Annie S. Amaral
Partner / Marketing Partner
Clients rely on Annie Amaral for her complex business litigation and advocacy skills to navigate through federal and state courts alike, both independently and where cases are filed simultaneously in both venues.
Annie is an experienced litigator who has practiced and prevailed in state and federal court at the trial and appellate levels, including many cases that are cross-venued. With each case, she applies a mix of intelligent, aggressive advocacy and efficient work ethic to achieve optimal results for clients. Annie’s complex litigation practice involves entities of all kinds, both publicly traded and privately held. Examples include banks and financial institutions, health care providers, industrial and land use companies, retail distributors, trade associations, and solo entrepreneurs, to name a few. She defends employers against claims brought by current and former employees while also protecting and pursuing trade secret claims that are common in the employment arena.
Apart from obtaining favorable merits-based adjudication of her clients’ cases, Annie also employs her smart and efficient litigation skills in settlement efforts. She has successfully mediated dozens of complex disputes over her years in practice. Annie is aware of the stress that litigation can impose on all business types, and she uses her in-depth knowledge and skills to minimize the resources and worry her clients may otherwise expend on contentious litigation.
In addition to her law practice, Annie currently serves as the marketing partner for the firm. Previously, she served as the firm’s mentoring partner, helping junior associates navigate the practice of law and life at Downey Brand.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- American Leadership Forum, Mountain Valley Chapter, Class XXVIII, 2024-2025
- Leadership Sacramento, Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, Class of 2017
- Junior Achievement of Sacramento, Board of Directors, 2016-2020
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for the Northern California Inland Chapter, Board of Directors, 2009-2014
Annie has had type 1 diabetes since she was 11 years old. After attending law school and passing the bar, she decided to put her advocacy skills to use with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a national charitable organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness about type 1 diabetes. Annie joined the board as the advocacy chair in 2009 and campaigned locally and in Washington D.C. to have senators and congresspeople renew government funding for diabetes research. The Special Diabetes Program was renewed while Annie held this role, and Congress also pushed for special measures to be taken with respect to researching and conducting outpatient trials of the Artificial Pancreas. - Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer, 2016-present
- Sacramento Women in Leadership Symposium, Coordinator, 2016-2017
- Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, Member, 2019-2020
- California Society for Healthcare Attorneys, 2018-present
- Sacramento County Bar Association, 2006-present
- California Lawyers Association, Litigation Section
- Women Lawyers of Sacramento, Former Member
- Federal Bar Association, Former Member
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, 2023-2025
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Appellate, Litigation Business and Finance, Commercial Litigation, General Litigation, Business Litigation, Real Estate, Health Care, 2015-2023
- Sacramento Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2017
- Recognized as one of the area’s Young Leaders by Comstock’s Magazine, 2017
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, General Litigation, 2013-2015
- Clerkship, District Judge Garland E. Burrell, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 2006
- Externship, Associate Justice Kathleen M. Butz, California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, 2005
- Externship, Magistrate Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 2004
Annie represents business entities of all sizes in various business litigation disputes. Examples include:
- Defending nationwide industry company against various employment claims in multiple venues after successfully narrowing scope of claims to be resolved.
- Representing industry clients at local, state, and federal levels in challenging governmental regulatory actions.
- Representing internet service provider in various state court and pre-litigation contractual disputes.
- Representing local banking institution in various state court lender disputes.
- Representing agricultural lending institution in complex state court collection matters involving multiple defendants and closely held corporations.
- Representing shareholder and company officer in closely held corporation/dissolution dispute.
- Representing multiple health care clients bringing constitutional claims against the State of California in both state and federal court.
- Representing national health care provider in contractual dispute with national vendor in federal court; negotiated favorable settlement following motion practice at pleadings stage.
- Representing out-of-state healthcare vendor in fraud claims brought in state and federal courts; negotiated favorable settlement after limiting plaintiff’s claims through motion practice at pleadings stage.
- Representing major timber company in procedurally and substantively complex litigation involving six consolidated state actions and one federal action and claims seeking an aggregate of approximately $1 billion dollars. Conducted all phases of percipient and expert discovery, including taking and defending depositions, and was one of four-person team that prepared for three-month jury trial of consolidated state actions, which resulted in dismissals with prejudice and judgment for the client on eve of trial. Obtained terminating sanctions and monetary sanctions, both of which were affirmed on appeal. Read media coverage on the Moonlight Fire Litigation here.
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Representing retail distribution company in national class action wage and hour lawsuit through class certification proceedings in federal court; class certification was partially denied. Case subsequently concluded with favorable settlement to defendant.
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Representing employer in trade secret/noncompete dispute with former employees and participated in all phases of state court trial preparation, including witness and exhibit preparation and drafting of motions in limine and jury instructions; participated in settlement negotiations that successfully concluded case on eve of trial.
- Second chair on federal intellectual property dispute and was lead on all phases of trial preparation, including witness and exhibit preparation and drafting of motions in limine and jury instructions; participated in settlement negotiations that successfully concluded case on eve of trial.
Annie also handles appellate work for her individual and business clients. Examples include:
- Successfully briefed numerous appeals in California appellate courts on broad range of topics that were favorably resolved without oral argument.
- Authored numerous amicus curiae briefs.
- Successfully opposed petition for review to California Supreme Court on controversial issue in published decision by lower appellate court.
- Successfully obtained an alternative writ, which prompted trial court to vacate its order denying motion to dismiss for failure to prosecute case that had been pending for more than five years and enter a new order granting the Subsequently opposed petition for review to the California Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case.
- Successfully briefed and argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, pro bono, a section 1983 civil rights claim on behalf of prisoner whose state law claims were prematurely dismissed without leave to amend.
Announcements
18 related items-
August 15, 2024Best Lawyers® 2025 Recognizes 44 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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August 17, 2023Best Lawyers® 2024 Recognizes 46 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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August 1, 202338 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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August 18, 202240 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch 2023
Three selected as 2023 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” -
August 3, 202233 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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June 17, 202138 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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July 24, 202045 Downey Brand Attorneys Earn Top Lawyers Distinction from Sacramento Magazine
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May 1, 201949 Downey Brand Attorneys Distinguished as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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June 29, 2018Sacramento Magazine Recognizes 54 Downey Brand Attorneys As Top Lawyers
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November 17, 2017Annie Amaral Named 40 Under 40 by Sacramento Business Journal
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July 14, 201752 Downey Brand Attorneys Make Sacramento Magazine’s 2017 Top Lawyers List
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March 10, 2017Annie Amaral Recognized as Young Leader by Comstock’s Magazine
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July 15, 201660 Downey Brand Attorneys Make Sacramento Magazine’s 2016 Top Lawyers List
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July 14, 201551 Downey Brand Attorneys Named to Sacramento Magazine’s 2015 Top Lawyers List
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July 10, 201515 Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized as 2015 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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January 1, 2015Downey Brand Elects Four New Partners
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July 11, 201414 Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized as 2014 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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July 9, 201315 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2013 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Speaking Engagements / Events
5 related items-
November 16, 2023Strategies for Success in Business MediationsSacramento County Bar Association Webinar
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April 10, 2020COVID-19 Webinar No. 4: Considerations for Businesses & EmployersDowney Brand COVID-19 Webinar Series
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April 12, 2017Sacramento Women in Leadership SymposiumSpeaker
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April 3, 2017Bizwomen Mentoring MondayMentor
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2008Rules & Procedures for Federal Court SuccessPresenter, National Business Institute
Publications
2 related items-
June 2015United States District Court Eastern District of California Checklists
Practical Law -
2006Great Judicial Opinions Versus Great Literature: Should They Be Measured by the Same Criteria?
36 McGeorge Law Review 757
Annie was raised in Sacramento, attending junior high and high school in Elk Grove (Herd Pride!) but has developed a love of travel over the years. She and her husband most recently traveled to Costa Del Sol in Southern Spain and Florence, Italy. Neither trip was long enough! Annie hopes to return to both places with her family sometime soon.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- American Leadership Forum, Mountain Valley Chapter, Class XXVIII, 2024-2025
- Leadership Sacramento, Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, Class of 2017
- Junior Achievement of Sacramento, Board of Directors, 2016-2020
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for the Northern California Inland Chapter, Board of Directors, 2009-2014
Annie has had type 1 diabetes since she was 11 years old. After attending law school and passing the bar, she decided to put her advocacy skills to use with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a national charitable organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness about type 1 diabetes. Annie joined the board as the advocacy chair in 2009 and campaigned locally and in Washington D.C. to have senators and congresspeople renew government funding for diabetes research. The Special Diabetes Program was renewed while Annie held this role, and Congress also pushed for special measures to be taken with respect to researching and conducting outpatient trials of the Artificial Pancreas. - Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer, 2016-present
- Sacramento Women in Leadership Symposium, Coordinator, 2016-2017
- Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, Member, 2019-2020
- California Society for Healthcare Attorneys, 2018-present
- Sacramento County Bar Association, 2006-present
- California Lawyers Association, Litigation Section
- Women Lawyers of Sacramento, Former Member
- Federal Bar Association, Former Member
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, 2023-2025
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Appellate, Litigation Business and Finance, Commercial Litigation, General Litigation, Business Litigation, Real Estate, Health Care, 2015-2023
- Sacramento Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2017
- Recognized as one of the area’s Young Leaders by Comstock’s Magazine, 2017
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, General Litigation, 2013-2015
- Clerkship, District Judge Garland E. Burrell, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 2006
- Externship, Associate Justice Kathleen M. Butz, California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, 2005
- Externship, Magistrate Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 2004