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Michael R. Weiss

Office Managing Partner

Deputy Co-Chair, Litigation Practice Group

Michael Weiss guides clients through complex disputes, including real estate litigation, commercial and business disputes, and complex insurance insolvency matters. His real estate litigation experience includes multimillion dollar easement, entitlement, and contract disputes on behalf of Fortune 500 REIT companies, commercial lease and purchase disputes and transactions, and real estate partnership disputes and workouts.

On the insurance side, Michael is among a select group of lawyers in California who handle conservation, rehabilitation, and liquidation of insurance companies. His insurance practice also concentrates on regulatory matters and reinsurance.

As a commercial litigator, Michael has managed all aspects of litigation, including jury and bench trials, mediations, and arbitrations. Michael spent four years with the California Attorney General's Office where he served as lead counsel handling complex business, real estate, tax, insurance insolvency, and regulatory cases for the State of California before state, federal, and appellate courts. In addition, Michael is experienced in drafting and preparing construction agreements and construction related documents.

Michael serves as the Office Managing Partner of the firm's Los Angeles office and as Deputy Co-Chair of the Litigation Practice Group.

Notable Work

Easement Dispute:

Represented a Fortune 500 Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in a multi-million dollar easement dispute against an adjoining condominium association in Los Angeles Superior Court, resulting in a favorable settlement to our client, including the recovery of easement rights and significant monetary damages.

Asset Dispute:

Represented the California Insurance Commissioner in a multi-million dollar asset dispute with a property owner in Los Angeles Superior Court concerning whether removable artwork owned by the insolvent insurer constituted commercial fixtures to the office building, resulting in the favorable purchase by the property owner of artworks and monetary recovery for the insurer.

Construction Dispute:

Represented a Fortune 500 REIT in a commercial breach of contract and construction dispute against contractors, architects, and project managers in Los Angeles Superior Court, resulting in a favorable settlement for our client, including the recovery of monetary damages and waivers of fees and expenses.

California Insurance Dispute:

Represented the California Insurance Commissioner as conservator and liquidator of insolvent insurers Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, Superior National Insurance Company, California Compensation Insurance Company and others. Appeared in state and federal courts and provided legal advice on an array of issues, including the insurer's conservation and liquidation, rehabilitation, reinsurance, policy termination, asset collection and liquidation, employment termination, real estate, sale of art collection, negotiation of lease terms and terminations, claim handling and resolutions, retirement and pension plans, private sector employment and employment discrimination claims and litigation matters, sale of books of insurance business, corporate governance, and other issues and matters pertaining to insurers' conservation, rehabilitation and insolvency.

Easement Dispute:

Represented a Fortune 500 REIT in an easement dispute involving entitlement and use of parking spaces on an adjoining property in downtown Los Angeles, currently pending.

Eminent Domain:

Represented a commercial property owners association in an eminent domain, breach of easement, and interference with a water line and fire life and safety system action, resulting in monetary recovery to our client and new easement agreements.

California Insurance Dispute:

Represented the California Insurance Commissioner in $100 million dispute against four insurance companies in United States District Court, Los Angeles Superior Court and California Court of Appeal concerning the collection of workers' compensation bonds, resulting in approximately $90 million recovery for insolvent insurers.

California Insurance Dispute:

Represented the California Insurance Commissioner in a multi-million dollar premium dispute against the brokerage company in a one-week arbitration in Orange County and multiple actions filed in California Courts of Appeal, resulting in $1.4 million judgment and recovery for the insolvent insurer.

California Insurance Dispute:

Represented the California Insurance Commissioner in a multi-million dollar dispute with the insolvent insurers' former executives in Los Angeles Superior Court - Complex Litigation Department and California Court of Appeal, claiming employment and severance payments, resulting in a claim-rejection judgment against the executives.

California Insurance Dispute:

Represented the California Insurance Commissioner in reinsurance arbitrations with reinsurers of insolvent insurance companies, resulting in monetary recoveries for insurers.

Oklahoma Insurance Dispute:

Represented the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner in workers' compensation proceedings against insolvent insurers before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, resulting in favorable motions for dismissals of insurers.

Illinois Insurance Dispute:

Represented the Illinois Insurance Commissioner in unpaid premium disputes with commercial property owners in United States District Court, resulting in favorable monetary settlements.

Sales Tax Dispute:

Representation of the California Franchise Tax Board in a sales tax dispute with a clothing business in Los Angeles Superior Court and California Court of Appeal, resulting in a favorable motion for summary judgment against the business, which was affirmed on appeal.

Eminent Domain/ Inverse Condemnation:

Represented governmental entities and contractors in an eminent domain / inverse condemnation action with four businesses, currently pending.

Partnership Dispute:

Represented a general partner in a multi-million dollar partnership dispute against the partnership and a second general partner in Los Angeles Superior Court, currently pending for trial.

Corporate Takeover Dispute:

Represented a limited liability company in litigation against former executives in a two-week trial in Los Angeles Superior Court, resulting in a judgment against the executives.

Landlord Dispute:

Represented a commercial tenant in a two-week jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court, resulting in a monetary judgment against the commercial landlord.

Breach of Lease and Unlawful Detainer:

Represented property owners in breach of commercial leases and unlawful detainer actions against restaurants in Los Angeles Superior Court, resulting in monetary judgments and an unlawful detainer judgment in our clients' favor.

Breach of Lease, Fraud, and Fraudulent Transfer:

Representation of a truck bodies manufacturing company in a breach of commercial lease, fraud and fraudulent transfer action in San Bernardino Superior Court, resulting in a favorable settlement for our client.

Breach of Contract:

Represented a valet company in a breach of contract action with a restaurant chain, resulting in a nominal monetary settlement.

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Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member

Los Angeles Business Journal, Recognized among the "Leaders of Influence - Litigators & Trial Attorneys," 2022

Michael R. Weiss

Notable Work

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