Eric Kennedy is a Shareholder in the Los Angeles office and the Chair of the firm’s Automotive Industry group. Eric’s practice focuses on all aspects of commercial litigation with an emphasis on class action defense and disputes involving contracts, securities fraud, unfair competition, real estate, fiduciary relationships, false advertising, trade secrets, trademark and copyright infringement, and employment issues. Mr. Kennedy has substantial experience in both state and federal court and has tried cases on both coasts.

Eric has represented Fortune 500 companies in numerous industries, including automobile design and manufacturing, petroleum, technology, computer manufacturing and distribution, action sports, apparel, banking, real estate development and finance, for-profit education, multi-level marketing, software development, food services, baby products, and gaming.

Among his notable victories, Eric successfully defended a large, California-based oil company in a class action seeking massive statutory damages for its practice of requesting zip codes as identification for customers purchasing gas at the pump. Of the numerous co-defendants, Eric’s client was the only one that sought and obtained early summary judgment. Eric also defended an international computer manufacturer in several class actions relating to warranty issues and product design. He recently obtained a complete defense verdict for his client in a breach of fiduciary duty case after a four-month trial in the Complex Division in Orange County Superior Court. Eric’s latest trial ended the day it began when the judge granted Eric’s motion to exclude all of plaintiffs’ evidence and testimony as a sanction for pre-trial procedural errors. Eric also recently won a motion to dismiss a shareholder derivative claim filed in Nevada state court. Eric’s victory not only ended that particular case, it effectively ended several similar actions in other jurisdictions against the same client.

Eric is an active volunteer for several charities and currently serves on the following boards of directors:

The Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (LACLJ). The LACLJ is a free legal clinic in Los Angeles primarily providing services for domestic violence survivors and their families.
The Triunfo YMCA. With a brand new, state-of-the-art facility, the Triunfo Y provides community services relating to health, well-being, fitness, recreation, and education to members of the Agoura Hills, Westlake, Thousand Oaks, and Calabasas communities.
Law Rocks. Law Rocks promotes music education for underprivileged youth and raises funds for local nonprofit organizations.

Eric is also active in his community frequently volunteering as an AYSO coach and BSA leader.