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Lawrence, Robert

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Biography

Mr. Lawrence’s practice ranges from complex commercial disputes to white collar criminal defense. He represents clients in federal and state courts in cases involving copyright and trademark infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, securities violations, bank fraud, tax fraud, toxic torts, unfair competition, and civil and criminal racketeering. He also has extensive experience in commercial mediation and arbitration.

Mr. Lawrence’s accomplishments include the following:

  • Won Ninth Circuit appeal involving trademark disputes between competitors over branding and logos (2019)
  • Persuaded court to grant new trial after 11-week jury trial alleging theft of $14 million by international partner in clothing industry (2018)
  • Successfully defended LLC member in 8-week trial involving questions of alter ego liability and ability to pierce irrevocable trust (2017)
  • Successfully prosecuted copyright infringement action against a large public company ($7 million settlement – 2017)
  • Prevailed in California Court of Appeals after denial of defendant’s post-judgment motion for attorney’s fees (2017)
  • Prevailed in US District Court over the award of $400,000 in attorney’s fees (2017)
  • Defended partner in a six-week bench trial over the validity of $8 million capital call (2016)
  • Prevailed in appeal before the Ninth Circuit after lower court overturned the jury verdict (2014)
  • Obtained dismissal of a foreign corporation on jurisdictional grounds in a copyright case seeking $350 million in damages (2014)
  • Successfully prosecuted breach of fiduciary duty case against former officers and directors of 1st Pacific Bank ($8.25 million settlement – 2014)
  • Obtained summary judgment for defendants in $10 million fraud action brought by investors against a technology company  (2013)
  • Successfully prosecuted breach of fiduciary duty claim by partner in historic San Francisco parking garage ($2 million settlement – 2013)
  • Successfully prosecuted gross negligence claims against former officers and directors of Temecula Valley Bank ($4.1 million settlement – 2012)
  • Successfully defended telecom company in 4-month jury trial where plaintiffs sought $641 million in damages for groundwater contamination (2009)
  • Successfully resolved lawsuit brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission seeking $32 million against hedge fund (2005)
  • Successfully defended a real estate developer in two-month jury trial in which unlicensed broker sought a $10 million success fee (2004)
  • Successfully prosecuted misappropriation of trade secret case involving competitors in telecom industry (2002)
  • Successfully prosecuted false advertising lawsuit related to internet keyword searches (2001)
  • Successfully defended trademark/copyright infringement suit brought by the band Phish (2000)

Education

  • Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
    • Juris Doctor - 1995
  • University of California, San Diego, California
    • B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1991

Current Employment Position

  • Senior Partner

Practice Areas

  • Business Litigation
  • Intellectual Property

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • California
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Representative Cases

  • Monster Energy Co. v. HRHH Hotel/Casino, LLC, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11965 (C.D. Cal. 2014)
  • Falcon Stainless, Inc. v. Rino Cos., 572 Fed. Appx. 483 (9th Cir. Cal. 2014)
  • Lang Van v. VNG Corp., 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 155289 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 8, 2014)
  • Torres v. Nutrisystem, Inc., 289 F.R.D. 587 (C.D. Cal. 2013)
  • Prime Partners IPA of Temecula, Inc. v. Chaudhuri, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67070 (C.D. Cal. 2012)
  • ProLink Holdings Corp. v. Fed. Ins. Co., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 119222 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 14, 2011)
  • Sunham Home Fashions, LLC v. Diamond State Ins. Co., 813 F. Supp. 2d 411 (S.D.N.Y. 2011)
  • Clark v. Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. (2008) 165 Cal. App. 4th 150
  • Apple Computer, Inc. v. Podfitness, Inc., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36347 (N.D. Cal. May 9, 2007)
  • Sam v. Crump, 2007 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1425
  • Commodity Futures Trading Comm’n v. Beasley, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33725 (N.D. Cal. 2005)
  • Boscoe v. HCV Pacific Partners, San Francisco Superior Court, Case No. 411531 (2004)
  • J. K. Harris & Co. LLC. v. Kassel. 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7862 (N.D. Cal. 2002)
  • Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. v. Cierra Photonics, Sonoma Superior Court, Case No. 225419 (2002)
  • Phish. Inc. v. Knight, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Case No. C 011147 PJH (2002)
  • United States v. Stoecker, 920 F. Supp. 876 (N.D. III. 1996)
  • United States v. Kim, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7842 (N.D. Ill. 1996)

Honors & Awards

  • Super Lawyer, 2019-2024
  • Top Attorneys in Litigation, Los Angeles Magazine, 2019
  • Top Attorneys in Intellectual Property. OC Register Metro, 2014