Heather L. Rosing is the long-standing Chairperson of both the Complex Litigation and Professional Liability Department and the Discipline Defense, Ethics, and Risk Management Department. A Certified Specialist in Legal Malpractice Law, Ms. Rosing has developed a nationwide reputation as a skilled litigator in complex and multiparty matters, particularly those involving issues of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, professional negligence, malicious prosecution, civil conspiracy, RICO, and aiding and abetting. Known for her strong advocacy and decades of experience in these arenas, Ms. Rosing’s track record includes notable victories in State Court litigation, Federal Court litigation, and arbitration. Ms. Rosing also practices in the area of administrative law, representing a myriad of professionals before disciplinary agencies, including attorneys in proceedings with the State Bar of California and judges and commissioners in proceedings with the Commission on Judicial Performance.
In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Rosing is a deeply experienced risk manager, providing advice to hundreds of law firms, legally related organizations, directors and officers, professional fiduciaries, accountants, and other professionals in the areas of ethics, conflict of interest, disqualification, duties to third parties, unauthorized practice of law, fee agreements, fee sharing, privileges, fiduciary duties, and professional responsibility. She previously served as General Counsel of Klinedinst PC. Due to her depth of experience, Ms. Rosing is sought out as a consultant and expert witness in these areas, as well as on issues of law firm management.
Ms. Rosing was recognized as the #1 SuperLawyer in San Diego in 2024, and one of 18 lawyers honored as “Lawyer of the Decade” by the Daily Journal in January 2021. In 2024, she also received the California Women Lawyers’ Judith Soley Lawyer as Citizen Award for her commitment to service in the arenas of diversity and gender equality. In 2021, the San Diego legal community came together at the annual Red Boudreau Trial Lawyers Dinner to recognize Ms. Rosing with the Daniel T. Broderick III Award, which honors the highest standards of civility, dedication, and professionalism in the practice of law. In 2022, she received the David H. Bartick Award for Civility and Professionalism from the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.
Ms. Rosing is the Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers Professional Liability, which hosts the biannual National Legal Malpractice Conferences. She served as an appointed advisor to the Rules Revision Commission of the State Bar of California, which recommended wholesale revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct (adopted in large part by the California Supreme Court in 2018), and as an appointed member of the Mandatory Insurance Working Group of the State Bar. She frequently speaks on a pro bono basis on malpractice, ethics, and risk management issues across California and the country. Ms. Rosing was also appointed to serve as the co-vice chair of the Civility Task Force, which is a joint effort among the California Lawyers Association (CLA), the State Bar, and the California Judges Association (CJA).
In addition, Ms. Rosing is the current co-chair of the CJA’s Judicial Fairness Coalition, which focuses on education about the judicial branch and the importance of judicial independence. She also served as an appointed member of the ABA Standing Committee on Specialization, which accredits specialty certification programs for lawyers in particular fields of law offered by private organizations. In 2020, when the COVID 19 pandemic disrupted the judicial system, Ms. Rosing was part of the Steering Committee of RESOLVE Law San Diego, which offered free mediations and discovery referee services to civil litigants across the county. For many years, she has also been involved in the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ), assisting with the Success Inside and Out program at the Las Colinas Women’s Facility and the NAWJ annual conferences in San Diego. She is currently the co-chair of the NAWJ Annual Conference Friends Committee, helping to prepare for the October 2024 NAWJ conference in San Diego.
In 2018-2019, Ms. Rosing served as the inaugural President of the CLA, the largest statewide voluntary Bar Association in the country. During her tenure, she launched the organization, focusing on its 16 Sections, the California Young Lawyers Association, governmental affairs, bar relations, and initiatives in the areas of diversity, access to justice, and civics education. Under her leadership, CLA took over the Annual Meeting, which has brought together judges, lawyers, and organizations from across the State for several days of meetings for over 80 years. Ms. Rosing was also subsequently the inaugural President of the philanthropic sister organization of CLA, the California Lawyers Foundation (CLF). CLF focuses on supporting organizations, causes, and projects related to the core CLA initiatives, including pathways programs for students across California.
Previously, she served for four years on the State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees as Vice-President, Treasurer, and Chairperson of the Regulations, Admissions, and Discipline Oversight Committee. A strong advocate for judicial and legal diversity, Ms. Rosing served as President of ChangeLawyers (formerly the California Bar Foundation), which awards pipeline grants, scholarships, and fellowships across the State. Ms. Rosing has also served in leadership roles of many other organizations, including as President of the San Diego County Bar Association in 2008. During her presidency, she launched a Diversity Fellowship Program, spearheaded a civility initiative, and founded a pro bono program to assist active duty service members.
The recipient of numerous accolades, Ms. Rosing was recognized by the Daily Journal as Top Lawyer of the Decade in 2021, as well as Top 100 Lawyers in California (2018-2024). Best Lawyers in America® has consistently recognized Ms. Rosing for many years, and honored her in both 2014 and 2022 as Lawyer of the Year in Legal Malpractice Law Defense. She has also been frequently and consistently honored by San Diego Super Lawyers (2008-2024), including Top 25 Women San Diego Super Lawyers, Top 50 San Diego Super Lawyers, and Number 1 Attorney in San Diego County. Ms. Rosing was named Woman of Influence in Law 2021 by the San Diego Business Journal, which previously honored her as CFO of the Year (2011, 2014, 2016). She is the recipient of the San Diego Law Library Foundation’s Excellence in Public Service Award (2019), Fastcase 50 (2019), Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation’s Corporate Commitment to Diversity Award (2016), Lawyer of the Year by the San Diego Defense Lawyers (2015), and the Exemplary Service Award by San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (2014). For her work in the Bar Association community, she received the National Conference of Bar Presidents’ 2022 Fellows Award. She holds the Highest AV®-Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
Born in the Chicago area, Ms. Rosing attended the University of Illinois and Northwestern University School of Law, where she served as president of the Student Bar Association and received the prestigious Wigmore Award. She has been licensed to practice law in California since 1996, and in Illinois since 1997.
Education
- University of Illinois (B.S., 1993)
- Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1996)
