Umberg/Zipser’s attorneys have extensive experience defending law firms and lawyers against claims by former clients and third parties, including claims of legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and securities fraud. We have represented lawyers accused of mishandling an array of underlying transactional and litigation matters, and have represented lawyers in connection with claimed ethical violations, including motions for disqualification. Our clients range from the largest international law firms to small local firms to individual lawyers.
In addition to defending claims, we also provide ethics counseling to law firms and lawyers. Our lawyers have served at the highest levels of State and Local Bar ethics committees, including as Chair of the State Bar’s Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct, Co-Vice Chair of the State Bar’s Rules Revision Commission, and Co-Chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s Professionalism and Ethics Committee. With that background and experience, our lawyers have been called upon to serve as expert witnesses on ethics and standard of care issues.
Representative matters of our lawyers include:
- Defense of multiple securities fraud and related actions arising from a law firm’s representation of individuals accused of perpetrating a $1 billion mortgage-related Ponzi scheme.
- Defense of legal malpractice action arising out of law firm’s defense of a consumer class action lawsuit.
- Defense of legal malpractice action arising out of law firm’s alleged mishandling of a patent infringement action.
- Defense of legal malpractice action arising out of law firm’s alleged negligent prosecution of a biotech patent.
- Defense of legal malpractice action relating to accusation that estate planning law firm conspired with trust beneficiary to disinherit client’s daughter.
- Defense of legal malpractice action arising out of law firm’s alleged mishandling of a municipal bond offering.
- Defense of legal malpractice where law firm was alleged to have negligently drafted an earn-out provision in a stock purchase agreement.