Susan Allison

Susan Allison handles complex business litigation matters in both the appellate and trial courts, including anti-SLAPP,  defendants' professional liability, writ petitions, intellectual property, class action defense, entertainment litigation, and shareholder, partnership, and other corporate disputes.

Equally at home in federal and state courts, and experienced in appellate issues, trials, and arbitrations, Susan quickly identifies her clients' litigation objectives and develops strategies designed to achieve those objectives efficiently and effectively.

Representative Matters include:
Appellate and Anti-SLAPP

• Represented a major law firm in arbitration of multi-million-dollar professional liability claims arising from the negotiation of tax protection agreement in complex corporate transaction.
• Ongoing engagements on behalf of a national law firm defending against professional negligence claims. 
• Served as lead counsel defending a global professional services company in actuarial malpractice action relating to retiree healthcare fund; summary judgment in client's favor affirmed on appeal.
• Defended major actuarial consulting firm in federal court action alleging misrepresentation in connection with defense contractor's acquisition of defense-related assets and liabilities; case settled favorably after summary judgment granted in client's favor.
• Lead counsel defending a global professional services company in a billion-dollar federal court class action suit alleging actuarial malpractice in connection with spin-off of corporate pension plan; negotiated a highly favorable early exit from the case for my client.
• Second chaired a four-week jury trial for plaintiff alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims against business adviser/accountant, resulting in a $6.5 million verdict, including punitive damages. Client’s judgment was successfully ruled non-dischargeable in the accountant's bankruptcy.

• Served as co-counsel for a motion picture studio plaintiff in a copyright, trademark, and trade secret lawsuit relating to rights to major motion picture franchise; preliminary injunction upheld by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Co-counsel defending a major recording artist, her producers, and her recording company in a copyright infringement lawsuit; obtained dismissal sanctions against plaintiff prior to trial, which were upheld by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Obtained a TRO and preliminary injunction against a prominent sporting goods company for trademark infringement, resulting in prompt, favorable settlement.
• Represented a generic drug distributor in defense of trade dress infringement and false advertising claims brought by competing brand name manufacturer; summary judgment in client's favor was affirmed on appeal.

More about Susan on the Women Lawyers of JMBM page.