Michael R. Brown is a nationally respected business litigator with more than 30 years'
experience. His areas of expertise include complex business litigation, plaintiffs' employment law, insurance bad faith, contracts, arbitration decision disputes, real estate litigation, legal malpractice, fee disputes, fraud, and construction defect.
Mike was lead trial counsel in the successful resolution of a $300 million dispute between Pfizer and its insurance carriers arising from the Shiley Heart Valve defect litigation. He has successfully resolved employment, insurance bad faith, partnership, and business disputes resulting in the millions of dollars in settlements. Mike enjoys a particularly strong reputation for resolving acrimonious partnership disputes often without contentious litigation. |
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With partner Richard Kellner, Mike successfully argued before the Court of Appeal to vacate an arbitration decision involving a law firm partnership dispute (O'Flaherty v. Belgum). In another recent case, the two also successfully argued before a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to have a $2 million arbitration award thrown out (Pinnacle Construction Corp. v. E! Entertainment Television).
Besides being a litigator,
Mike is a much sought-after expert witness. Since 1984, Mike has been retained more than 325 times as an expert witness in legal fee disputes and legal malpractice claims. Clients include individuals, law firms and corporations around the country.
Caterpillar Company has retained Mike as an expert witness in a dispute involving attorney fees in a $50 million Peoria, Illinois asbestos case. Hewlett-Packard has retained him in a dispute over the reasonableness of attorneys' fees in a $40 million liability case.
Because of his expertise, Mike is often asked to speak before legal associations and at law firms on fee disputes, fee splitting, legal malpractice and arbitration issues.
Prior to establishing Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP, Mike was partner in Pasadena's Brown & Kellner LLP. Prior to that, he was a litigation partner/managing partner of the Southern California office of New York based Rivkin, Radler & Kremer. While there, he focused his practice on business and insurance litigation and expert testimony. Previously, he was managing partner and senior litigation partner for Cooper, Brown, Kardaras & Scharf in Pasadena.
Education/Professional
- B.A., Queens College, City University of New York in Flushing, New York, 1972
- J.D., California Western University School of Law, San Diego, California, 1975
- Licensed to practice in California, Nevada and New York
- Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, U. S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California
- Retained more than 325 times as an expert witness in legal fee disputes and legal malpractice claims.
- Argued cases before the California State Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeal
Professional, Business and Civic Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Pasadena Bar Association
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Former faculty member, Federal Judicial College
- Western Justice Center
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Publications
- "Attorneys Can Improve Clients' Prospects for Fair, Just Results" (co-authored with Richard Kellner)
- "Fee-Splitting Agreements Are Void Without Client's Consent"
- "Small Damages, Big Fees"
- "Arbitration in Insurance Disputes"
- "Reimbursement of Defense Costs"
- "Carriers Given Sledgehammer to Aid in Recovering Fees"
- "Early Expert Witness Selection and Hiring Can Save Money and Time"
- Authored dozens of articles on fee disputes, arbitration, legal malpractice, insurance and real estate litigation in such publications as The National Law Journal, Los Angeles Daily Journal, Risk & Insurance and The Corporate Counsellor.
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