Cody Christiansen

Cody Christiansen is an Oakland personal injury and senior trial attorney representing people seriously harmed by negligence. He handles cases involving car and truck crashes, catastrophic brain and spinal injuries, premises liability, defective products, and wrongful death. His work serves injured individuals and families in the Bay Area and elsewhere in California. He approaches civil claims with experience gained in criminal courtrooms, where investigating facts, assessing witnesses, and preparing for trial were central parts of his legal practice.

Cody earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a J.D. from Santa Barbara College of Law. He has been admitted to the California Bar since 2012 and is licensed for state and federal court practice. His legal education provided the basis for a courtroom career that began with criminal defense and later moved into personal injury litigation. He now applies experience with evidence, legal procedure, and negotiation to injury and wrongful death claims.

Before focusing on personal injury law, Cody handled more than 1,500 criminal cases in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Francisco counties. His former caseload ranged from misdemeanors to violent felony charges and involved extensive courtroom preparation. In civil litigation, he represents injured people who must establish how negligent conduct caused physical harm and financial losses. His background in criminal and civil practice informs decisions about settlement discussions, witness preparation, and the possibility of presenting a claim to a jury.

Cody Christiansen was named to The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 lists in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He also received an American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys 10 Best Under 40 recognition in 2015, reflecting the earlier criminal-law phase of his career. He uses that trial background while representing plaintiffs in negligence cases. His focus is on preparing serious injury claims for effective negotiation or courtroom resolution as the circumstances require.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, The Barnes Firm
• Member, The State Bar of California

Licensed State

• California

Education

• Santa Barbara College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of California at Santa Barbara
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges