Matthew Gershman

• Obtained full defense judgment on behalf of client against a 22% partner that brought claims seeking to take over control of the business, dissolve the business and partition its assets, and damages. Successfully dissociated the 22% partner from the business in an arbitration, confirmed the arbitration award in court, defended that confirmation on appeal (Simons v. Super. Ct., No. B306193, 2021 WL 4473414 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 30, 2021)), and recovered more than $7 million in prevailing-party legal fees and costs.
• In a case of first impression regarding the relevance and impact of assessor’s parcel numbers (APNs) listed on a deed’s legal property description, obtained judgment on behalf of the client to defend the client’s real estate title to a trucking terminal against an adversary’s claim to have purchased that same land out of a bankruptcy liquidation. Successfully defended the judgment on the title issues in a published decision, XPO Logistics Freight, Inc. v. Hayward Property, LLC, 79 Cal. App. 5th 1166 (Ct. App. 2022), review denied Aug. 31, 2022. Also obtained summary judgment for the title insurance company against the same adversary’s claim that the title policy had been breached when the adversary was unable to obtain title to the trucking terminal. Hayward Property, LLC v. Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, No. 17-cv-06177 SBA, 2021 WL 4503457 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 30, 2021), appeal dismissed May 8, 2023. 
• Obtained dismissal at the pleading stage of fraudulent transfer claims seeking damages and to challenge validity of deeds of trust securing cross-collateralized real estate development loans.
• Represented developer of luxury waterfront condominium complex in Long Beach, California against claims brought by homeowner’s association, on behalf of condominium owners, to challenge monthly compensation owed to developer from inception of complex through 2041. After three-week trial, defeated claims for disgorgement of past fees paid and to reduce fee to zero or a nominal fee going forward (rather than a fee pursuant to the contractual formula), resulting in seven-figure judgment in developer’s favor. Also handled appeal and defense of cross-appeal, with an appellate decision resulting in a substantially larger and eight-figure judgment in developer’s favor. See Marina Pacifica Homeowners Association v. Southern California Financial Corporation, 232 Cal. App. 4th 494 (Ct. App. 2014), review denied Mar. 11, 2015. Obtained affirmance of the final judgment in developer’s favor, after the homeowner’s association appealed again after lobbying the Legislature to change the law. Marina Pacifica Homeowners Association Southern California Financial Corp., 11 Cal. App. 5th 54 (Ct. App. 2017).
• Represented scrap metal business in eminent domain proceedings concerning property taken by the State of California in connection with the I-5 corridor widening project in Los Angeles County. Just prior to the Final Status Conference leading up to trial, obtained $6.5 million settlement from the State (on top of more than $29 million previously obtained from the State on behalf of the client at a prior stage of the same litigation).
• Successfully defended project approvals against CEQA claims relating to a 1.8 million square foot warehouse distribution and logistics center in the County of Riverside. 
• Obtained dismissal at the pleading stage of claims brought against one of the world’s largest private banks alleging wrongdoing in connection with foreclosure on an estate property.
• Obtained dismissal at the pleading stage of a securities fraud mass action against one of the world’s largest real estate investment firms involving tenant-in-common investments in commercial property.
• Obtained defense judgment after trial on behalf of client against construction defect/alter-ego claims in excess of $10 million.°

• In matter of first impression regarding interpretation of the California Corporation Code’s procedure for voting by ballot in a religious non-profit corporation, obtained reversal on appeal of trial court’s decision regarding who had legal claim to possession of historic church. See The Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of St. Mary of the Angels’ Parish v. Bush, Los Angeles Superior Court Appellate Division No. BV031682 (nonpub. op. Dec. 1, 2017).
• Represented Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. in Corber v. Xanodyne/Romo v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., 771 F.3d 1218 (9th Cir. 2014) (en banc), in which the Ninth Circuit, sitting en banc, reversed an order of remand following removal under the mass action provisions of the Class Action Fairness Act. Case was one of first impression concerning the impact of a plaintiff’s request for coordination of actions under California’s coordination statutes.
• Obtained denial of Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(f) petition for permission to appeal from lower court’s order denying class certification in action alleging wage-and-hour claims against large retail pharmacy.
• Obtained preliminary injunction and subsequent settlement preventing public disclosure of Sensitive Security Information concerning security systems at one of the top five busiest airports in the world.

• Obtained $1 million summary judgment award against counterfeiters of UL certification marks used to advertise uncertified hoverboard toys. See UL LLC v. The Space Chariot Inc., 250 F. Supp. 3d 596 (C.D. Cal. 2017). Thereafter, obtained (i) dismissal of one defendant’s Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition, and (ii) summary judgment for nondischargeability against another defendant that filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7.
• Obtained $2 million judgment against counterfeiters of UL certification marks used in connection with the marketing, importation, and distribution of uncertified hoverboard toys. See UL LLC v. Gangsong Group Corp., No. CV 17-8166 DSF (Ex), No. CV 18-3077-DSF (Ex), 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107276 (C.D. Cal. June 26, 2019).
• Handled Tracfone’s successful opposition before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In doing so, obtained TTAB decision after trial holding that the TRACFONE mark is “renowned” and “commercially strong” and therefore “entitled to a concomitantly broad scope of protection,” which will be instrumental in enforcement efforts against other confusingly similar third-party marks. See TracFone Wireless, Inc. v. Spy Phone Labs LLC, TTAB Opp. No. 91218042 (Aug. 16, 2018), appeal dismissed In re Spy Phone Labs LLC, No. 19-1075 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 13, 2018).

• Represented Britney Spears in successfully obtaining orders suspending the conservator of her estate and subsequently terminating her entire 13-year long conservatorship.
• Represented the sole non-contingent beneficiary of a $400+ million family trust against the originally named co-trustees, in a six-month trial resulting ultimately in the suspension and removal of the co-trustees. Also handled successful defense on appeal. See Hughes v. Klein, No. A138983, 2015 WL 1455981 (Cal. Ct. App. 2015), review denied June 10, 2015.
• Obtained summary judgment for more than $1.3 million on behalf of executor in action involving elder abuse of the deceased.

• Obtained dismissal at the pleading stage on behalf of a major telecommunications provider in lawsuit alleging violations of equal protection, civil rights, and consumer protection laws.
• Obtained dismissal on behalf of entertainer Miley Cyrus against purported $4 billion class action suit alleging civil rights violations.°

• Obtained dismissal at the pleading stage against tortious interference, defamation, and unfair competition claims asserted by client’s competitor.
• Obtained dismissal on behalf of bank defendant, on threat of a summary judgment motion, in action brought by guarantors alleging fraud in execution of personal guaranties for business loan.
• Obtained defense judgment after trial on behalf of client against palimony/contract claims in excess of $100 million.°

• Represented film production lenders against foreign sales agency in arbitration involving contract and fiduciary duty claims; obtained award exceeding $950,000 in lenders’ favor (and subsequent court confirmation of the arbitration award).
• Obtained dismissal on behalf of a Canadian pay-television provider against breach of contract claim concerning a C$20+ million feature film output deal.°
• Obtained dismissal on behalf of The Endeavor Agency, LLC against copyright infringement claims.°
• Obtained dismissal on behalf of Morgan Creek Productions against fraud and tortious interference claims concerning the rights to a film project based on the life of Tupac Shakur.°
• Represented Lionsgate Films, Inc. in a suit concerning the distribution rights to the award winning film Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire.°

°The above representations were handled by Mr. Gershman prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

• Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, 2023-2024

• Board of Directors, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers Los Angeles
• Member, Century City Bar Association
• Mock Trial Coach for Reseda High School Team
• Former Member, Board of Directors, Homeowners Association