Michael S. LeBoff

Michael S. LeBoff

Klein & Wilson LLP
  • Business Law, Legal Malpractice, Real Estate Law ...
  • California
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Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography

Michael S. LeBoff brings nearly 25 years of business trial practice to Klein & Wilson, handling and winning high-stakes trials and arbitrations.
Michael represents clients of all sizes in a wide variety of business cases, including shareholder, partnership and joint venture disputes, trade secret claims, fraud, breach of contract, business torts, real estate, attorney fee disputes and legal malpractice actions.
Michael attended Loyola Law School on a full academic scholarship, graduating second in his class of nearly 400 students. At Loyola, Michael received countless academic awards and served as an editor for the Loyola Law Review.
After graduating from law school, Michael clerked for the former Chief Judge of the Central District of California, Manuel L. Real, where he saw firsthand the importance of always being prepared before entering the courtroom. Following his clerkship, Michael developed his trial skills working at some of the finest law firms in Orange County where he had the opportunity to go up against Klein & Wilson in a complex joint venture litigation. Having developed mutual respect for each other’s skills and civility, Michael joined Klein & Wilson in 2016. Less than two years later, he was named the first new partner in the firm’s 25-year history.
Michael also served as in-house litigation counsel for ACC Capital Holdings, the parent company of large, nationwide financial services companies. As in-house counsel, he managed nationwide litigation and worked daily with outside counsel to develop and implement cost-effective litigation strategies. Michael also reviewed and approved outside counsel bills and reported to senior management on significant litigation activities. In this role, Michael learned the importance of billing efficiencies and litigation results.

Education
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
J.D. (1999)
Honors: Order of the Coif Dean's Scholarship Rank: 2 of 394
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles Logo
University of Redlands
Undergraduate Degree (1996) | Government
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Reporting Unethical Conduct: Understanding Your Obligations under Model Rule 8.3
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Professional Liability Litigation Newsletter (Summer 2022)
Three Mistakes Clients Make When Hiring An Attorney
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Professional Liability Litigation Newsletter (Summer 2022)
Five Tips for Handling Costly Fee Disputes
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Professional Liability Litigation Newsletter (Winter 2021)
Model Rule 1.4: Communication Is Key to Avoiding Malpractice Lawsuits
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Professional Liability Litigation Newsletter (Summer 2021)
Reflections on My First Post-COVID Jury Trial: What A Difference A Year Makes
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Professional Liability Litigation Newsletter (Summer 2021)
Six Ethical Rules Every Young Lawyer Must Know
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Professional Liability Litigation Newsletter (Summer 2021)
Increase Collections and Avoid Costly Fee Disputes: Nine Practical Tips
Orange County Lawyer
Examining the C-Suite; Preparing For and Defending Apex Depositions
Association of Business Trial Lawyers
Could Your Law Firm Forfeit Its Fees Due to an Undisclosed Conflict?
American Bar Association
Eight Ways In-House Lawyers Can Make You a Better Trial Lawyer
Orange County Lawyer
My Lawyer Screwed Up!!! Can I Sue for Legal Malpractice?
Orange County Business Journal
Can You Keep A Secret? Strategies for keeping your trade secrets secret
Orange County Business Journal
Bankers Trust, Brown, and Exclusion 3(a): The Insurability of Mechanic's Liens
Commercial and Business Litigation Journal
Third, Eighth and Ninth Circuits Weigh in on TILA
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Commercial and Business Litigation website
TILA Remedies: Damages vs. Rescission
merican Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Commercial and Business Litigation website
Frivolous Litigation: What Is It and What You Can Do About It
ABA Commercial and Business Litigation Journal
Frivolous Litigation: What Is It and What You Can Do About It
ABA Commercial and Business Litigation Journal
You’re Being Watched: Performing For Your Commercial Client at Mediation
ABA Conflict Management Journal
You’re Being Watched: Performing For Your Commercial Client at Mediation
Commercial and Business Litigation Journal
Maximizing Contractual Attorney Fee Awards
Orange County Lawyer
Speaking Engagements
Demystifying Arbitration: What Really Happens and Is It a Better Option?
Orange County Bar Association, Business and Corporate Law Section
Thomas Girardi and Michael Avenatti: Lessons Learned
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation Roundtable
Eight Ways to Steer Clear of Legal Malpractice Lawsuits
Orange County Bar Association
Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls & Legal Malpractice
Orange County Bar Association
From Counsel Table to the Witness Stand
American Bar Association Section of Litigation
Growing Pains: Ethical Dilemmas for Young Lawyers and How to Deal With Them, American Bar Association Section of Litigation
Asian American Bar Association
Ethics and Civility in a Post-COVID World, Orange County Bar Association
Orange County Bar Association
Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls and Legal Malpractice When Representing Banks and Financial Services Companies, Orange County Bar Association, Banking & Lending Section
Orange County Bar Association
Get Paid Faster: How to Avoid and Resolve Fee Disputes in Commercial Litigation Matters, Orange County Bar Association, Business Litigation Section
Orange County Bar Association
Keeping Your Zoom Meetings Safe (webinar), Orange County Bar Association
Orange County Bar Assocation
Insights from OC In-House Lawyers During the COVID Crisis, Orange County Bar Association
Orange County Bar Association
How to Open the Gate or Keep it Closed
ABTL
Demonstrative Evidence at Trial
Orange County Bar Association, College of Trial Advocacy
Oops: What To Do When an Attorney or Expert Screws Up
American Bar Association
Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls and Legal Malpractice
Orange County Bar Association
The New Rules of Professional Conduct Which Affect Small Firms and Solo Practitioners
Orange County Bar Association, Small/Solo Section
Lecturer
The New Rules of Professional Conduct and the Sheppard Mullin Opinion: How They Impact Business Litigators
Orange County Bar Association, Business Litigation Section
Trial from the Client Perspective: In-House Counsel Share Insights on How to Try (and Not) Try Cases, American Bar Association Section of Litigation Annual Conference
American Bar Association
The Business Trial from the Client Perspective: A Roundtable Discussion of How In-House Counsel Approach Trials, Orange County Bar Association, Business Litigation Section
Orange County Bar Association
Ethical Issues for Banking and Lending Lawyers: A Discussion of Emerging Issues and Developments, Orange County Bar Association, Banking & Lending Section
Orange County Bar Association
• Countering the Empty Pocket Defense and Other Tips for Settling Commercial Cases in a Bad Economy, American Bar Association Section of Litigation Annual Conference
American Bar Association
Negotiation for Young (and Old) Lawyers: What Every Lawyer Should Know About Making A Deal, American Bar Association 2010 Annual Meeting and re-presented via webinar on March 18, 2013
American Bar Association - ABA Premier Speaker Series
Awards
Best Lawyers
U.S. News & World Report
Southern California Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers
Southern California Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers
Best Lawyers
U.S. News & World Report
Southern California Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers
Southern California Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers
Southern California Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers
Rating 10.0 Superb
Avvo
Professional Associations
Orange County Bar Association, Audit Committee
Member
- Current
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Orange County Bar Association
Director
- Current
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California State Bar  # 204612
Member
- Current
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American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Young Lawyers Leadership Program
Co-Chair
-
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American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Professional Liability Litigation Committee
Co-Chair
-
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Orange County Bar Association
Business Litigation Section, Chair-Elect then Chair
-
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American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
Commercial and Business Litigation Committee, Co-Chair
-
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Orange County Bar Association
Banking and Lending Section, Chair
-
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California
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9th Circuit
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U.S. District Court Central District of California
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U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
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U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
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U.S. District Court Northern District of California
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U.S. District Court Southern District of California
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Fees
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Klein & Wilson works on an hourly fee basis. On a very limited basis, Klein & Wilson will consider accepting cases on a contingency fee basis (i.e., where the damages exceed $10 million, and the client advances all costs).
Practice Areas
Business Law
Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
Legal Malpractice
Real Estate Law
Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
Trademarks
Trademark Litigation, Trademark Registration
Intellectual Property
Arbitration & Mediation
Business - Arbitration/Mediation, Consumer - Arbitration/Mediation, Family - Arbitration/Mediation
Appeals & Appellate
Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
Additional Practice Areas
  • Business Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Complex Litigation
  • Corporate Litigation
  • Breach of Contract
  • Breach of Fiduciary Duty
  • Partnership, Shareholder, LLC and LLP Disputes
  • Fraud
  • Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets
  • Trade Dress Infringement
  • Copyright
  • Insurance Bad Faith
  • Commercial Unlawful Detainer
  • Commercial Landlord Tenant
Websites & Blogs
Website
Blog
Klein & Wilson Blog
Contact & Map
4770 Von Karman Ave
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Telephone: (949) 631-3300