Nice Guys of San Diego recently announced that Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr., Esq., founding partner of Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire, has been named the 2025 Nice Guy of the Year. The Nice Guys will honor Bartolotta at its 45th Annual Nice Guy of the Year Gala on Oct. 18, starting at 5 p.m., at Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, 333 W. Harbor Drive.
Each year, the Nice Guys of San Diego, a local nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, recognize a local community leader who has given their time, money, and support to help San Diegans improve their lives, according to a news release.
The Nice Guy of the Year (NGOY) event is also a fundraiser for Nice Guys’ charities. Part of the proceeds will go to nonprofit organizations selected by the NGOY, with the remainder of the funds to be used for individual San Diegans who need a “one time” helping hand up to get their lives back on track. The Nice Guys’ Charity Committee identifies these cases throughout the year.
“Every single dollar donated goes to needy San Diegans,” said Kevin Calvo, this year’s NGOY Committee chair, in the news release.
Bartolotta’s numerous contributions to community and charitable activities include past president of Rancho Santa Fe Youth; member and chairman of the board of directors of St. Vincent de Paul Village; member of the American Ireland Fund, San Diego Chapter; member of the Century Club; past-president and current board of directors member of the San Diego Nice Guys.
Bartolotta joined forces with Michael Thorsnes on Oct. 1, 1978, to establish Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire, recognized as one of California’s premier litigation firms, specializing in plaintiffs’ litigation with an emphasis in major injury cases, business disputes and condemnation. Additionally, the firm has specialized in a variety of construction defect cases. A tenacious trial lawyer, Bartolotta is recognized annually by Woodward/White as one of the Best Lawyers in America, a recognition he’s received every year for the past 30 years, the news release stated.
Bartolotta was born in Monongahela, Penn. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, completed boot camp and Officer Candidate School, before returning to Pittsburgh to pursue a law degree in 1970. Returning to active duty, he was appointed criminal defense counsel at Camp Pendleton and eventually assigned to the prosecution.
Offered a military judgeship for his final year of active duty, he instead volunteered to go to Vietnam. He requested attachment to an Air Combat Unit, serving in numerous capacities as Wing Legal Officer. Bartolotta earned his negotiator’s stripes deep in the jungles of Thailand, compensating relatives of victims of friendly fire. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Major.
Following active duty, his compassionate nature soon led him to devote himself to full-time plaintiffs’ representation. In 1982, their firm was recognized by American Lawyer Magazine as one of 20 outstanding new firms in the nation. Bartolotta’s 2001 verdict in Border Business Park v. The City of San Diego received recognition as one of the nation’s Top 10 Verdicts that year. He was honored again in 2014 by the National Law Journal by making their list of the Top 100 Verdicts, according to the news release.
He is past president of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego and has received the association’s Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award eight times since 1981, and he was named the 2001 Trial Lawyer of the Year. He is a member and past president of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and was named ABOTA’s 2003 California Trial Lawyer of the Year. He is among the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 for 2014.
Recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Bartolotta has also been inducted into the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He serves as a Master of the American Inns of Court. He has been recognized in Woodward/White’s Best Lawyers in America since its inception in 1987 in the categories of Commercial, Eminent Domain and Personal Injury litigation and as the Top 1% of Trial Lawyers in the United States, the news release stated.
Bartolotta’s wife, Judy, recently passed away and they were partners and married for 64 years. For over 27 years, Rancho Santa Fe has been their home. They have four sons, Vincent, III, wife Rachel; Brett, wife Lindsay; Garrett, wife Carrie; and Nicolas, wife Jenna. They also have seven grandchildren, Katie, Becca, Jack, Molly, McCoy, Cooper and Jack Vincent.
Founded in 1979, the Nice Guys is an all-volunteer organization of more than 160 men and women. In 2024, they provided more than $462,294 to underserved San Diegans and military families. Their total charitable distributions now exceed $20 million, with 100% of every dollar raised going to needy recipients. There is no paid staff, and all operating costs are paid by its members.
“We are privileged to be honoring Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr. this year,” said Nice Guys President Brian Henry in the news release. “His achievements in his industry as an attorney, his community engagement and his generosity exemplify what the Nice Guys organization is all about.”
The following are organizations that have benefitted from Bartolotta’s leadership as a board member, support and philanthropy: St. Vincent de Paul Village; Century Club, helping to raise a million dollars a year for charity; founding member and Board of Advocates of UCSD regional burn center; Rancho Santa Fe youth sports center; founder of Semper Fi/injured Marine fund, helping raise $90 million to assist injured marines; America’s Trauma Society, San Diego Chapter; sponsor and coordinator since 1988 at Shriners and Mercy hospitals where thousands of children underwent reconstructive surgery and post-operative care; and organizing building projects for orphaned Mexican children, and helping to build one school and two orphanages and organizing an annual Christmas party in Tijuana for the orphaned children.
For more information, visit www.sdniceguys.com.