By: Deanna Seery

The conference room at Callahan & Blaine offers sweeping views of Orange County, but Ed Susolik isn't focused on the scenery. He's talking about what might be the most remarkable summer in the firm's 42-year history—four trials running simultaneously across California, from Visalia to Orange County to San Bernardino.

"Most firms struggle to handle one trial," he says, leaning forward. "We had four going at once. That's when you know you've built something special."

Since becoming CEO in 2022, Susolik has overseen explosive growth at what he proudly calls "the unicorn law firm of Orange County"—a litigation powerhouse that dominates on both sides of the courtroom with equal skill. The numbers tell the story: 35% growth, eight additional attorneys and a string of multimillion-dollar victories.

"This year alone our five largest settlements have been $11.3 Million, $8.5 Million, $5.2 Million, $5.0 Million and $4.9 Million," he says, his nickname 'The Rhino' making more sense by the minute. "We're having an incredible run.

A Firm That Litigates Both Sides—and Wins

What makes Callahan & Blaine different isn't just their success—it's how they achieve it. While most firms choose either plaintiff or defense work and stay in their lane, this firm excels at both.

"Look, I'll be honest," Susolik says. "We don't just handle both sides—we dominate both sides. That's what makes us truly different."

This versatility comes from an unusual philosophy. "It's like law school," Susolik explains. "Remember the Socratic method? You had to be ready to argue any side. That's the true essence of being a lawyer, and that's what we do."

The Insurance Game-Changer

Here's where things get interesting. Susolik has spent 35 years mastering insurance law—successfully handling over 2,000 complex insurance disputes, teaching at USC Law School four times and editing California's leading insurance law book for two decades. But it's not the credentials that matter; it's how he and his team use them.

"A huge percentage of litigation matters involve insurance money," he explains. "If you are a litigator and don't understand insurance, you're fighting with one hand tied behind your back."

Case in point: A widower was about to accept $200,000 for his wife's wrongful death. Another firm had done almost no work on the file, found the insurance limit and prepared a settlement. Then he called Callahan & Blaine for a second opinion.

"The other firm did a superficial asset search," Susolik says, shaking his head. "Our team dug deeper. Found a house owned through a trust. Almost a million in savings. We obtained $2.5 million for the client, instead of $200,000. That's the difference experience makes."

When defending clients, Susolik and his partners – like Michael Sachs, David Darnell and Peter Bauman -- regularly convince insurance companies to pay fees and settlements they've initially rejected. When representing plaintiffs, they turn that same expertise against insurance companies on the other side. At mediation, while others file one brief, his team files two—one on the case merits, another purely on insurance coverage.

"Most lawyers don't even know that's an option," he says.

The Art of the Big Settlement

After 1,500 mediations in the last 35 years, Susolik has developed his own rules. His favorite: "The harder you try to settle a case, the less likely you are to succeed."

Instead of chasing settlements, Callahan & Blaine prepares every case for trial. Really prepares. The result? For example, their $50 million personal injury settlement—the highest in U.S. history—settled on the first day of trial, after partner Brian McCormack spent three months preparing the case for trial. Another case that partner Javier Van Oordt handled settled for $38 million in the middle of a two-month trial.

"If you know what your case is worth and you're ready to prove it to a jury, you don't have to blink first," Susolik explains. "If I think a case is worth $50 million, we're not taking $48 million. We'll try it."

A routine bicycle accident case shows this philosophy in action. What looked simple—cyclist hits road hazard, becomes paralyzed—turned into a six-day mediation marathon with three defendants and seven insurance companies. Susolik and the Callahan & Blaine team spent 90% of those six days arguing coverage disputes that would make most lawyers' heads spin.

"Vertical exhaustion, horizontal exhaustion, additional insured endorsements, contribution, allocation, indemnity—99% of plaintiff lawyers can't handle these issues," he says. "We can. That's why we got $17 million instead of whatever the insurance companies first offered."

Fighting for the Underdog

Sometimes the firm's expertise means fighting battles others won't touch. Take the 18-year-old working at a laser tag facility. The wealthy owner asked him to climb on the roof and scrape paint off skylights—no safety equipment, no training. The kid fell through.

"Workers' comp would have given him peanuts," Susolik says, his voice hardening. "Callahan & Blaine senior attorney Brett Bitzer proved this was outside the scope of the kid’s employment. He was hired to work arcade games, not risk his life on a roof. Like asking a nurse to valet cars—it's not the job."

The distinction meant everything: $8 million instead of minimal workers' comp benefits. Or consider a recent murder case that Ed handled—a mentally ill adult son killed the family’s housekeeper. Callahan & Blaine sued the parents, triggering their homeowner’s insurance by proving their negligence in not warning the housekeeper about their son's violent deterioration.

"Three years of fighting, but we got $5 million for her daughters," he says. "Sometimes you have to think creatively and fight harder than the insurance companies expect."

The Price of Excellence

"Some lawyers compete on price. We don't," Susolik states flatly. "All our attorneys have minimum eight years' experience, most have 15 to 25. When you hire us, you're not paying for some kid fresh out of law school to learn on your dime."

The approach pays off. "We have a saying: twice the results at half the cost. It's not about hourly rates—it's about ROI. Spend $30,000 with us and win, or spend $20,000 with someone else and lose. Which is the better deal?"

When Callahan & Blaine appears on a case, everyone notices. "Look, I'll say it—we're the 800-pound gorilla of Orange County. When we show up, the other side knows we're not there to play games. We're there to win."

The Rhino Charges Forward

The nickname fits. Since 1985, when a book called "Rhinoceros Success" inspired him through law school (graduated second in his class at USC) and into professional golf, Susolik has embodied the charging rhino—six-inch thick skin, three-foot horn, unstoppable momentum.

Even testicular cancer at 32 couldn't derail him. "Thirty years cancer-free now," he says. "In retrospect, it was the best thing that happened—brought me back to law, to working at and building this firm, to growing my family. Sometimes life's detours are really shortcuts."

His philosophy of "conservative aggression" means choosing strategy carefully, then pursuing it relentlessly. "Plan your work, work your plan. And remember—rhinos don't attack randomly. They're focused, purposeful. That's how we practice law."

The Ultimate Proof

Callahan & Blaine’s dual excellence reached its pinnacle with two back-to-back cases that showcase their range. First came the $934 million jury verdict—the highest in Orange County history. A three-month trial representing a plaintiff against a major corporation, resulting in a number that still reverberates through California legal circles.

"But here's what really shows our versatility," Susolik adds. "The very next year, we conducted a two-month trial defending one of Orange County's biggest employers in a discrimination case. Complete defense verdict. Zero damages. Same excellence, opposite side of the courtroom." The very same lawyers – founding partner Dan Callahan and partner Brian McCormack – handled both of those trials, truly demonstrating the skill and power of the Callahan & Blaine model.

A New Chapter

Come January 2026, Callahan & Blaine will leave Hutton Center—where their name has dominated the 55 freeway view for 25 years—for Newport Gateway's top two floors. 44,000square feet with spectacular views and commissioned Orange County-themed artwork.

"We're rebranding as 'C&B' on the building," Susolik notes. "Cleaner look, visible for miles. We're planning a huge open house in March—clients, friends, everyone's invited."

But amid all the success, one metric matters most. "We get so many referrals from happy clients—friends, neighbors, business partners. After 32 years here at Callahan & Blaine, that word-of-mouth tells me we're doing it right."

As our conversation ends, Susolik reflects on the growth and development of one of California's most successful litigation firms. "Every lawyer says they're different. We actually are.” He pauses, then adds with characteristic directness: "We specialize in one thing that matters to clients: winning."

The rhino adjusts his horn, ready for the next charge. In the legal jungle of Orange County, Callahan & Blaine isn't just surviving—they're conquering. One multi-million dollar victory at a time.

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