Business Litigation

Bartko has achieved excellent results for its clients in many high-stakes business and class action matters, including a recent $223 million verdict in a trade secret case, the recovery of over $100 million in litigation arising out of a Ponzi scheme, and defense verdicts in a major antitrust case and two $250 million trust cases. The firm has an established track record of creating and putting into effect novel litigation strategies and structures, both for achieving rapid, significant recoveries and for obtaining defense verdicts. With significant expertise in defense of white-collar criminal prosecutions, both federal and state, the firm is able to fashion and implement litigation plans that take into account and integrate effectively both civil and criminal ramifications of complex litigation matters. We also have deep litigation and trial experience in intellectual property and class action cases. Our clients have come to expect fast personal responses to inquiries and concerns as they occur – and Bartko delivers. We have represented clients throughout California and the United States. We have participated in trials, arbitrations, and hearings in Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Bartko has been ranked as a Best Law Firm in Commercial Litigation by U.S. News and World Report and a Top 20 California Boutique. The principals at Bartko have collectively tried over 100 cases to verdict, are top-ranked by Chambers in multiple areas, and have been recognized by the Daily Journal as California Attorneys of the Year, Top 100 California Lawyers, and top-rated in their practice areas.

Our depth of substantive and technical understanding, experience handling complex litigation and intellectual property matters, and willingness to take cases to trial ensure the best possible protection of our clients’ legal interests. We also are experts at Alternative Dispute Resolution practice, with several of the firm’s lawyers serving as arbitrators and mediators. Bartko has handled domestic and international arbitration matters for many clients, including class action arbitrations, and has litigated a number of issues arising out of the arbitration agreement or conduct of the proceeding. The firm represented one of the largest retailers in the world in an international arbitration involving disputes arising out of its Asian operations. It also represented one of the largest U.S. franchisors in a class arbitration and has handled a number of arbitrations involving the franchise industry. Other cases include: successful defense of preliminary injunctions involving trademarks; the representation of the founder of a large Silicon Valley company in major disputes with its VC lender; and shareholder and earn-out disputes. Bartko has also represented the heads of state of the Philippines and Korea in civil and criminal actions in the United States.

Bartko prides itself on immediate responsiveness to its clients, and we welcome alternative fee arrangements and other strategies to align the clients’ and the firm’s interests. We often team with other, specialty-technology law firms or lawyers to bring the most advanced technical expertise to bear on each case. We work closely with our clients and in-house counsel to resolve their specific legal issues. We know that costs and results are what matter.

Although Bartko is willing and able to take a case to trial to best protect our client’s interests, we understand that sometimes settlement is the prudent way to resolve a dispute. The firm has an extensive alternative dispute resolution practice, and several of our lawyers are court-approved mediators.

Areas of Business Litigation Practice

• Antitrust
• Franchise & Distribution
• Class Actions
• Trust & Estate Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation
• Data Privacy & Cybersecurity