Michael Blumenfeld is Chair of the Litigation Department. He represents a variety of individuals and business entities, as well as, financial advisor clients in employment disputes with broker-dealer firms and regulatory proceedings in the securities industry. Mr. Blumenfeld has successfully tried numerous complex business litigation and employment cases in state and federal courts and has practiced before FINRA securities industry arbitration and enforcement tribunals as well as before the SEC, in Southern California and throughout the country. Mr. Blumenfeld has been responsible for obtaining numerous significant results, including the prosecution and defense of high profile business and employment disputes involving breach of contract claims, corporate and partnership dissolution actions, claims of fraud, misrepresentation and unfair business practices, defamation, commercial real estate disputes, Civil Rico claims and claims for breach of fiduciary duty and mismanagement. Due to his acknowledged expertise in this area, he has participated as a panelist in a number of Brokers' Rights Seminars, co-hosted by several well-known national publications to the securities industry. Mr. Blumenfeld has been named to the Southern California Super Lawyers list for ten consecutive years (2006-2015) and is regularly listed in the Southern California Super Lawyers Business Edition for Securities Litigation. Professional & Community Involvement Los Angeles County Bar Association Association of Business Trial Lawyers American Bar Association | Antitrust Law and Litigation Sections Representative Clients and Matters A $3.7 Million FINRA Arbitration Award (including $2.5 Million in Punitive Damages and the Issuance of Expungement Orders clearing this law firm's clients from any wrongdoing) as against a California based FINRA member who targeted its former employees and engaged in egregious misconduct against them. A $10.5 million dollar judgment in a partnership dispute relating to the ownership and construction of a luxury high-rise condominium project located in Los Angeles. A $5.5 million dollar claim against a California based mortgage lender, involving issues of fraud, misrepresentation, unfair business practices and Civil RICO obtained through litigation in the federal district court in Northern California. A $2.25 million dollar NASD arbitration award in a highly publicized securities industry employment dispute, involving claims of defamation, breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation against one of the nation's largest broker-dealer firms. The award is among the largest obtained in the history of the NASD in an employment case and established Mr. Blumenfeld as one of the pre-eminent litigators in this area. The defense of brokers and broker-dealer firms in securities regulatory enforcement proceedings initiated by FINRA, the NYSE, NASD and the Securities Exchange Commission. A complete defense verdict, following a six (6) week jury trial in a case brought by a general contractor who claimed a fifty percent (50%) partnership interest in a $50 million dollar real estate development in Los Angeles. The successful prosecution of an action for partition of a large parcel of real property valued in excess of $20 million. The defense of civil penalty actions brought by the Justice Department against management personnel relating to claims of Savings and Loan fraud and other tortious misconduct. The prosecution of a six (6) month jury trial in federal district court, involving claims of fraud and misrepresentation in the buy-out of a partnership interest in a real estate development. The defense of a large nationwide retail business chain in a class action lawsuit, in which the case was first ordered to binding arbitration and then settled for a nominal sum, well below the anticipated costs of defense. The defense of employment claims for harassment and discrimination brought by various employees against the firm's employer clients in Southern California. The defense and prosecution of claims relating to hazardous waste contamination issues involved in commercial real estate ventures. The defense of a Trustee for a family trust owner/nationwide distributor of products, involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty and mismanagement arising out of a multi-million dollar recapitalization. The defense and prosecution of claims for unfair competition, unfair business practices and injunctive relief in state and federal courts. Representation of numerous securities industry professionals, including financial consultants, branch managers and investment bankers, as claimants and respondents in employment disputes required to be litigated before securities industry tribunals, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Association (FINRA), the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).