Anti-SLAPP Litigation in California: From Complaint Through Appeal [Two-Part Webinar] (OnDemand Streaming and Recorded Packages)

What You Will Learn

Agenda

Part 1: Tuesday, December 8, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time

Judge Commenting Throughout (or co-teaching a session): Hon. George A. Acero

1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
SLAPPS and Anti-SLAPPs: The Statutory Framework and Prong One
Brendan J. Begley

• Background and Definition
  • SLAPP Statutes
    • CCP 425.16
    • CCP 425.17
    • CCP 425.18
  • Basic Outline of Two Prongs
  • Impact of anti-SLAPP Remedies
• How to Recognize a SLAPP When You See It / Prong One
  • Types of Protected Activities
  • Examples and Hypotheticals

2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
BREAK

2:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
SLAPP Exemptions and Prong Two: Establishing a Probability of Prevailing
Nic Roethlisberger

• SLAPP Exemptions
  • Common Principles
  • Exemptions:
    • Public Enforcement Actions
    • Solely in the Public Interest
    • Certain Commercial Speech
    • Criminally Illegal Conduct
  • Prong Two – Probability of Prevailing
    • Burden
    • Evidentiary Showing
    • Minimal Merits
    • Responding to Defendant’s Substantive Legal Defenses
    • Mixed Causes of Action

3:40 p.m. -3:45 p.m.
BREAK

3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Litigating the Anti-SLAPP: Motions, Discovery and Hearings
Brad Estes

• Filing an anti-SLAPP Motion
  • Timing
  • Considerations compared with other motions (demurrer, MSJ, etc.)
  • Risk of SLAPPback?
• Discovery
  • Automatic Stay
  • Motion to Take Discovery
• Hearing
  • Timing
  • Trial Court’s Standard of Review

Part 2: Thursday, December 10, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time

1:00 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.
Drafting Complaints and Understanding SLAPP Backs
Megan E. Walker

• Making Your Complaint Less Vulnerable to an Anti-SLAPP
  • Generally cannot plead around anti-SLAPP
  • Key Nuances in Prong 1
• SLAPP Backs
  • Defined (CCP 425.18)
  • Timing
  • Grounds

2:05 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
BREAK

2:15 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.
Appealing an Anti-SLAPP Order
Stefan C. Love

• Timing
• Standards of Review
• Anti-SLAPP in Federal Court / Post-Gopher v. Melone (10 min)

2:55 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Anti-SLAPP Fee Motions for Defendants and Plaintiffs
Benjamin Siminou

• Fees to a successful defendant
  • CCP 425.16(c)(1)
  • Exceptions
  • Amount
• Fees to a prevailing plaintiff
  • When available
  • Burden

3:15 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
BREAK

3:20 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
California Anti-SLAPP Case Law Update: Significant Recent Decisions
Benjamin G. Shatz

• Escamilla v. Vannucci (2025) 17 Cal.5th 571
• Jung v. Acosta (2026), Case No. B340726
• People ex rel. Yolo-Solano Air Quality etc. v. Defty (2026) 120 Cal.App.5th 143
• Waterford Property Co. v. County of Orange (2026) 120 Cal.App.5th 530
• Zand v. Sukumar (2026) 119 Cal.App.5th 1144
• Pechkis v. Trustees of the California State University (2026) 119 Cal.App.5th 497
• Clapkin v. Levin (2026) 119 Cal.App.5th 222
• Semaan v. Mosier (2026) 118 Cal.App.5th 460
• Doe v. Salifornia Assn. of Directors of Activities (2025) 117 Cal.App.5th 796

Testimonials

The testimonials below are from the last time we held this program, with a slightly different agenda:

“The instructors were excellent and kept interest in the topic and materials. Good job!” – Gary Winuk, Esq.

“Great program. Thank you!” – Iveta Ovsepyan, Esq.

“The conference exceeded my expectations- this has been one of the most knowledgeable informative collegial and interactive conference in memory on this or any other subject.’” – Carlo Coppo, Esq.

“Outstanding!  Very, very helpful!  All speakers are excellent.” – David S. White, Esq.

“Good overview of intent of the law & unintended consequences.” – Elena Gerli, Esq.

“I came here for a general overview and to gain insight into how anti-SLAPP works in the real world, and I got just that.” – Susan Fritch, Esq.

“Tricky subject; well qualified panel.” – Peter Israel, Esq.

“I learned a lot about anti-SLAPP motions and approaches to them. The materials were well-organized and are very helpful.”

“I thought this was very practical and useful.”

“Engaging speakers and relevant content. I am new to anti-SLAPP law, so the training gave me a great introduction and practice tips.”

“Very satisfied.  I knew very little about this topic.  Case cites & practical application was helpful.”

“This is exactly what I was looking for.  You were right on!”  Charles R. Barrett, Esq.

‘“I am relatively new to the area, so the combination of overview and nuanced discussions were helpful.” Kenneth Paul Nabity, Esq.

“Great job everyone!”  Eva J. Lee, Esq.

“Very informative & practical.”  M. Wolf, Esq.

“One of the best programs I have attended in years. Very good overview of SLAPPs and practical considerations discussed.”

“Helpful appellate perspective.”

“Excellent- on point and well presented.”

“Good explanation of statute and application.”

“Very thorough and aimed at nuts and bolts.”

“Excellent panel & materials.”

“Speakers were extremely informative.”

“Helpful perspective from Judge’s position.”

“The content was good and helpful.”

“Excellent program. Outstanding speakers and content.”

Faculty

Hon. George A. Acero
Judge
Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento

Judge George Acero was appointed to the Sacramento County Superior Court in March 2021 by Governor Gavin Newsom. His current assignments are in civil trials and the minor’s compromse calendars. He has also presided over juevenile dependency, criminal trials, criminal preliminary hearings, magistrate duty, civil/criminal motions, civil mandatory settlement conferences, the mental health calendar, and civil harassment restraining orders.  Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Acero was the Owner of Acero Law, practicing as a plaintiff’s side employment attorney. Previous to that, he was a Partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP and an Associate at Porter Scott, practicing as a defense side employment, civil rights, environmental, and business litigation attorney.

Judge Acero is a former President and Board Chair of the Cruz Reynoso Bar Association and a former Vice Chair of the Board of the Foundation for California Community Colleges. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Berkeley School of Law, his undergraduate degree from San Diego State University, and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Judge Acero is also a contributing editor to The Rutter Group’s California Practice Guides Employment Litigation and Claims and Defenses.

Brendan J. Begley, Esq.
Shareholder, Certified Legal Specialist in Appellate Law
Weintraub | Tobin

Brendan spearheads the Appeals and Writs group at Weintraub Tobin and is a member of his firm’s labor and employment, probate and trusts, and litigation groups. He is an Appellate Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and previously was President of the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section. He has handled a number of anti-SLAPP motions and appeals, one of which resulted in a published opinion. See Vergos v. McNeal, 146 Cal. App. 4th 1387 (2007).

Brendan has delivered numerous public presentations to lawyers, executives, managers, and supervisors on the topics of anti-SLAPP motions, appellate law, and best employment practices. He is a senior contributing editor to The Rutter Group’s California Practice Guide on Employment Litigation. He is admitted to the State Bar of California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

In litigation, Brendan has prevailed on numerous anti-SLAPP and dispositive motions and saw two jury trials through to successful verdicts. At the appellate stage, he has handled both briefing and oral argument before all manner of appellate courts. The U.S. Supreme Court granted Brendan’s petition for a writ of certiorari that led to the high court hearing and resolving the “Pledge of Allegiance” case in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, 540 U.S. 945 (2003).

Brendan received his J.D. (with honors) from the University of California at Davis, where he was a law-review writer. Prior to law school, Brendan worked as a newspaper reporter for The Sacramento Daily Recorder. While in law school, he worked as a law clerk at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii. After law school, he served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable John M. Gerrard, Associate Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court, and later as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Connie M. Callahan, Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Brad Estes, Esq.
Partner
Lewis & Llewellyn LLP

Brad Estes is an experienced litigator, representing plaintiffs and defendants across a wide variety of industries at every stage of complex commercial litigation, including business tort, contract, fraud, regulatory, trade secret, trademark, employee mobility, and competition disputes.

Brad has a proven track record of counseling senior leadership, orienting his litigation approach to the strategic needs of the business and emphasizing tenacity, creativity, and pragmatism. He prides himself on his subject matter adaptability and ability to dive deep into the facts of a case at any stage. Brad’s practice has been uniquely trial-focused, providing insight at every stage of the case of the ultimate risks and rewards his clients face. He is also experienced at performing pre-litigation investigations to identify claims, mitigate liability, and resolve disputes at an early stage. He has been recognized as a Northern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Brad also founded and runs Lewis & Llewellyn’s annual fellowship, which is designed to promote access to the legal profession by providing hands-on litigation experience, law school preparation, and general professional development to high-achieving young adults from a diverse array of backgrounds.

Before joining Lewis & Llewellyn, Brad clerked for the Honorable Lawrence J. O’Neill of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. Prior to clerking, Brad practiced at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in San Francisco, California, representing a range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to privately held corporations, including pharmaceutical, consumer product, professional, and technology companies. The vast majority of Brad’s time at Quinn Emanuel was spent in or preparing for jury trials in state and federal courts across the country.

Stefan C. Love, Esq.
Partner
GMSR Appellate Lawyers

Stefan C. Love has briefed and argued cases in California’s Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal as well as in the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Like most appellate litigators, Stefan is a subject area generalist whose true specialty is appellate practice itself. The issues in his cases have included contract law, family law, securities fraud, constitutional law, and more. Many of his recent wins have involved disputes over insurance coverage. For insurance clients, Stefan secured a series of wins establishing that pandemic-related business losses were not covered by property insurance. On the policyholder side, Stefan obtained a Ninth Circuit reversal that allowed GMSR’s bank client to proceed with a million coverage claim against its forgery insurer.

In addition to his work for clients, Stefan joins GMSR partner David Hackett each winter to present a “year in review” summary of notable civil appellate decisions to members of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC).

After graduating first in his class from the UCLA School of Law, Stefan worked at a BigLaw firm and clerked for Judge Paul J. Watford at the Ninth Circuit.

Before going to law school, Stefan was a professor of music theory, most recently at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has yet to encounter a legal issue more arcane than the dustier corners of music theory.

Outside of work, Stefan enjoys playing the piano, cooking, and spending time with his wife and two sons.

Nic Roethlisberger, Esq.
Partner
Kwun Bhansali Lazarus LLP

Nic Roethlisberger has a broad litigation practice and has tried cases in state and federal court, as well as  private arbitration. He has experience in everything from complex commercial litigation and class action defense to intellectual property and shareholder derivative lawsuits.

Nic has handled large, high-stakes matters worth hundreds of millions of dollars and smaller, sensitive cases where clients faced both monetary and reputational risk.  Nic’s experience ranges from from pre-litigation negotiations through depositions, motion practice, trial, and appeal. He has examined witnesses at trial, argued dispositive motions, and written appellate briefs in both the California Courts of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit.

Nic is a Bay Area native and before law school was a newspaper editor.  He now lives in Oakland with his wife and daughter.

Benjamin G. Shatz, Esq.
Partner, Certified Legal Specialist in Appellate Law
Duane Morris LLP

Benjamin G. Shatz is a partner in the firm’s Trial Practice Group, focusing on appellate advocacy and complex litigation matters. Benjamin represents clients in high-stakes appeals, writ proceedings, and discretionary review matters in state and federal courts across the country. His appellate experience spans a broad range of industries and legal issues, including complex commercial disputes, entertainment and copyright matters, employment litigation, real estate and land use, banking and insurance, product and professional liability, class actions, unfair competition, and anti-SLAPP proceedings.

Benjamin has argued and handled matters before the U.S. Supreme Court, multiple U.S. Courts of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, and the California Courts of Appeal. Earlier in his career, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert J. Johnston of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada and as a judicial extern to the Honorable Dorothy W. Nelson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is certified as a specialist in Appellate Law by the California Bar. A recognized thought leader in appellate law, Benjamin is a frequent author and speaker on litigation and appellate strategy.

Since 2018, he has written a monthly column for the Daily Journal titled Exceptionally Appealing and has served as editor-in-chief of California Litigation since 2013. His work has also appeared in California Lawyer, Los Angeles Lawyer, and the CEB Civil Litigation Reporter, among other publications. He is a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers and has been recognized by Chambers, The Best Lawyers in America, and other ranking organizations.

Benjamin is a magna cum laude graduate of the Pepperdine University school of Law, where he was Associate Editor of the Pepperdine Law Review and the California Supreme Court Survey.

Ben Siminou, Esq.
Partner, Certified Legal Specialist in Appellate Law
Singleton Schreober

Ben Siminou is a certified appellate specialist, and leads our Motion, Writs & Appeals practice group. Mr. Siminou handles law-and-motion and appellate briefing in complex, high-stakes cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He has notable wins in the California Supreme Court, Nebraska Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and California Court of Appeal. Between 2020 and 2023, Mr. Siminou defeated dispositive motions in cases with an aggregate value of 0 million.

In 2023, Mr. Siminou received the first ever “Appellate Case of the Year Award” from Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for Ross v. Superior Court, 77 Cal.App.5th 667 (2022), which held that efforts to tamper with a witness in a civil case are admissible at trial as consciousness of guilt, and may justify so-called “apex” depositions of high-ranking government officials.

In 2021, Mr. Siminou received the “XONR8R Award” from the California Innocence Project for his pro bono work in Larsen v. California Victim Compensation Board, 64 Cal.App.5th 112 (2021), which expanded the rights of wrongfully convicted persons to receive compensation for their time spent incarcerated.

In 2018, Mr. Siminou received the “Appellate Advocacy Award” from the National Civil Justice Institute in Washington D.C., which “recognizes excellence in appellate advocacy” nationwide. The award acknowledged Mr. Siminou’s work in T.H. Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp., 4 Cal.5th 145 (2017), a landmark decision by the California Supreme Court that greatly expanded rights for victims of mislabeled drugs.

Super Lawyers recognized Mr. Siminou as a “Rising Star” in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and a “Super Lawyer” in 2021.

Before entering private practice, Mr. Siminou served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Michael G. Heavican, Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court. He then spent nearly a decade with Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire LLP, before starting Siminou Appeals, Inc., a solo appellate practice.

Mr. Siminou earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University with a double major in political science and English. He graduated Order of the Coif with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law, where he was the editor in chief of the Nebraska Law Review and earned numerous honors and awards, particularly for his legal research and writing.

In 2020, Mr. Siminou joined the Committee on the Appellate Courts, a select, statewide group of appellate lawyers in the public and private sectors that help influence rules and procedure in California’s appellate courts. In 2023, he joined the board of directors for Consumer Attorneys of San Diego.

Mr. Siminou volunteers his time to pro bono cases and as a mentor for The Appellate Project, guiding law students of color or from marginalized groups who are interested in careers in appellate advocacy.

When Mr. Siminou is not writing briefs or consulting with trial lawyers, he can be found at the beach or on a hiking trail with his wife and children, in the gym, or on a racetrack in a car.

Mr. Siminou is admitted to practice in California, Nebraska, and the Second, Third, Fifth, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Megan E. Walker, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Certified Legal Specialist in Appellate Law
Benedon & Serlin, LLP

Megan Walker recently joined Benedon & Serlin, an appellate boutique based in Los Angeles, as a senior attorney. Previously, she was a partner in the San Diego office of a large management-side Labor & Employment law firm, where she served on the standing committee for the Women’s Initiative and served as her office’s pro bono liaison. A Certified Appellate Specialist, Megan has handled dozens of appeals in the California Court of Appeal and worked with trial counsel to advise on potential appellate issues.

Megan has also served as an instructor in Human Resources Management & the Law at San Diego State University, delivered guest lectures in Employment Law at the University of San Diego School of Law, and published insights and been quoted on employment law and related topics in many magazines and newspapers, including The Daily Journal, Law360, and The Daily Transcript, as well as industry-specific publications for the Craft Beer, Retail, and Hospitality industries. She has been recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as one of the Top 100 Leaders in Law and in 2021 was awarded the C. Hugh Friedman New Lawyer award from the Lawyers Club of San Diego.

Megan earned her B.A. from New York University and her J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. While in law school, Megan was an Articles Editor for the Ohio State Law Journal, served as President of the Business Law Society, and externed at the District Court for the Southern District of Ohio as well as the civil division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.

Fees

Fees & Format Options

🎯 Early Bird Rate Deadline: Save $100 through September 30, 2026.
Discount applied automatically at checkout.

💻 OnDemand Streaming

Watch the recorded seminar on your own schedule, as often as you’d like, from any device. Access lasts one year from purchase.

• Standard Rate: $429
• Early Bird Rate: $329*
• Includes: Seminar recording + written materials
• For individual use only

Group rates available for 3–4 attorneys watching together. Licenses available for 5+ attorneys—contact us for details. info@pincusproed.com or (877) 858-3848.

📦 Recorded Packages (Download, DVD, or CD)

These packages are for a single viewer and include seminar materials.

▶️ Video Recording (Download or DVD)

• Standard Rate: $429
• Early Bird Rate: $329*
• For individual use only

🎧 Audio Only Recording (Download or CD)

Great for listening in your car or on the go.

• Standard Rate: $429
• Early Bird Rate: $329*
• For individual use only

🎥 + 🎧 Video + Audio Combo (Download, DVD, or CD)

• Standard Rate: $479
• Early Bird Rate: $379*
• For individual use only

Shipping & Tax: $12 shipping added to DVD/CD orders (plus sales tax in CA)

🗓️ Availability

This program will be recorded live on December 8 & 10, 2026.
OnDemand Streaming and Recorded Packages will be available approximately 2–3 weeks after the seminar. If you need access sooner, direct Zoom links will be provided.

⚠️ Important Notes

• OnDemand Streaming can be viewed on any device.
• Recorded Downloads must be downloaded to a computer first before transferring to another device. Files are delivered as a zipped folder containing the recording and written materials.

💼 Group Access & Licensing

Discounted rates are available for 3–4 attorneys watching together (Live or OnDemand).
Licenses are also available for firms or agencies with 5+ attorneys.

To inquire or purchase group access:
📧 info@pincusproed.com | ☎ (877) 858-3848

CLE Credit

 CLE Credit Information

California:

CA General:  This program is approved for 6.50 units of general CLE in California.

New York:
This program is eligible for 6.50 General CLE credits under New York’s Approved Jurisdiction policy.

Pincus Professional Education is a California Accredited Provider, and California is an approved jurisdiction under Section 6 of the New York State CLE Board Regulations and Guidelines.

🌎 Other States

CLE credit is officially approved in the states listed above.
If you practice in a different state, we’re happy to help—upon request, we will provide the materials and information you need to apply for CLE credit on your own. Many of our past attendees have successfully obtained credit in other jurisdictions.

To request assistance:
📧 info@pincusproed.com | ☎ (877) 858-3848