Experience 

Steve Rich is an experienced business litigator who represents major corporations in a broad range of industries, including finance, real estate, telecommunications, manufacturing and entertainment.  He has successfully managed a wide variety of matters in federal and state courts (at both the trial and appellate levels), particularly in the areas of breach of contract, fraud, lender liability, bankruptcy, breach of fiduciary duty, white collar crime and trademark infringement.  Steve also has extensive experience with pre- and post-judgment remedies, including writs of attachment and possession, and receiverships.

Steve joined Mayer Brown in 2001, after spending three years with another prominent, international law firm.   He has guest lectured at the University of Southern California School of Law, speaking on topics of creditors’ rights and bankruptcy litigation.  Steve serves on two of Mayer Brown’s Firm-Wide Committees:  its Credit Market Distress Team (since 2008), and its Pro Bono Committee (since 2003).  He spearheads Mayer Brown Los Angeles’ signature pro bono endeavor, the  Foster Child Adoption Project, which won the  firm’s “2007 Pro Bono Project of the Year” award.   

A Southern California native, Steve is actively involved with community and charitable organizations, including the Alliance for Children’s Rights and the Legal Division of The Jewish Federation.     

Notable Engagements 

• Firestone v. Lorman, et al. (Orange County Superior Court – Complex Civil Dep’t, 2008) (in a $20 million breach of contract and fraud action, drafted and argued successful summary judgment motions).
• Positive Ions, Inc. v. ION Media Networks, Inc. (C.D. Cal. 2007) (federal jury trial of trademark infringement action against a major television broadcasting company, which came to a highly favorable resolution for our client).
• International Marble  v. Congress Financial Corporation, 465 F.Supp.2d 993 (C.D. Cal. 2006) (in a $250 million lender liability action, the federal court granted our motion to dismiss, declared our client the "prevailing party," and awarded it attorney's fees and costs; in a parallel state court action, the court sustained our demurrer to plaintiff's complaint without leave to amend).
• Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Triple Tiger, et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court, 2006) (on behalf of Wells Fargo, obtained the ex parte appointment of a receiver in a fraud and breach of contract action, resulting in judgments exceeding $8 million).
• AcBel Polytech v. Tru-Circle Precision (Los Angeles Superior Court, 2005) (successfully obtained for Bank of America, N.A., as agent for certain lenders, the dissolution of a temporary protective order prohibiting the transfer of property subject to Bank of America's senior security interest).
• Alter Moneta Corporation v. Marbek Leasing Co. et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court, 2005) (in a breach of contract action, negotiated a highly favorable settlement for Alter Moneta whereby Alter Moneta was paid in full, including virtually all of its attorney's fees and costs).
• Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors for Mego Financial Corp. v. Textron Financial Corporation (Bankr. D. Nev. 2004) (obtained summary judgment in favor of Textron regarding the unavoidability and validity of its $9 million liens.  Also obtained substantial discovery sanctions against the Committee and its counsel for Textron's fees and expenses).
• HSBC Business Credit (USA) Inc. v. UFC Seafood and Food Company, et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court, 2003) (obtained judgments exceeding $40 million in favor of HSBC in a receivables fraud action. Also won judgment on the pleadings without leave to amend in favor of HSBC on the grounds that HSBC was not a proper defendant-in-intervention).

Education 

Loyola Law School - Los Angeles, JD, 1998; Dean's List; St. Thomas More Law Honor Society; American Jurisprudence Award in Bankruptcy Law and Comparative Law; Articles Editor, Entertainment Law Journal; Extern to the Honorable Kathleen P. March, US Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California • University of California, Los Angeles, BA, 1993

Admitted

• US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2001
• US District Court for the Northern District of California, 2001
• US District Court for the Eastern District of California, 2001
• US District Court for the Southern District of California, 2000
• US District Court for the Central District of California, 1998
• California, 1998