Lawrence M. Cirelli

Larry Cirelli focuses on complex business litigation, including disputes among shareholders, owners, officers and directors of companies, fiduciary duty, contracts, trade secrets, non-competition agreements and unfair competition claims. He has also represented numerous clients in partnership and corporate dissolution actions. His experience as a certified public accountant brings a unique skill set and perspective to these matters. He also handles professional liability and product liability litigation. He has tried many jury and court trials, as well as arbitrations and alternative dispute proceedings.

Larry is a frequent speaker on professional liability and general business litigation issues.

Representative Work

Won a $4.3 million verdict and additional punitive damages on an interference with business relationship claim against a major advertising agency arising from the acquisition of a local company by the agency.

Successfully tried a dissolution action involving a real estate company that resulted in the client receiving all of the funds in dispute from the partnership's capital account.

Successfully tried a dissolution action involving a family-owned construction supplies business.

Won a $4.7 million verdict for an international mining company on a claim involving complex international tax issues.

Won a large verdict in a shareholder dispute involving a medical practice.

Handled a dissolution action under California Corporations Code section 2000 involving a large family-owned consumer products manufacturer. Obtained a defense verdict after a one-month trial of a multi-million dollar claim of business interruption involving a telecommunications equipment plant.

Won a large verdict against the former president of a company and his new employer for breach of fiduciary duty and violation of his noncompetition agreement.

After a two-week trial, obtained a nonsuit for a gas manufacturer in a product liability case.

Obtained a large verdict on a lost corporate opportunity claim for a paving and grading contractor. Also successfully defended the stock and wrongful termination claims of a former vice president of the client.

After a three-week trial, achieved a nonsuit for a welding products manufacturer in a case involving claims of alleged respiratory problem due to the inhalation of welding fumes.

Represented a founder of a publicly-traded internet company in a dispute over stock ownership.

Achieved a favorable settlement after a three-month trial involving legal malpractice defense. Defended a Big Four accounting firm in actions brought by a public entity arising out of that entity's financial crisis.