Brian M. Worthington

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense

Brian M. Worthington became a part of The Worthington Law Centre in 2009, having previously graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2005 with a degree in Modern Literature. He later completed his legal education at the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2009. During his time at the law school, he took on the role of President of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, USF Chapter.

Mr. Worthington’s tenure at The Worthington Law Centre has been marked by remarkable achievements. His exclusive focus on criminal defense has led him to handle a diverse caseload, encompassing both felonies and misdemeanors in adult and juvenile courts across various counties, including Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and the entire bay area. Notably, he has achieved highly favorable outcomes for his clients in complex cases, some of which are detailed in the “Notable Cases” section, covering topics such as intricate gang matters, cases involving the three strikes law, and issues surrounding false reports of childhood sexual abuse.

One of his outstanding successes has been in steering clients away from sex offender registration, even for those convicted of qualifying crimes, including obtaining relief from registration mandates post-conviction. His proficiency extends to representing non-citizen defendants, with a solid track record of preventing deportation. His trial experience spans a wide array of cases, including sexual assault, child molestation, domestic violence, and other violent felonies. These accomplishments have earned him recognition, including being named a Northern California Rising Star, an honor granted to fewer than 2.5% of lawyers in California under the age of 40 or with less than a decade of practice. Additionally, he was selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in California by The National Trial Lawyers.

In January 2013, Mr. Worthington established The Worthington Law Centre’s San Francisco office, where he continues to provide exceptional representation in line with the firm’s reputation. He maintains a full caseload in both the San Francisco and Monterey County offices.

Mr. Worthington’s inclination toward a career in criminal defense law comes naturally to him. Growing up, he spent time observing his father, Thomas S. Worthington, and his father’s mentor, James A. Michael, as they defended cases in courtrooms. This early exposure shaped his legal journey. Even before becoming an attorney, he achieved notable results for clients facing challenging legal issues. During his time as a second-year law student, he handled cases as a “Certified Law Student,” including cases involving a mentally deficient 19-year-old Mexican immigrant and a man seeking relief from sex offender registration requirements. Both cases have left a mark, leading other local attorneys to seek his guidance on similar matters.

Before entering the legal profession, Mr. Worthington worked with the University of San Francisco Criminal Law and Juvenile Justice Clinic. In this capacity, he managed an active misdemeanor caseload, working with cases from the San Francisco County Public Defender. He also interned at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Mr. Worthington is an esteemed member of various legal associations, including the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the California Public Defenders Association, the Pacific Juvenile Defender Center, the Monterey County Bar Association, and the San Francisco County Bar Association. He holds admission to practice in all California trial courts, the California Court of Appeal-Sixth District, the United States District Court-Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit.