Adam Pines

Adam Pines, a partner in Glaser Weil’s Litigation and Trusts & Estates departments, has 30 years of experience in probate, real estate and family litigation. He has represented a wide range of prominent individuals and major corporations in high-stakes litigation, including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Blue Shield of California, JMB Properties, Wyndham International, Dole Foods, Match.com and Pacific Western Bank.

Adam’s probate litigation experience involves representing trustees, executors and beneficiaries in cases involving allegations that trustees and executors breached their fiduciary duties, the enforcement, modification and nullification of wills and trusts, and claims of undue influence and elder abuse.

Adam is sought after for his focused litigation experience in:

• Probate litigation
  • The enforcement, modification and nullification of wills and trusts
  • Prosecution and defense of trustee and executor breaches of fiduciary duty
  • Prosecution and defense of undue influence and elder abuse claims
• Real estate litigation
  • Complex commercial and residential landlord/tenant disputes
• Family litigation
  • Elder abuse, domestic violence, workplace violence and civil harassment restraining orders

Adam’s recent notable experience includes his representation of:

• A trust beneficiary in her demand for an accounting and subsequent successful petition to remove the trustee of her deceased father’s trust.

• Alliant Capital, a leading tax credit firm, as plaintiff in an affordable housing lawsuit over a portfolio valued at between $300 million and $400 million.

• ASCAP in obtaining a workplace violence restraining order against a member who was harassing one of its employees.
• A clothing manufacturer in litigation against its former tenant, obtaining a judgment and attorneys’ fees in our favor for unpaid rent and other damages, overcoming defenses based upon Covid-19 and force majeure.

Additional significant experience includes his representation of:

• Second Wife v. Stepsons. A decedent’s second wife, of 29 years, in a challenge brought by her stepsons to a trust amendment executed by the decedent two weeks before his diagnosis with a brain tumor. The stepsons’ petition alleged the decedent’s incapacity and elder abuse by the client. Adam prosecuted actions to dissolve the family business and defended against a petition to invalidate the trust amendment. The case settled on favorable terms.
• Beneficiary v. Trustee. A trustee in defense against claims by a beneficiary of an imprudent investment in a real estate limited partnership. Adam brought a cross-petition to establish that the settlor should be held responsible for the investment decision under the doctrine of trustee de son tort.
• Trustee v. Trustee. A trustee in prosecuting an action against a cotrustee and codirector of a charitable foundation for mishandling of trust assets and to remove him from his positions of authority. The case settled on favorable terms, including respondent’s withdrawal from the foundation.
• WeWork Companies Inc. v. The Irvine Company. WeWork in prosecution of an action for breach of contract and declaratory relief relating to the lease of more than 100,000 square feet of office space in the Irvine Spectrum development.
• Angela Wilder v. Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., et al. A motion picture studio in defense against claims of idea theft brought by plaintiff, who pitched an idea to Sony that she claims was similar to The Talk, which was produced by CBS approximately one year later. Plaintiff dismissed her claims on the eve of trial with no payment from Sony.
• Sargent Fletcher, Inc. v. Able Corporation, 110 Cal. App. 4th 1658, 3 Cal. Rptr. 3d 279. A defense contractor in defense against a competitor and former joint venturer’s claims of trade secret misappropriation. Adam successfully opposed a motion for preliminary injunction, took and defended 22 depositions, and second-chaired a seven-week jury trial to a defense verdict. The verdict was affirmed on appeal.
• Melissa Lopez v. City of Burbank. A Burbank resident, on a pro bono basis, in connection with her application to operate a large family day care in her residence, as permitted by state law. Adam appeared before the Burbank Planning Commission and City Council and prosecuted the successful action for administrative mandate. He collected costs from the City of Burbank.
• Francine Browner & Neil Afromsky v. Max Azria, Francine Browner, Inc., et al. Clothing designers Francine Browner and Neil Afromsky in prosecuting an action for fraudulent transfers and insider preferences against clothing designer Max Azria and his BCBG clothing companies based on defendants’ receipt of all assets of Francine Browner, Inc., shortly before judgment was entered against the company. Adam obtained a significant settlement for the clients.
• Ultramar, Inc. v. Clark, et al.  Ultramar Oil in prosecuting an action for contribution to the costs of cleaning diesel contamination under a former truck stop. Adam conducted a comprehensive investigation and successfully opposed defendants’ motions for summary judgment. Defendants agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement prior to trial.
• Dole Foods v. Pacific Maritime Association, et al. Dole Foods in prosecuting an action to force Pacific Maritime Association and its members to allow Dole to remove from the Port of Los Angeles produce and refrigeration equipment stranded by the PMA’s lockout of Port workers. Adam prepared state and then federal TRO papers on 24 hours’ notice and conducted an evidentiary hearing in federal court. The port reopened under the Taft-Hartley Act prior to appeal of the courts’ denials of relief.
• Maxicare Health Plans, Inc. v. Eugene L. Froelich. Maxicare Health Plans, Inc., in prosecuting an action to collect on a former executive’s unpaid $3 million promissory note. Adam obtained summary judgment on the complaint and defendant’s cross-complaint. He successfully defended the appeal and collected the full amount of the judgment. He also successfully demurred to the former executive’s shareholders’ derivative suit and obtained summary judgment on the former executive’s ERISA complaint.

News

Awards and Recognition

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rated
• Best Lawyers in America, 2014-2024
• Southern California Super Lawyers, 2012-2024
• Southern California Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2004-2005 and 2007
• Recipient of California State Bar’s Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Services Award for distinguished public service, 1997

Related links

Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association

Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association

Past board member, Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice 

Trial Attorney, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office; Trial Advocacy Program training, October-November 1998; February 1999