Susan K. Leader’s practice includes commercial litigation with a primary focus on disputes alleging breach of contract and business torts, as well as intellectual property claims in copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets and IP claims under the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act. She has also litigated cases involving franchise law, antitrust, and trusts and estates. Ms. Leader also has experience defending companies in False Claims Act (FCA) cases brought by qui tam relators or the Department of Justice. Ms. Leader serves as the hiring partner of the firm’s Los Angeles offices.
Practice & Background
Ms. Leader has substantial experience in litigating and trying complex commercial matters in federal and state courts and arbitration, from pre-filing through trial and post-trial law and motion. Her litigation and counseling experience includes work for companies in the aerospace, retail and automotive industries, as well as representation of large trusts and estates.
A member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation, Ms. Leader is also a contributing author of California Business Litigation, a two-volume attorney’s handbook published by California Continuing Education of the Bar.
Ms. Leader received her J.D. in 2001 from the University of Virginia School of Law. In 1997, she received her B.A. magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Representative Matters
Ms. Leader’s recent engagements include:
obtaining summary judgment against the Government on a $300 million False Claims Act case involving the largest beef recall in history
representing the trustees of a half billion dollar trust as defendants in a four week jury trial focused on whether the trust had breached its promissory note and security agreement with plaintiff (a private third-party company), in which a complete defense verdict was rendered. Plaintiff was seeking $400 million in damages
serving as lead trial counsel on behalf of the defendant in a multimillion-dollar bet-the-company case concerning misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement and unfair competition, in which she obtained a complete defense verdict after a two-week trial
representing a Korean client in federal dispute against a large retail manufacturer regarding breach of franchise agreement, in which she successfully defeated numerous motions to dismiss and add counterclaims and obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement for the client
representing a large out-of-state packaging company in a one-week breach of contract arbitration initiated by a local business represented by a large Los Angeles-based international law firm, in which she recovered attorneys’ fees and costs
serving as co-trial counsel on behalf of the defendant in a seven-week trial concerning alleged Cartwright Act violations and intentional interference with prospective business advantage
Awards & Accolades
inclusion in Daily Journal “Top Verdicts” of 2012 for “Top Defense Verdicts” in the successful and precedent-setting representation of the trustees in the $380 million suit filed by Zacadia Financial Ltd. in the case of the estate of the Herbalife founder.
