Overview

Emil Petrossian is an experienced trial attorney and the managing partner of Glaser Weil's San Diego office. His practice covers all facets of complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts and arbitral forums, and he is routinely called upon to handle his clients’ most sensitive and pressing business matters. Emil is recognized as one of the leading commercial litigators in California and a business leader in the San Diego community.

Emil has extensive first-chair experience litigating high-stakes commercial disputes for major businesses and corporations throughout the country. In addition to having significant jury trial experience in both state and federal courts, Emil has litigated numerous arbitrations and has substantial appellate experience in federal courts of appeals and the California Court of Appeal.

While tenacious in the courtroom, Emil understands the many nuances of big-ticket litigation. He tailors a litigation strategy for each client, in each matter, that’s designed to formulate the best possible outcome and the greatest chance of achieving it. At every stage, Emil zealously protects and promotes the client's business interests while working toward resolving disputes, not prolonging them.

Emil is particularly sought after for:

  • Complex commercial disputes involving contract, fraud and partnership claims
  • Real estate and financial services litigation
  • Intellectual property litigation, including copyright and trademark disputes

Emil is an active member of the community and serves on the board of directors of Teach Democracy (formerly Constitutional Rights Foundation). He regularly handles major pro bono matters, including nationally significant impact litigations. And he is actively involved in Firm management, including managing the San Diego office and co-chairing Glaser Weil's litigation recruiting committee.

Before joining Glaser Weil, Emil was a partner at a national law firm. After law school, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Gary A. Feess (ret.) of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Results

Emil's notable experience includes his representation of: 

  • Gensler, the world’s leading architecture and design firm, in an eight-figure indemnity dispute relating to the construction of the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica, California, which resulted in a complete summary judgment victory and a $1.6 million fee award in Gensler’s favor.
  • Post Investment Group in a nine-figure dispute concerning an alleged oral partnership agreement relating to various real estate holdings, which resulted in a successful settlement.
  • CoreVest, a leading residential investment lender, in a breach of contract and fraud dispute that resulted in a complete summary judgment victory and a $900,000 fee award in CoreVest’s favor.
  • Musical artists Marshmello and Bastille and producer Steve Mac in a copyright infringement case concerning the hit song “Happier,” which resulted in a sweeping summary judgment victory on all claims against all of the defendants.*
  • The publisher of the bestselling children’s book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls in a copyright ownership dispute with the publisher’s co-founder and former creative director, which resulted in a favorable settlement in the client’s favor.*
  • A Fortune 50 company in a nine-figure fraud and contract dispute with an exploration and production company that resulted in a successful arbitration award after a two-week arbitration hearing.*

Additional significant experience includes representing: 

  • A Fortune 50 company in an insurance coverage dispute relating to a $15 million commercial crime policy.*
  • Mount Olympus Mortgage Co. in an eight-week jury trial against Guaranteed Rate, Inc., the second-largest private mortgage lender in the country, in a data theft and fraud action brought pursuant to California Penal Code § 502(c) that resulted in a sweeping victory on all claims at trial and a $23.2 million damage award, including $13 million in punitive damages.*
  • GRAMMY Award-winning performing artists and producers Usher Raymond IV and Jermaine Dupri in a copyright infringement lawsuit involving Usher’s platinum hit “Burn,” which resulted in a favorable settlement.*
  • A motion picture studio and two production companies in a copyright infringement lawsuit relating to the animated motion picture Hop, which resulted in a favorable settlement of all claims.*
  • A multichannel network in connection with a copyright infringement dispute relating to the use of musical compositions and sound recordings in audiovisual content, which was successfully resolved in a favorable settlement.*
  • Members of the rock band Toto in a contract dispute with their international record label, which was successfully resolved and resulted in negotiation of the band’s next studio album release.*
  • The Luna Grill Restaurants chain in concurrent litigations against Worldpay US, Inc., and Payment Software Co. relating to a data compromise event.*
  • Former officers and directors of two failed banks in separate receivership actions initiated by the FDIC under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act.*

*Denotes prior firm experience.

Insights

Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator, “Update from Southern California Housing Authorities & Legal Experts,” InterFace Conference Group’s Affordable Housing Southern California Conference, September 10, 2024
  • Panelist, “Excuses, Excuses! What To Do When Your Deals Fall Apart During COVID-19,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, May 5, 2020
  • Presenter, “Preparing Witnesses for Depositions & Defending Depositions,” Bridgeport Continuing Education, July 13, 2018
  • Presenter, “Mastering the Deposition,” Bridgeport Continuing Education, June 2017

Thought Leadership

  • Author, “Force Majeure and Other Contractual Issues in a COVID-19 World," Risk Management magazine, July 8, 2020
  • Co-author, “Instagram This: Fair Use and Social Media,” Daily Journal, August 17, 2017
  • Co-author, “Sizing Up 2014’s Copyright Cases,” Daily Journal, December 31, 2014
  • Co-author, “After 20 Years, Has Transformative Use Lost Its Edge?,” Daily Journal, November 5, 2014
  • “To Cite or Not to Cite? That Is the Question: Citing Unpublished Decisions in California State and Federal Courts,” The Journal of the Litigation Section, State Bar of California, Volume 26, Number 1, 2013

Awards and Recognition

Awards and Recognition

“SD500: San Diego’s Most Influential People 2024,” San Diego Business Journal, 2024

“Leaders of Influence in Law,” San Diego Business Journal, 2024 

“500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2023, 2024, 2025

“Top Attorneys in San Diego,” SD Metro, 2024-25

“Thriving in Their 40s,” L.A. Business Journal, 2023

“Top 40 Under 40,” Daily Journal, 2019

“Rising Star,” Southern California, Super Lawyers, 2015-2019

“Rising Star,” Association of Corporate Counsel, 2012

Leadership and Community

Board of Directors, Teach Democracy (f/k/a Constitutional Rights Foundation), 2018 to present

Member, Lawyers Club of San Diego, 2022 to present

Member, Armenian Bar Association, 2016 to present

Education

Loyola Law School, J.D., 2008, cum laude

Whitman College, B.A., 2003

Admissions

  • California

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