Los Angeles Complex Litigation Lawyers Serving Clients Nationwide
Sophisticated Litigation Services For Clients Across The United States
Lysaght Law Group LLP is a highly regarded business litigation boutique based in Santa Monica, California. We are rare among business litigation firms because we try cases for business clients before juries on both the defense and plaintiff’s side of the table. And we win.
On the plaintiff’s side, LLG lawyers have achieved a half dozen multimillion-dollar jury verdicts totaling over $77 million against such major corporations as The Irvine Company, 20th Century Fox, Merrill Lynch, the state of California and major insurance companies. On the defense side we have achieved zero verdict trial results for entities such as Lockheed Martin, Republic Industries and Botach Properties against sophisticated counsel seeking hundreds of millions in damages. In white collar cases we have tried and won acquittals for bank officials facing 18 mail fraud counts and defense judgments in the quasi criminal world of FIRREA bank prosecutions.
Our primary goal is always to resolve a dispute quickly in a manner consistent with client goals. We act reasonably toward our opponents, provide our clients with accurate assessments of merits and risks, and are open to settlement negotiations at all times. As a result we are able to settle for modest sums on the defense side and large sums on the plaintiff’s side. The reason? When we say we will go to trial, our opponents know we are not bluffing.
Business Lawyers For Business Clients: Efficiency, Economy, Results
Built on the foundation of success, experience and a sophisticated understanding of business, LLG is first and foremost focused on client goals. We speak the language of business and understand budgets. Sometimes clients want to ensure preservation of an existing relationship and settle quickly. Other times the goal is to fight aggressively against an unscrupulous opponent. The cases are as varied as the clients. Whatever the business goal, we have seen it before and prevailed.
We view the litigation from the trial backwards, not the other way around. Most cases are far simpler than they appear. Large firms dependent on keeping associates busy at high hourly rates can make litigation prohibitively expensive. We are small enough and nimble enough to conduct pre-trial litigation with laser-like efficiency. We conduct discovery to obtain information needed for trial, not as an independent, never-ending billing exercise.
Depositions of any witness, expert or percipient can be efficient and useful if handled correctly. Civility with opposing counsel leads to economy. Incivility leads to useless expense. Motion practice is conducted with a purpose in mind: trial preparation. Our motion papers are lean, spare and get to the point fast; they are not demonstrations of learning or mastery of impenetrable jargon.
Trials are not “College Bowl” with points given for the lawyer with the most knowledge of arcane facts. Trials are straightforward presentations of our clients’ position in a persuasive manner to the trier of fact. Nothing more, nothing less. Good trial lawyers know this.
The cases below are illustrative of the range of our experience and practice areas:
Antitrust: Mr. Lysaght was a federal prosecutor with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He has carried that experience carried over to the private sector. Representative cases – City of San Jose, City of Fremont, et al., v. Electrical Contractors: Represented numerous Northern California cities in civil actions against major electrical contractors for bid rigging on traffic signal jobs in Silicon Valley. Eight-figure settlement; In Re Post-Tension Concrete Antitrust Litigation: Lead prosecutor for Antitrust Division of the U.S. Justice Department in successful criminal prosecution of major steel companies involved in a nationwide post-tension concrete bid rigging conspiracy.
Entertainment: LLG lawyers have achieved eight-figure jury verdicts and multiple nine-figure settlements on behalf of writers, directors, producers, special effects companies and actors. Representative cases – Bochco v. Fox: Confidential settlement the day before trial concerning moneys due on TV syndication rights on t.v. series NYPD Blue.Doe v. Universal: Monetary settlement and ancillary rights allowing major motion picture to be produced and distributed. Ron Shelton v. Fox: Eight-figure jury trial verdict and subsequent settlement over moneys due on feature film White Men Can’t Jump. Mark Burnett v. CBS: Eve of arbitration hearing settlement on producer’s fees for reality t.v. series Survivor. L.A. Effects v. Fox: Monetary settlement and credit for special effects company for services on Alien II. Client subsequently received Academy Award© for special visual effects.
White Collar Criminal and Corporate Investigations: As a former federal prosecutor of white collar criminal offenses, Mr. Lysaght is well-versed in the intricacies of federal criminal practice. This experience was enhanced during the 20 years he spent as a founding partner at O’Neill, Lysaght & Sun, widely recognized as one of California’s premiere white collar boutiques. Representative Cases: U.S. v. Angotti et al. Represented bank president on 18 counts of mail fraud. After three-month trial client acquitted on counts. U.S. v. Keller: Represented insurance executive in criminal securities litigation. After co-defendants convicted jury hangs and is Allen-charged. After mixed verdict co-defendants received 18 years and client received 18 months. U.S. v. Hedberg: FIRREA civil penalties trial on behalf of bank president. After close of government case directed verdict motion granted. U.S. v. Ferrante: Civil FIRREA case against bank Chairman of the Board and 100 percent owner. Summary judgment awarded in client’s favor.
IP and Trade Secret Litigation: Cases involving copyright, trademark and trade secrets infringement. Representative cases –In re Miltope Trade Secrets litigation:obtained eight-figure result for client following federal jury trial in EDNY for theft if intellectual property concerning battlefield ruggedized computers for use by defense department. Pokemon litigation: Represented holder of intellectual property rights against Pokemon Japanese owners in federal district court and Ninth Circuit. Laurel & Hardy: Represented Laurel family in litigation against claimed rights holders. In re Fiore: Represented high-end handbag and clothing company in trade secrets litigation with competitor.
Partnership Disputes And Dissolution: Representative Cases – Dickson, Carlson & Campillo v. Brobeck, Phlegar, et al.: Represented DCC in Jewel v. Boxer trial after DCC partner defected to Brobeck. Case tried twice, once before jury, in Los Angeles Superior Court leading to verdict in client’s favor. Multiple internal investigations for large law firms following partner defections to competitors.
Legal Malpractice: Representation before juries, arbitration and mediation in multiple matters involving malpractice on both plaintiff’s and defense’s side. Mr. Lysaght was qualified and testified at arbitration as an expert witness on the standard of care for trial lawyers in federal court jury trials.
Probate Litigation: Representing trustees and beneficiaries in probate disputes.Representative case – In Re Taubman Trust: Successfully represented Trustee U.S. Bank in four-month trial in suit by beneficiaries seeking $30 million in surcharges. Obtained zero-dollar defense verdict for client. In Re Halicki Estate: Represented Denice Halicki, widow of “Toby” Halicki in multiple trials against Halicki family members and trustee. Obtained verdicts for client in all trials, including a $250,000 surcharge in client’s favor against trustee. Client also received film rights to Gone In 60 Seconds, subsequently remade by major studio.
Real Estate: Litigation of issues involving commercial lease disputes, interference with leasehold rights and construction defects. Representative cases – LCS, Inc. v. Irvine Company: $42.5 million state court jury verdict in Orange County Superior Court against Irvine Company in property dispute. Village Properties v. California Conservancy Council, et al.: $11.5 million Los Angeles Superior court jury verdict in property dispute in Westlake, California. Sony Building Earthquake Litigation:Obtained $7 million jury verdict against property insurers of the Sony Building for damage resulting from Northridge Earthquake.
Securities: Litigation involving securities, banking and Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS). Representative cases – In Re World Development Center: $165 million judgment against bank and bank official in federal court in Los Angeles; Konvitz v. Merrill Lynch Canada, et al.: $5 million jury award in federal court in Los Angeles against Merrill Lynch Canada.
RMBS: Currently representing National Integrity Life Insurance Company and Western and Southern Life Insurance Company in RMBS litigation in federal court against Bank of America, Countrywide, and a variety of individuals and entities involved in the sale of mortgage-backed securities to institutional investors. Currently representing Ryland Homes, an exchange listed national homebuilder, in RMBS litigation in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Cost-Effective, Alternative Billing
Lysaght Law Group is sensitive to the financial burden of litigation and is skilled in fashioning contingency billing arrangements in select plaintiff’s cases and alternatives to hourly billing in defense cases