Ellis George LLP

Managing Partner: Keith Wesley

Number of partners: 27

Number of associates: 22

Number of counsels and senior counsels: 10

Languages: English; Spanish; Arabic; Armenian; French; German; Hindi; Igbo; Italian; Korean; Mandarin; Portuguese; Tagalog; Vietnamese

Offices: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C.

Firm Overview

Over the past 35 years, Ellis George Cipollone O’Brien LLP (formerly Browne George Ross O’Brien Annaguey & Ellis LLP) has successfully litigated and tried challenging cases nationwide, securing favorable settlements and substantial sums for clients.

As a firm of seasoned trial lawyers, it has tried hundreds of cases successfully to judges and juries nationwide. Ellis George Cipollone O’Brien LLP has distinguished itself in numerous “bet-the-company” cases, multi-billion-dollar disputes, and white-collar criminal trials where our client’s freedom has been at stake. Through its extensive trial work, both fact and law intensive, the firm knows how to advocate in any arena and at any time, and it understands how to counsel a client considering whether to settle or to fight.

Main Areas of Practice

Civil Litigation

With a deep bench of trial attorneys collectively bringing the experience of hundreds of trials to the table, EGC’s civil litigation group sends a fearsome message to their opponents that their clients are ready to go to trial. EGC litigators have secured top 10 annual verdicts and also defeated billions of dollars in claims at both the pleading and trial stage in a wide variety of commercial litigation contexts. EGC partners prioritize the business needs of their clients—including various Fortune 500 companies—through client operations and priorities, the regulatory and business environment in which it operates, and the impact of the litigation on their business. EGC’s recent key victories include defeating a Southern California municipality’s attempt to restrict the operations of two international real estate development funds’ multi-use development, obtaining an injunction on behalf of a film producer against two Hollywood production companies, a successful resolution of fraud claims asserted by our client against a hedge fund that had misrepresented its historical performance and abilities, and a win at the U.S. Tax Court after a trial over the tax treatment of a $23 million settlement payment.

Key Clients: Atari, Brandy Melville, Brighton Collectibles, Citizens of Humanity, CBRE, City of Los Angeles, Colony Capital, Huntsman Corp., Irvine Co., L’Oreal USA, LuLaRoe, Tiffany & Co., and WebMD Health

Contact Name: Keith Wesley

Tel: 310.274.7100

Email: [email protected]

White Collar Defense and Government Investigations:

Investigations and criminal matters are sensitive and critically important proceedings, and sound judgment from experienced counsel makes all the difference in the outcome. EGC is home to several former federal and state prosecutors, who collectively have more than 45 years of prosecutorial experience and have tried over 130 criminal cases to verdict, including Chambers-rated attorney Thomas P. O’Brien (former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California). When a matter arises that requires an internal investigation or, worse, has prompted a government investigation, counsel’s full and immediate attention to the matter is imperative to a successful resolution. EGC attorneys immediately probe the underlying circumstances identify material facts, and critically assess the client’s exposure—often within a matter of weeks or less. Where contact with government agents or prosecutors is necessary, EGC clients benefit from their attorneys’ extensive experience and reputation with key individuals in virtually all levels of state and federal government. For matters that must be tried to a jury, our deep trial experience and enviable results are second to none.

EGC has obtained favorable treatment for clients facing significant criminal charges. Most recently, the firm successfully defended a client in federal court on all 33 counts in a $355-million insurance fraud scheme. The client was the sole defendant acquitted of all charges in one of the lengthiest trials nationwide during the pandemic. EGC also defended a client charged with 21 counts stemming from alleged violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iran Sanctions Act by exporting without licenses ten Computer Numerical Control machines to Iran through the United Arab Emirates. EGC was able to negotiate a plea agreement that involved the client only pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge, then persuaded the federal judge to reject the government’s proposed sentence of 46 months’ incarceration, instead sentencing the client to one year in prison, no fine, no home detention, and no community service. EGC’s other noteworthy cases involve defending against the first-ever prosecution of a “birth tourism” business in the United States; representing a commercial cannabis company in a civil enforcement action brought by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Justice; and defending a rare federal prosecution under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Key Clients: Dongyuan Li, Arman Gabay, Imaad Zuberi, and Dr. Mirali Zarrabi

Contact Name: Thomas P. O’Brien

Tel: 310.274.7100

Email: [email protected]