Michael C. Lieb

Michael Lieb is a partner in ECJ’s Litigation Department.

Mr. Lieb’s practice focuses on commercial litigation with particular emphasis on matters involving claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, and a variety of commercial disputes, including those between borrowers and lenders, between manufacturers and their suppliers, and between insureds and their insurers. By happenstance, he has also developed some expertise litigating disputes over net operating losses (NOLs) and worthless stock deductions, collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), and actuarial analyses.

Mike has successfully defended through verdict and appeal numerous actions asserting claims under California Business & Professions Code Section 17200, claims charging officers and directors with breaching their fiduciary duties, and claims alleging misappropriation of trade secrets. His breach of contract work has included significant work for a leading contract manufacturer litigating disputes arising under manufacturing agreements and the UCC. He has also handled several disputes between hotel owners and operators. Mike has successfully prosecuted claims alleging attorney malpractice, misappropriation of trade secrets, securities fraud and breach of contract.

He also has an active appellate practice. The appellate cases he has argued include: Hotvet v. First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc., 2018 WL 1165464 (enforceability of arbitration provision); Baral v. Schnitt, 1 Cal.5th 375 (2016) (ant-SLAPP motion); Walker v. Signature Group Holdings, Inc., 2014 WL 4235432 (2014) (claim for breach of employment agreement); Gerling Global Reinsurance Corp. v. Fremont General Corp., 287 Fed.Appx. 3 (9th Cir. 2008) (reinsurance treaty fraud claim); Bank of New York v. Fremont General Corp., 523 F.3d 902 (9th Cir. 2008) (claim for misappropriation of custodial funds); and People ex rel. Lockyer v. Fremont General Corp., 89 Cal.App.4th 1260 (2001) (B&P Code § 17200 claim arising from sales of annuities).