Tyson & Mendes opens Inland Empire office in California

Tyson & Mendes, LLP has opened a new Inland Empire office in California and tapped veteran trial lawyer J. Pat Ferraris to lead it. The move expands the insurance defense firm's footprint as it pushes its trial strategy for combating large jury awards.

Why it matters: - Tyson & Mendes is expanding in California while the firm continues to position itself around defending clients against Nuclear Verdicts®, or outsized jury awards. - The new Inland Empire office adds another base for the national insurance defense firm as it grows its West Coast presence. - J. Pat Ferraris brings more than 36 years of experience, which gives the new office an immediate leadership profile in high-exposure litigation.

What happened: - Tyson & Mendes announced the opening of its new Inland Empire office on July 27, 2026. - The firm named J. Pat Ferraris as incoming Branch Office Managing Partner for the new office. - Ferraris joins after serving in senior insurance litigation roles, including statewide California in-house counsel for a national insurance carrier and later national director for first party casualty matters. - Ferraris also worked as a Senior Partner at another insurance defense firm and handled cases from inception through trial in state and federal courts.

The details: - Tyson & Mendes described Ferraris as bringing extensive insurance carrier experience that should help the firm offer tailored counsel and advocacy. - Ferraris said he is excited to lead the new office and wants to deliver exceptional service and trial results. - Ferraris said the firm's Apex approach is a data-backed, trial-tested method for stopping Nuclear Verdicts®. - The Apex was unveiled in Nuclear Verdicts®: The Apex – Break the Pattern, authored by Founding Partner Robert F. Tyson, Jr. and National Managing Partner Cayce E. Lynch. - Tyson & Mendes now serves 22 states across 28 offices nationwide. - The firm says it is one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the U.S. - Tyson & Mendes says it offers one of the clearest paths to partnership among mid-sized law firms. - The firm says it invests more in attorney education and training than any other insurance defense firm. - The company provides more information and career opportunities at Tyson & Mendes.

Between the lines: - The Inland Empire opening reinforces Tyson & Mendes' strategy of pairing geographic expansion with a branded litigation methodology. - Ferraris' carrier-side background signals a focus on lawyers who understand how insurers evaluate and manage risk. - The firm is using office growth, attorney recruiting and training claims to differentiate itself in a crowded insurance defense market.

What's next: - Tyson & Mendes will build out the Inland Empire office under Ferraris' leadership. - The firm is likely to continue using the new office to deepen client coverage in California and support its trial defense model. - The expansion may also feed future recruiting and partnership opportunities as the firm grows its national footprint.

The bottom line: - Tyson & Mendes is betting that experienced leadership and a standardized trial strategy will help it keep expanding while serving insurers facing high-stakes verdict risk.