After graduating from Georgetown University law school in 2006, I went to work at Sheppard Mullin in Orange County, handling litigation and real estate matters. I opened my own firm in 2010, and have accumulated substantial litigation and transactional experience, including trying cases before juries. I have first-chaired more than 30 trials. Because of the skill needed in running and handling a trial, you’ll find a great percentage of lawyers trying to settle, after talking tough about crushing the other side. By my rough count, I have a winning percentage above 85% for contested litigation matters. That is a stellar winning percentage, including cases before arbitrators, trial courts and in Complex Court. I have on numerous occasions had cases dismissed at the outset, and sometimes after the initial round of pleadings, including a recent case in federal court.

I am thankful to be named to SuperLawyers as a top-ranked business litigation attorney, and a award given to only about 5% of practicing attorneys. Rarer still is to be elected now for four consecutive years (2020-2023). Another well-known publication ranked me among the top ten real estate attorneys in Orange County. Callahan & Blaine, one of the the highest regarded litigation firms in the state, selected me as their real estate expert in a hotly contested litigation matter. I was also hired as a real estate expert in another battle over the ownership rights to a fast food franchise building.

Giving new meaning to the adjective, “hectic,” I have handled nine trials between June 2021 and October 2022. Eight of them were wins, and the ninth is expected to be a win (as the matter is under submission).

In 2019, I obtained one of the largest jury verdicts in California, where I argued a complex stock-fraud case to a jury in downtown Los Angeles. I tried the case myself (the other side had five lawyers), and did the questioning of 28 witnesses.

On February 23, 2022, in Complex Court in Orange County, I and my co-counsel obtained a complete reversal of the findings of wrongdoing against my client, including elder abuse, fiduciary duty breach and undue influence involving a very large estate. The client faced potential claims of many millions of dollars. We got all of that reversed. I cross-examined the main witness in the case, did all the review of the evidence (including 4,400 exhibits), legal research, and trial strategy. My co-counsel did a brilliant job, and we worked very hard to bring justice to our client.

In June 2021, I represented the owners of a home featured in The Real Housewives Of Orange County, and at trial, defeated a lender claiming a lien on the property, as well as all of their other claims. For good measure, I defeated the fraud claims raised against a different defendant, just because the plaintiff irritated me with his snobbery.

In October 2022, and at in a trial in downtown Los Angeles, I obtained a very rare form of dismissal – one founded upon Code of Civil Procedure 631.8 – where you show the judge that the plaintiff did not meet its burden of proof, so that the case can end before I had to put on a defense. I cross examined the main witness – a forensic psychologist – and got him to admit he misdiagnosed the brain functioning of the plaintiff, and that the plaintiff did understand the terms of the loan he signed. This case went over for nearly four years due to it being in the probate department and the civil court simultaneously, the death of two main witnesses, etc. What a thrilling and magnificent way to end the case! We never had to put on any defense! The plaintiff received nothing.

The firm was forced to defend against 132 claims brought against real estate investors by a borrower alleging financial elder abuse, wrongful foreclosure and other made-up crap. I got 84 claims dismissed by way of motion for summary adjudication. Then, at the nine day evidentiary hearing, I got the remaining claims dismissed. The borrower wanted $1 million, and received nothing.

I am also credited with a published opinion on a real estate dispute in federal court, where I defended Burger King franchisees, that is now binding authority in the Ninth Circuit. Our defense was so thorough that the defendants were all dismissed from the case.

I found Constitutional Law very interesting in law school, and especially the right of free speech and defamation. My practice focuses heavily on defamation. I have argued before the Court of Appeal three times on defamation matters, and won every time.

I sued persons that defamed me online. Not only did I defeat both anti-SLAPP motions, but I defeated an appeal, watched the case go to the California Supreme Court, which sent the matter back for review to the Appellate Court once again, and then defeated the appeal a second time.

In another case, I was called in to write substantial portions of two appeals in Los Angeles in a large defamation action. I was able to reverse the trial court’s ruling in both appeals, including a reversal of the awarding of attorney’s fees and costs, and got the Court of Appeal to agree that no anti-SLAPP protection even existed.

As the firm celebrates its thirteen year, I am grateful to be called upon to solve our clients’ most difficult challenges, and the trust they place upon us.

Law Degree: Georgetown University Law Center (2006), Washington, D.C.

You can read more about my background and accomplishments in the “About” and “Successful Cases” sections. We have won many court battles, and gained a reputation for being able to fight even the largest firms.