fifth District and has petitioned for California Supreme Court review. These are remarkable accomplishments for one relatively early in his law career. Mr. Serrano is a member of the Riverside County Bar Association and is an officer on the board of the Riverside County Barristers Association. He is also a member of the Leo A. Deegan American Inn of Court, the Riverside Chapter of an organization devoted to the fostering of excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills. Coming from a multi-lingual heritage, Mr. Serrano also speaks French fluently.

Jeffrey Almon Boyd was born and raised in Riverside. He graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science, an interdisciplinary field which includes computer science, neurobiology, and psychology. While there, he was appointed the Commissioner of Student Advocacy, representing students at disciplinary proceedings and updating the Student Conduct Code. He competed on the Mock Trial team each of his four years there, serving as captain and president during his senior year. Mr. Boyd also worked as administrative assistant to a well-known California Congressman, in Washington, D.C.

Earning his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine Law School, he served as the Lead Articles Editor for the administrative law journal, responsible to review all articles in the field, selecting those worthy to be published in their journal; and he was selected to be a Palmer Center Fellow for his work in business, intellectual property, and technology.

While still a student at Pepperdine, he was given special permission to appear in Superior Court, handling preliminary hearings, criminal motions, and appeals. He also went to London, England, where he clerked for a law firm, handling securities and debt offerings for European Union markets. In recognition of his standing and reputation, he additionally served the law school on the Honor Board, which investigated and prosecuted all allegations of academic dishonesty, and was elected the Chair during his third year.

Mr. Boyd was then recruited to work for the largest private law firm in the Inland Empire. He handled litigation involving public entities and businesses, as well as handling code enforcement matters for several cities. Wanting a more personal attorney-client relationship and to serve the personal needs of clients, Heiting and Irwin was a perfect fit.

Mr. Boyd is heavily involved with the Mock Trial program in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties and currently serves as attorney coach for Redlands High School, the county-wide winners last year. Mr. Boyd is a member of the Riverside County Bar Association and serves as an officer with the Riverside County Barristers. Additionally, he volunteers time with Mother's Against Drunk Driving, and at the Inland Empire Latino Lawyer's Association pro bono legal clinic.

For more than twenty-two years, Joshua's practice has emphasized personal injury claims and other civil matters. He also assists clients with various estate planning needs, particularly in developing family and individual trusts. He began his career in the field of banking law, focusing on commercial transactions, business organizations, and real estate matters.

Joshua Cates attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and then received his undergraduate degree from the University of California and his Juris Doctorate degree in 1978 from Washington University Law School in St. Louis, Missouri.

He is admitted to practice before state and federal courts not only in California, but also in Illinois, Missouri and Virginia. A native of Southern California, Joshua lives in the local mountain community of Wrightwood with his wife and three children.

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