Larson LLP earned a spot on Daily Journal’s coveted list of top boutiques in California for 2021, which features only 20 specialty firms.
The annual exclusive supplement to Daily Journal’s Los Angeles and San Francisco publications, “Top Boutiques” lists Larson LLP as a leading firm for commercial litigation and white collar defense.
In their interview with Daily Journal on behalf of the firm, partners Stephen G. Larson, Jonathan E. Phillips, Hilary Potashner, and Paul A. Rigali discussed just a few of the top cases Larson LLP has handled over the past year. This includes SEC v. Yang, in which Stephen and Hilary represent the appellants and defendants in a federal case relating to a multimillion-dollar disgorgement and penalties order. After successfully reducing the original $15.5 million judgment to $4.5 million, Stephen and Hilary are working on another appeal.
“Our work in SEC v. Yang is a great example of the breadth and depth of our experience as litigators in both trial court and appellate court,” Hilary explained in the interview. “While pleased with the relief that we’ve already gotten for our clients, we intend to continue to vigorously litigate this case in order to achieve an even greater reduction in the amount of the final judgment.”
Stephen and Paul described their part in a $154 million settlement for the class members in a federal securities litigation case against Snap Inc., for which Larson LLP was originally retained by the lead plaintiff’s firm Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP to serve as trial counsel and then participated in mediating the settlement. In the profile, the Daily Journal noted the case as an example “where another firm leveraged Larson LLP’s trial expertise.”
Paul elaborated in the interview, “It’s an example of the reputation we’ve tried to cultivate as a trial-first firm. When Kessler Topaz saw that trial was imminent, they reached out and asked us to play a role as co-counsel.”
Recognized as a “signature case from the firm’s white collar docket” is Stephen and Jonathan’s defense of Colonies Partners, L.P., and its co-managing partner Jeffrey Burum in a “blockbuster prosecution.” Daily Journal reports that they “not only won a full acquittal for [Mr.] Burum after a 10-month trial but then came back in 2020 to score a $65 million settlement with [San Bernardino County] after suing for retaliation, fabrication of evidence, malicious prosecution, and conspiracy to deny civil rights.” Partners Kori L. Bell and Steven E. Bledsoe also worked on the civil rights case and the firm secured the settlement in November 2020.
Pictured for our “Top Boutiques” profile: Larson LLP founding partner Stephen Larson with the firm’s newest partners (left to right): Alex Lowder, Dana Howard, and Rick Richmond. The firm’s newest partners—Alex Lowder, Dana M. Howard, and Rick Richmond—were photographed with Stephen for the “Top Boutiques” profile. Alex and Dana were elevated from counsel to partner in January 2021 and Rick joined the firm as a partner in the summer of 2021. With these additions, the Larson LLP partnership now comprises 11 experienced trial attorneys, who also include Jerry A. Behnke and R.C. Harlan.
2021 marks Larson LLP’s sixth year as a firm, which has since grown from 11 to more than 30 attorneys in Los Angeles; Orange County; Washington, D.C.; and London.
“We are branching out, but at heart we are a collection of select people who enjoy working together at a firm of extraordinary excellence.”
— Stephen Larson
Read our full profile on Daily Journal’s website here (subscription required).
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