Emil Petrossian
t: 310.282.6295 (Century City)
Emil Petrossian is a litigation partner and trial attorney. His practice entails all facets of complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts and arbitral forums. In addition to being co-resident in Glaser Weil’s headquarters in Los Angeles, Emil is Glaser Weil’s co-office managing partner in San Diego. The Daily Journal previously named Emil one of the top 40 attorneys in California under the age of 40.
Emil has extensive first-chair experience litigating high-stakes commercial disputes for major businesses throughout the country. In addition to having significant jury trial experience in both state and federal courts, Emil has handled numerous arbitrations and understands the specific challenges arbitration poses. Emil also has substantial appellate experience, having handled appeals for his clients in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Fifth Circuits and the California Court of Appeal.
While tenacious in the courtroom, Emil understands the many nuances of big-ticket litigation. The goal is always to win, but winning can take many forms depending on the facts, the law, and the client’s objectives. Emil 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, he zealously protects and promotes the client’s business interests while working toward resolving disputes, not prolonging them. And if a matter can’t be resolved before trial, Emil is a skilled advocate in the courtroom and can draw upon his significant trial experience to achieve victory.
Emil is an active member of the community and serves on the Board of Directors of the Constitutional Rights Foundation. In addition to client-billable work, he regularly handles pro bono matters, including nationally significant impact litigations. Recently, Emil took a lead role in the California cases challenging former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross’s attempts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, resulting in a permanent injunction prohibiting the question. Emil is actively involved in firm leadership initiatives and co-chairs Glaser Weil’s Litigation Recruiting Committee.
Before joining Glaser Weil, Emil 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, and was a partner at a national law firm.
Representative Matters
Secured a complete summary judgment victory and a $1.6 million fee award on behalf of 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.
Presently representing a real estate syndication firm in an eight-figure oral partnership dispute involving claims of breach of fiduciary duties, breach of contract and fraud.
Secured a complete summary judgment victory on behalf of a leading residential investment lender in a breach of contract dispute relating to fees.
Achieved a sweeping summary judgment victory on behalf of musical artists Marshmello and Bastille and producer Steve Mac, along with their respective music publishers and entities, in a copyright infringement case concerning the hit song “Happier.”
Represented 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; successfully resolved the case in a confidential settlement.
Represented a Fortune 100 company in a fraud and contract dispute with an exploration and production company; achieved a successful result after a two-week arbitration hearing.
Represented a Fortune 100 company in an insurance coverage dispute relating to a $15 million commercial crime policy.
Co-chaired an eight-week jury trial against Guaranteed Rate, Inc., the second-largest private mortgage lender in the country, and one of its leading loan officers in a data theft and fraud action brought pursuant to California Penal Code § 502(c); prevailed at trial on all claims and obtained a $23.2 million damage award, including $13 million in punitive damages.
Co-chaired a five-week jury trial against the founders of entertainment and media company Good News Holdings, LLC, prevailing on all claims and obtaining a judgment in excess of $6 million; successfully briefed and argued two interlocutory appeals, resulting in two published California appellate decisions.
Represented GRAMMY Award-winning performing artists and producers Usher Raymond IV and Jermaine Dupri in a copyright infringement lawsuit involving Usher’s platinum hit “Burn”; successfully resolved the case in a confidential settlement.
Represented a motion picture studio and two production companies in a copyright infringement lawsuit relating to the animated motion picture Hop; successfully resolved the case in a confidential settlement and obtained a full dismissal with prejudice of all claims.
Represented a multichannel network in connection with a copyright infringement dispute relating to the use of musical compositions and sound recordings in audiovisual content; successfully resolved the case in a confidential settlement.
Represented members of the rock band Toto in a contract dispute with their international record label; settled the case and successfully negotiated the band’s next studio album release.
Represented the Luna Grill Restaurants chain in concurrent litigations against Worldpay US, Inc., and Payment Software Co. related to a data compromise event.
Prosecuted and successfully settled an investment dispute between a mortgage bank and its principal outside investor involving claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract.
Represented 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.
Associations
Admitted to practice in California and before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits and all U.S. District Courts in California
Board of Directors, Constitutional Rights Foundation
Member, Armenian Bar Association
Mentor, Loyola Law School Clerkship Program
Honors & Awards
Lawdragon “500 Leading Litigators in America,” 2022
Daily Journal “Top 40 Under 40,” 2019
Super Lawyers “Southern California Rising Star,” 2015–2019
Association of Corporate Counsel “Rising Star,” 2012
Publications
Co-author, "Commercial Real Estate Lending Checkup Amid Market Unrest," Law360, April 26, 2023.
Author, “Force Majeure and Other Contractual Issues in a COVID-19 World,” Risk Management Magazine, July 8, 2020.
Quoted, “Beyond Force Majeure: Things Real Estate Attys Should Know,” Law360, May 6, 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, 26:1 Cal. Litigation 15, 2013
In Pursuit of the Perfect Forum: Transnational Forum Shopping in the United States & England, 40 Loy. L.A. L. Rev. 1257 (2007).
Speaking Engagements
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.
Guest Lecturer, Sports Law, Santa Clara Law School, April 2012.
Panelist, Sports Law, Provisors Lawyers & Legal Professionals Affinity Group, March 9, 2012.