OCBA Charitable Fund, Board of Directors (2011-2012)
Orange County Asian American Bar Association
OCBA Judiciary Committee (2012-2016)
OCBA Administration of Justice Committee (2011-2016)
Chapman University, Dale Fowler School of Law, Dean’s Advisory Board (2016-2019)
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
In 2013, Kay was co-lead counsel for plaintiff in a business fraud trial. The jury awarded $3,375,798.71 in economic and $1,465,528.04 in punitive damages. Larian v. Talassazan, LASC-Santa Monica; Team member for MGA in the 2011 retrial of Mattel v. MGA. Our client was defending against copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims and prosecuting its own trade secret misappropriation claims. The jury rejected all of Mattel’s claims of copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation and awarded $85,000,000 in damages to MGA Entertainment (although the award to MGA was reversed on appeal, the defense verdict on all of Mattel’s claims remains, and a $137,000,000 attorneys’ fee award also remains). Mattel v. MGA Entertainment, USDC-Central District of California; In 2009, represented client on a case that resulted $350 million verdict in a business fraud trial. This was the largest jury verdict in California for 2009. Auerbach Associates v. Daily, LASC; Represent the former chief of gastroenterology at a major Southern California hospital, and professor of medicine at UCLA, on an indictment alleging conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. District Attorney alleges fraud was in excess of $100 million; In same case listed above, represented physician in action by the state Attorney General to suspend client’s license to practice medicine. Motion was denied; Represent the principal of an investment company in a District Attorney investigation into a $54 million Ponzi scheme and sale of unlicensed securities; Represented the president of an appraisal company charged with conspiracy to commit mortgage loan fraud and identity theft. District Attorney alleged fraud in excess of $50 million; Represent former mortgage loan officer charged with conspiracy to commit mortgage loan fraud and theft. District Attorney alleges loss in excess of $10 million.
Pro bono/Community Service:
Democratic Foundation of Orange County
Los Angeles Opera, Patron
South Coast Repertory, Golden Circle
Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Friend of the Center
Honors/Awards:
Chambers USA: General Commercial Litigation (California)
Martindale-Hubbell “AV” rated, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
OC Metro Magazine, Orange County’s Top Lawyers for 2013 (Criminal Defense)
California Lawyer Magazine, 2012 Lawyers of the Year, Honorable Mention (Litigation)
Life Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Listed in The Best Lawyers In America®, S. Naifeh & G. Smith (2011-2024), Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation; Legal Malpractice-Plaintiffs; White Collar Criminal Defense; Orange County Lawyer of the Year 2024 (Legal Malpractice-Plaintif
Los Angeles Magazine, Southern California Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation; White Collar Criminal Defense and Business Litigation (2015-2023)
Litigation Counsel of America, Mesereau Cup for Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer, 2015-2016
Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (by invitation only, limited to top ½ of 1 percent of lawyers nationally)
The Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2023)
The Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2020-2023)
Educational Background:
Wake Forest University, B.A., Political Science, 1983
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
OCBA Young Lawyers’ Division, panelist, “Women in the Law: Lessons from Our Leaders” (3/27/2018)
Other Outstanding Achievements:
Fellow of the elite Litigation Counsel of America, 2015