David Winnett is a skilled trial attorney focusing his practice in professional liability defense, general civil litigation and products liability matters. He represents businesses and individuals throughout Northern and Central California.

Mr. Winnett has tried dozens of cases in California and Illinois. His representative cases include Shopoff & Cavallo LLP v. Hyon, (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1489, which clarifies the pleading requirements of allegations of legal malpractice and holds that interpleading a client’s funds is not conversion; that there is no right to a jury trial in an interpleader action; that accepting a referral from an unauthorized referral service is not a wrong; and that asserting a lien, even improperly, does not preclude compensation to an attorney. Mr. Winnett joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in November 2000 after beginning his career as a prosecutor in the St. Clair County Illinois State's Attorney's Office, where he tried numerous felony cases.

During law school, Mr. Winnett was a finalist in moot court competition and a recipient of the Corpus Juris Secundum Award for Torts. He also received a Dean’s Fund Scholarship.

Mr. Winnett is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco. Mr. Winnett frequently writes and lectures on professional liability matters. He is the Executive Editor of Hinshaw’s “Professional Lines” newsletter, and he also writes regularly for Hinshaw’s “Lawyers for the Profession®” alerts. While a prosecutor, Mr. Winnett taught domestic violence law at the Southwestern Illinois College Police Academy. His other presentations include “Liability for Intentional Torts,” a WestLegalEdcenter live webcast, December 2007. Mr. Winnett volunteers his time as a member of the Hamilton Elementary School PTA and its WatchDOGS program, a national organization that encourages the involvement of fathers and father figures in schools. He is also an assistant coach with Novato Girls Softball.

Mr. Winnett is a former treasurer of the Golden Gate Illini Club, the local chapter of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, and is a former treasurer and board member of St. Clair County CASA, a volunteer organization dedicated to representing the interests of children in the juvenile court system.