SAN FRANCISCO — The career of one of the Bay Area’s most famous defense attorneys has come to an abrupt end after she pleaded no contest to numerous instances of misconduct. These included fleecing clients, lying about her work, and causing “significant harm” in the process.
Claire White was well-known for her courtroom successes and fiery online presence. On Instagram, she shared legal tips and war stories, often using provocative language. She described police officers as “pigs,” railed against “snitches,” and celebrated legal wills, all under her law firm’s slogan: “We fight, (expletive) you.”
However, state bar officials linked White to 40 counts of misconduct involving 10 clients over a six-year period. These charges included acts of moral turpitude such as misappropriation and conversion, misrepresentations to clients and the court, unauthorized practice of law, co-mingling client and personal funds, failing to perform diligently, failing to deposit advanced fees into a client trust account, failing to return client files, failing to respond to client inquiries, and failing to provide an accounting to clients upon reasonable request.
White was contesting her discipline case but ultimately pleaded no contest to widespread misconduct earlier this month. As part of a stipulation, six counts were dismissed. Last week, White was formally disbarred, and her popular Instagram account has since been deleted.
State bar officials argued for her disbarment, noting that White had accepted tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees for services she failed to perform. In many cases, her clients languished in jail because of this neglect.
“In several matters, [White’s] misconduct resulted in longer or additional incarceration for her clients,” the disbarment statement reads. “Since all of respondent’s 10 clients were incarcerated for most or all of her representation, they had limited ability to keep apprised of their attorney’s efforts or the status of their cases.”
Before White’s no contest plea, her lawyer filed court papers accusing the state bar of sitting on some allegations for years, making it harder for White to defend herself. The filings also highlighted White’s “personal transformation” in recent months, describing some charges as resulting from misunderstandings. For example, an alleged false statement was characterized as “imprecise,” not false.
“At all relevant times, [White] acted in good faith, with a sincere and continuing commitment to her clients and ethical obligations,” the filing states.
Nevertheless, state bar officials maintained that White’s misconduct continued even after she was notified about the pending discipline case. One instance from last July involved White being double-booked for hearings in Napa and Solano counties. While appearing in one case, she attended a video conference in the other, falsely claimed to be unable to work due to medical leave, and then returned to court in the first matter.
The state bar did note several mitigating factors, including White’s lack of prior disciplinary history, trauma related to past military service, and support letters from attorneys and former clients.
Court records indicate that White’s first act of misconduct occurred in early 2019, less than a year after her husband — a well-known Bay Area social justice advocate — died of a rare autoimmune disease.
White did not respond to requests for comment. Her lawyer, Mark Reichel, said in a statement, “No one can dispute she is a wonderfully smart, talented, and compassionate person who does the best she can every day to make the world a better place.”
“The few occasions that she was not her best self as an attorney do not define her legacy,” Reichel added. “I am confident that the next chapter for Claire White will impress us all and garner admiration again.”
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/20/popular-bay-area-lawyer-disbarred-for-widespread-misconduct/
