California

Firm overview

Hunton Andrews Kurth is a global law firm with over 900 lawyers handling a broad range of complex transactional, litigation and regulatory matters for clients in a myriad of industries including energy, financial services, real estate, retail and consumer products and technology. With offices across the United States and in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the firm is aligned with clients’ businesses and committed to delivering exceptional service. The firm’s full-service litigation practice is one of the largest in the country, with particular depth in key litigation markets such as Texas, California, Florida and the Mid-Atlantic.

Hunton Andrews Kurth’s skilled litigators focus on strategy over tactics, developing plans that are mindful of each client’s business and legal goals. Since its founding more than 100 years ago, Hunton Andrews Kurth has been a business-focused firm, an approach that continues in today’s litigation climate. The team of more than 400 litigators draw upon decades of experience to handle all aspects of disputes with the goal of achieving successful results whether in the boardroom or a courtroom. Most importantly, Hunton Andrews Kurth collaborates with clients to develop strategies that are comprehensive in scope and aligned with their needs.

Litigation Overview:

Hunton Andrews Kurth has one of the top litigation teams in the country, having litigated and/or arbitrated in each of the 50 states and in many foreign countries. Our diverse team has the collective knowledge, skill, and experience necessary to help businesses identify and manage potential risks, respond to existing or threatened litigation, and pursue resolution in any venue. Hunton Andrews Kurth attorneys are admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers and listed in ranking guides such as Chambers USA and Benchmark Litigation, and we are named as one of the “most feared firms in litigation” by BTI.

Our lawyers regularly handle litigation matters in the energy, financial services, healthcare, construction, aviation, consumer products and retail industries. We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor our strategy to the needs of the client’s specific situation. Our commercial litigation docket regularly includes class action defense, commercial contract disputes, white collar defense matters, administrative matters and investigations, and appeals in state and federal courts.

We serve as national or worldwide coordinating counsel for many of our clients. We are engaged by corporations and other large entities across a broad range of matters – from providing advice and counsel about business disputes and torts to civil litigation, trial and appeal, when necessary. We are often engaged in “bet-the-company” cases, complex commercial disputes, multidistrict litigation and coordinated state law proceedings, as well as class actions. Our lawyers have the experience to handle cases that involve multiple adversaries in federal and state courts across the nation and abroad.

Updated Aug 2021

Firm overview

Since 2006, KWIKA has established itself as one of the leading litigation boutiques in the nation. The firm is comprised of a diverse group of lawyers who have attended the nation’s top law schools and have experience at the largest and most well-respected law firms in the country. These lawyers left Big Law to join KWIKA because they want to practice at a firm that values each of its lawyers as individuals, a firm that does not view its lawyers as mere billing units, and a firm where cutting-edge law can be practiced in the most collegial of environments. KWIKA prides itself on having lawyers who are capable of handling almost any type of dispute, ranging from the most complicated forms of IP litigation to the defense of numerous types of criminal charges. KWIKA lawyers have been honored in several major publications and are frequently quoted in the media on a variety of legal topics, particularly disputes arising in the entertainment industry.

The trend today in the legal profession favors mergers and growth, “platforms and synergies” and multinational offices with hundreds of lawyers. So why did the founding partners of KWIKA buck this trend to open a litigation boutique? Because they have learned, and their clients understand, that the outcome of litigation depends on the quality and experience of the individual lawyers fighting for the outcome. Not on “platforms” or offices in exotic locales.

The firm focuses on the following five practice areas.
 

Entertainment Litigation: KWIKA is widely regarded as Hollywood’s go-to entertainment litigation law firm. Entertainment litigation is a true specialty practice requiring intimate knowledge of industry players, practices, deals, and trends. We are privileged to handle the most sophisticated, cutting-edge entertainment litigation work in the nation.

The firm has represented actors, directors, producers, major motion picture studios and studio executives, broadcast and cable networks, talent agencies, personal managers, business managers, recording artists, record producers, record companies and music publishers, professional athletes, and sports management companies, entertainment lawyers and law firms, and large domestic and international corporations in civil and criminal trial and appellate courts and regulatory forums across the country.
 

Intellectual Property Litigation: We regularly counsel our clients regarding their IP strategies and portfolios, and we litigate to protect and defend their patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, reputation, privacy rights, and rights of publicity. Our attorneys have the savvy and skill to handle the most nuanced IP litigation matters, from prosecuting or defending complex claims of patent infringement to resolving the breach of detailed worldwide IP licensing agreements.

Entertainment IP Litigation: Entertainment IP Litigation is a hybrid of our Entertainment and Intellectual Property Litigation practice areas. This specialty practice area allows us to take advantage of our in-depth industry knowledge to help individuals, companies, and celebrity estates defend their valuable creations, brands, names, and assets, which, unless protected, can leave them exposed and vulnerable. This includes assisting entertainment companies and individuals in copyright and trademark infringement litigation, disputes concerning publicity rights, endorsements and licensing deals, and disputes over new and emerging platforms, such as social media.

Business Litigation: Not every case involves the entertainment industry, and our non-showbiz clients routinely rely on us to resolve their disputes, big and small, in a wide array of settings and industries, including toys, real estate, insurance, diamonds and jewelry, manufacturing, accounting and legal malpractice, divorce, tax shelters, and some high profile actions for personal injury. Our services range from counseling to mediation, and from arbitration to “bet the company” jury trials to appeals. Our clients include individuals, start-ups, mid-size, and Fortune 500 companies, and we always put forth the same passion and fight to protect our clients’ interests.

Criminal Defense: KWIKA is unique among civil litigation firms in its ability to represent individuals accused of crimes. Due to KWIKA’s deep involvement in the entertainment industry, and our understanding of the sensitive public relations issues, we are often asked to represent celebrities and entertainment industry executives accused of wrongdoing. Outside the entertainment community, we regularly represent individuals and companies in white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions. From DUI’s to theft, from assault to alleged financial schemes, our lawyers work for our clients whose liberty is at stake.

Sampling of representative corporate and individual clients of the firm include: The Estate of Michael Jackson, Mattel, Inc., Creative Artists Agency, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, ICM Partners, Paradigm Talent Agency, Media Rights Capital, The Management Group, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Roland Corporation, Wark Entertainment, Loring Ward International, Ltd., Keenan & Associates, Watt Industries, USI Holdings Corporation, Spartan Home Entertainment LLC, Del Records, Lawrence Gordon Productions, Pro Elite, The Gerber Group, Frank Darabont, Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian, Kendall & Kylie Jenner, Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neal Moritz, Chuck Lorre, Sandra Bullock, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Kinkade, Nicole Richie, Frank Konigsberg, Lindsay Lohan, James Parker, Reggie Bush, Sharon Osbourne.
 

A sampling of the awards received by the firm and our attorneys include:

• Chambers USA “Leading Law Firms”
• Hollywood Reporter’s “Power Lawyers” and “Top 100 Entertainment Lawyers in America”
• Variety’s “Legal Impact Report,” “New Leaders,” Up Next,” and “Best and Brightest”
• U.S News & World Report “Best Law Firms”
• Best Lawyers in America’s “Best Lawyers,” “Ones to Watch,” and “Lawyer of the Year”
• Super Lawyers’ “Super Lawyers,” “Rising Stars,” and “Up-and-Coming 100”
• Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal “Top Boutiques,” “Top Women Lawyers,” “Top 100 Lawyers,” and “40 Under 40”
• Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in L.A. Law,” “Top Women Attorneys,” and “Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers”
• Billboard’s “Top Music Lawyers”

Last updated Sep 2020

Firm overview

Andrade Gonzalez LLP is a boutique litigation firm that uses creativity, flexibility, and experience to secure the very best results for its clients. The Firm’s approach is built upon quickly developing and implementing a solid, flexible litigation plan to achieve the fastest and most efficient client wins. At every step, this unique approach is client-focused to ensure that each litigation plan is creative and designed to minimize business interruption, maximize efficiency, and identify solutions early, while avoiding needless billing.

With each of the Firm’s lawyers being diverse and graduating from top law schools, with prior experience litigating at some of the nation’s most prestigious law firms, Andrade Gonzalez LLP is able to aggressively implement each plan, delivering solid results even in the most complex and sensitive of litigation matters. The Firm currently has nine committed attorneys and a hardworking support staff of six. Last year, the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal recognized Andrade Gonzalez LLP as one of 21 “Top Boutiques” in the State of California.

Beyond the results, which have quantifiably saved its clients many millions of dollars, Andrade Gonzalez is focused on understanding its clients’ needs and meeting them. Even in the most difficult and contentious of cases, the Firm is always respectful and professional to opposing litigants and counsel. The Firm understands and appreciates the sensitivity of its cases and the issues they involve, ensures a client-focused approach and strategy, and crafts all briefing and arguments with positions that can withstand publicity and public scrutiny.

With over five decades of experience representing corporate, governmental, and individual policyholders in complex insurance coverage disputes with their insurers, the Firm’s attorneys have recovered more than $1 billion for clients across numerous industries, including toxic injuries, mass torts, dealings of directors and officers, and tort liability for school districts. While aggressive in approach, the Firm always looks for early resolution opportunities and when possible, pursues available indemnification and insurance coverage theories.

In addition to its heralded insurance practice, the Firm successfully litigates cases involving breach of contract, fraud, unfair business practices, and theft of trade secrets. It has also delivered numerous wins to clients across different industries in state and federal courts and before numerous administrative agencies. Andrade Gonzalez also aggressively handles entertainment litigation matters and actions to protect the valuable intellectual property assets of its company and individual clients.

Since its inception, it has handled some of the most complex and high-stakes tort litigation matters involving a wide range of personal injuries from employee torts, products, industrial manufacturing equipment, and motor vehicles.

Further, the Firm has long been an advocate for fairness and equality in the workplace. Its lawyers have experience in defending employers in wrongful termination and wage and hour cases. On occasion, the Firm pursues class actions and single plaintiff cases for brave clients standing up against unfair working environments.

The Firm represents clients who have suffered injuries as the result of defective or unsafe products. Its attorneys have experience dealing with design and manufacturing defects, breach of warranty, negligence, and consumer protection claims. Andrade Gonzalez also has a proven ability to represent clients in legal malpractice matters.

Andrade Gonzalez’s attorneys represent clients in a broad spectrum of real estate related matters, including challenging encroaching developments, broker liability (i.e., breach of contract and fiduciary duty), commercial landlord vs. tenant disputes, and litigation involving leases and commercial purchase and sales agreements.

The Firm’s attorneys also have extensive trial experience, having successfully taken approximately 65 cases to trial (about 40 jury trials) and have delivered many wins to their clients from across broad spectrums of industries. Whether in trial or arbitration, Andrade Gonzalez aggressively secures favorable results for its clients.

Each year, Andrade Gonzalez lawyers devote time to assisting those in need. From being retained to file a high-profile brief on behalf of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, N.Y. Mayor Bill de Blasio, and approximately 30 other mayors from major cities across the country (including Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Sacramento, and St. Louis) in Texas v. United States, a lawsuit by numerous Republican Governors challenging President Obama’s Executive Action on immigration, to helping individuals with insurance coverage disputes and other matters on a pro bono basis, the Firm is always ready to serve.

Many Andrade Gonzalez lawyers have also served on the boards and/or taken other active roles supporting various non-profit community organizations and bar associations, including the following:

• California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)
• Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
• Insurance Law Committee, California State Bar Association
• Latina Lawyers Bar Association (LLBA)
• South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (SC LAMP)
• Mexican American Bar Association (MABA)
• Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund (MALDEF)
• Eastmont Community Center
• YWCA Pasadena Foothill Valley
• Hollenbeck Youth Center
• The Red Mass

Last updated Sep 2020

Firm overview

Waymaker LLP, based in Los Angeles, is one of the nation’s leading trial and appellate boutiques representing both plaintiffs and defendants in their highest-stake matters. The firm is distinctive for its success in handling litigation matters involving innovative technology where complex legal issues are at play, its record of achievement at both trial and appeal, and its dynamic culture. Waymaker’s success for its clients has been heralded by Chambers, Benchmark Litigation, Variety, the Hollywood Reporter, Daily Journal, Law360, and the National Law Journal.  Its lawyers have been influential in changing the paths of a number of clients’ businesses, setting precedent through case results, and regularly taking on cases that other law firms have turned down.  

Waymaker helps clients accomplish their goals through fierce advocacy in and out of the courtroom and its clients include Fortune 500 companies, fast-growing startups, entertainment companies, entrepreneurs and high net-worth individuals. The firm was founded in 2006 as Baker Marquart LLP by Harvard Law School graduates Ryan G. Baker and Jaime W. Marquart to provide the very best representation to clients engaged in high-stakes litigation. The founders had been attorneys at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP.  

Early in 2021, the firm changed its name to Waymaker in recognition of the growing diversity of its partnership.  Baker said, “Our new name reflects the growth and evolution of the firm.  At Waymaker, we succeed as a collective, often through innovative strategies and argument formed through active collaboration.”

Presenting arguments in a clear, elegant, and persuasive manner, Waymaker handles complex civil litigation in courtrooms across the nation. Its litigation practice spans antitrust, commercial disputes, corporate governance, criminal defense, cybersecurity, employment, entertainment, financial technology, intellectual property, patent litigation, and securities, and the firm counts among its attorneys several former federal prosecutors. Regularly quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Law360, Law.com, and other leading outlets, Waymaker attorneys are recognized as industry leaders in fintech, intellectual property, and litigation.

The firm’s lawyers have argued and won appellate cases involving issues ranging from First Amendment free speech to the interpretation of Copyright statutes in state and federal courts of appeal. Two years ago, the Waymaker appellate team won a unanimous decision by the California Supreme Court that the state’s anti-SLAPP statute requires that courts consider the commercial context of speech in determining whether a defendant’s speech is protected.  

Our trial and appellate practice includes:

Antitrust and Unfair Competition: A keen understanding of emerging technologies – such as internet-based media and blockchain – positions Waymaker as one of the leading antitrust litigation firms in traditional and emerging markets. 

Appeals: Waymaker has extensive experience in federal and state appellate courts across the country, where we have scored major victories. We meticulously prepare appellate briefs that focus on critical, dispositive issues. 

Commercial and Business Disputes: Waymaker handles a wide range of commercial disputes, including breach of contract, fraud, negligence, interference, breach of fiduciary duty, legal malpractice, and real property claims in federal courts, state courts, and arbitral tribunals across the country. The firm has represented Fortune 500 companies, closely held companies, and individuals in various commercial disputes. 

Corporate Governance: Waymaker is well-versed in corporate governance disputes whether the dispute involves a large, publicly traded company, a deadlocked closely held startup, or a corporate divorce in a family partnership.  

Criminal and Regulatory Defense: Waymaker defends clients nationwide in law enforcement and regulatory investigations, trials, and appeals. A number of our attorneys are former federal prosecutors with substantial criminal trial experience and subject matter expertise. 

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: Waymaker advises companies and individuals facing cybersecurity and data privacy issues, criminal and regulatory actions, and related civil litigation. 

Employment – Executive Compensation: Waymaker represents employers and highly compensated employees in a broad array of employment disputes, including trade-secret misappropriation and breach of non-competition agreements. 

Entertainment Litigation: Waymaker lawyers have vigorously defending Oscar-winning producers, writers and directors and taken major motion picture studios and television networks to court to ensure that an artist was fairly compensated. Our team has defended internet-based media companies against copyright infringement claims brought by television networks and brought antitrust claims against major motion picture studios. 

Fintech: Led by partner Brian Klein, a Law360 MVP in Fintech and named by Chambers as one of the top financial technology attorneys in the United States, Waymaker is at the forefront of cases in this burgeoning industry. 

Insurance: Waymaker represents policyholders in insurance disputes in pre-litigation matters, trials, and appeals. 

Intellectual Property: Waymaker lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience litigating trademark, copyright, trade dress and trade secret disputes.  We win high-profile IP battles across industries, including technology, medical device, entertainment, retail, food, fashion, and others. 

Patent Litigation: Waymaker represents plaintiffs and defendants in patent infringement actions and staffs patent cases efficiently.  Our IP lawyers have the technical and practical experience that is of particular importance in the patent litigation context. 

Securities: Waymaker lawyers have experience representing banks, investment professionals, corporate investors, and individuals.  We handle securities cases involving allegations of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, failure to comply with federal or state registration requirements, and breach of contract claims in a variety of forums. 

Updated Sep 2021