Ian is an experienced litigation attorney. Ian regularly defends attorneys, real estate brokers, investment advisers and CPAs against claims of malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and fraud. Ian also represents entity and individual clients prosecuting and defending breach of contract, trade secret, and bet-the-company disputes involving the ownership and operation of corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships. Ian's other specific areas of focus include cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, sexual misconduct, real estate issues, and judgment collection.
Ian has served as trial counsel in jury trials, judge trials, and arbitrations obtaining successful verdicts and results including dismissal via nonsuit motion and full defense verdicts. He has prevailed arguing multiple cases before California Courts of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has obtained dozens of early resolutions for his clients through California’s Anti-SLAPP statute, summary judgment, demurrer, and motions to dismiss. Ian also protects his clients’ right to litigate in their chosen venue by succeeding on motions to compel arbitration, motions to quash service, and motions to transfer venue.
A native of San Diego, Ian earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law where he completed a concentration in business and corporate law. He is the current Vice President of the San Diego Defense Lawyers organization. Ian is a former newspaper reporter and proud alumnus of the University of Arizona.
Licenses:
- State Bar of California
- United States District Court for the Southern, Central, and Eastern Districts of California
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Education:
- Juris Doctor from University of San Diego School of Law
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, magna cum laude, from The University of Arizona
Recognition:
- 2016 Young Attorney of the Year presented by San Diego Defense Lawyers
- Southern California Super Lawyers® Rising Star (2017-2023)
- Obtained $33.7 million verdict featured in Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts of 2015
Professional Memberships and Associations:
- San Diego Defense Lawyers, Vice President (2023), Board of Directors Member (2020-2023)
- State Bar of California
- San Diego County Bar Association
- Lawyers Club
- American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Chapter, Alumni
Publications:
- Spring 2023, San Diego Defense Lawyers, The Update, "Exercise Caution and Do Not Disclose Confidential Information to AI Programs"
- Spring 2022, San Diego Defense Lawyers, The Update, Caution Attorneys Must not Forget Their Duty of Candor
- December 15, 2021, Los Angeles Daily Journal, Paraprofessionals are not the way to increase access to justice
- Fall 2020, San Diego Defense Lawyers, The Update, State Bar Approves Provisional License Program Placing Monitoring Burden on Supervising Lawyers
- Summer 2020, San Diego Defense Lawyers, The Update, What Must Lawyers do to Maintain Client Confidences While Working From Home?
- Spring 2020, San Diego Defense Lawyers, The Update, Spread of Novel Coronavirus Risks Potential Future Claims for Negligent Exposure
- February 2020, San Diego County Bar Association, For the Record, Duties Owed to Non-Client Insurance Carriers
- Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association, Ethics Guides for Trusts and Estates Practitioners, Fourth Edition; Ethics Research Associate
- Spring 2017, San Diego Defense Lawyers, The Update, Class-Wide Arbitration is the Arbitrator’s Decision Unless the Contract Says Otherwise