Christopher Beatty

Representative Experience

• Served as first chair trial counsel during a two week trial and obtained a $5.4 million verdict against a Los Angeles law firm on claims for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and malpractice. *
• Obtained a writ of possession in federal court for an airline, after the planes were taken by a former operator and used to set up a competing airline. Also successfully defended the airline from in excess of $10 million in claims brought against the company by this distributor. *
• Represented co-founders of a texting startup Community in bringing securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims against another co-founder and the Company related to a share repurchase, where the co-founder was alleged to have not disclosed a planned financing round led by celebrity investors. After winning on key legal issues in a dispositive motion, the case settled on favorable confidential terms right before a jury trial was set to begin. *
• Obtained complete summary judgment in federal court on behalf of a music entertainment company against claims of trademark infringement, dilution and false designation of origin, brought by a former band manager claiming that the company improperly used the band’s name and owed him millions in royalties. Also obtained summary judgment cancelling a trademark for the name of the band. *
• Represented the owner of a Hollywood post-production facility, in a lender liability suit against numerous other entities, in which it was alleged Defendants destroyed the company. Successfully obtained in excess of $10 million in settlements after numerous positive rulings from the Court. *
• Represented a healthcare facility in a breach of contract dispute against a prominent foundation. *
• Represented bankruptcy trustee of a restaurant chain in bringing claims against the two shareholders of the Company, who were its former officers and directors, for misappropriating opportunities and funds from the Company, to the detriment of creditors. *
• Represented a startup co-founder in a lawsuit against a prominent startup, its board members and its venture capital lenders, for claims relating to wrongful dilution of his stock. *
• Represented a music entertainment company in an accounting action brought against a ringtone distributor. After successfully winning several motions in court, the distributor made a significant settlement payment. *
• Represented a venture capital firm with respect to claims against a pet store chain for wrongful dilution of preferred shares. After obtaining a key ruling on a dispositive motion, the case settled on favorable confidential terms. *
• Represented a prominent venture capital firm against a startup for fraudulently inducing a seven figure investment. The lawsuit resulted in the recovery of almost the entirety of the investment. *
• Successfully defeated through summary judgment a former employee’s claim that he was a 20% owner of a chain of urgent cares and medical facilities. *
• Successfully defended a hedge fund and its founder against claims by a former employee that he was a 50% owner of the fund and entitled to 50% of its profits. The lawsuit including successfully opposing two motions that would have given this employee control of the company. *
• Represented a designated trustee for a trust with $500 million in assets, in her efforts to be appointed trustee, which were opposed by the beneficiary. *
• Successfully represented a regional bank in efforts to collect a multimillion dollar judgment. *
• Represented a member of an LLC in a contentious family dispute. A ruling was obtained through summary judgment, requiring the LLC to be dissolved, which led to a favorable settlement payment made in exchange for agreeing to be bought out as a member to the LLC. *
• Represented a pharmaceutical company in federal court as a plaintiff against a healthcare company. The case involved antitrust, breach of contract, and unfair competition claims. *
• Represented a video game company in lawsuits related to a popular video game, with more than $2 billion in damages alleged. The suits included a competition lawsuit and claims brought by over forty employees, including the creators and former heads of the videogame franchise, seeking profits from and control of the franchise. All parties reached a confidential settlement shortly before trial. *
• Acted as pro bono counsel in two Ninth Circuit mediations related to immigration. In one case involving a family of five, the government administratively closed all five cases even though orders of removal had been issued. *