Ellyn S. Garofalo

Ellyn Garofalo is an experienced trial attorney whose practice includes a wide range of criminal and regulatory matters, including white collar criminal defense and SEC enforcement actions. In her three decades of courtroom experience, she has defended clients in matters involving allegations of securities, bank, mortgage, health care, internet, and tax fraud.

Ellyn’s practice also focuses on the defense and prosecution of complex civil matters including breach of contract claims, partnership disputes, securities and investor fraud claims, real estate litigation, and other business disputes. She is a past member of the board of directors of the Federal Bar Association Los Angeles chapter, the board of directors of the Los Angeles Business Council, and the book publishing board of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section.

• Obtained a defense verdict as lead trial lawyer for multiple defendants in a $100 million contract, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty action arising from the acquisition of wellness resort Glen Ivy Hot Springs. (Wickline v. GOCO Hospitality Global Opportunity).
• Obtained summary judgment for the publicly traded company cbdMD Inc. on breach of contract and fraud claims arising from a merger and acquisition of a CBD company. (Herman v. Coffman, West Coast Development).
• Lead counsel in defense of a pending $41 million action alleging fraud in connection with the sale and financing of a British classic car dealer.
• Obtained a $32 million judgment for cyber theft by a former officer of a digital advertising company. (WebSpectator v. Parreira).
• Lead counsel in international litigation involving the alleged breach of a contract for the consignment and sale of fruit shipped from South America to The Netherlands. (Fresh Results v. ASF Holland, B.V.).
• Lead counsel in a corporate governance dispute in Delaware Chancery Court. (Mora v. Batkin).
• Lead trial lawyer in an easement dispute involving a mixed-use development in downtown Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market v. Atlas Capital Group, et al.).
• Lead counsel for celebrity plaintiff in a professional negligence action against an entertainment business manager. (Bugliari v. Hellie Hoffer).
• Lead trial lawyer for celebrity plaintiff in a trial over a violation of an injunction enforcing an easement agreement. Obtained a criminal contempt conviction against the defendant property owner. (Wineberg v. Perelmutter).
• Lead trial lawyer for corporate defendants in four related "MeToo" actions arising from claims of sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace.
• Lead counsel for the defendant in an action involving breach of $12 million in commercial loan guarantees. (Farmers & Merchants Bank v. Ukleja).
• Lead counsel for defendants in a professional negligence action. (Grau v. Liner).
• Lead trial lawyer in a legal malpractice claim against a national law firm, arising from a dispute over a complex web of family trusts. (Karsin v. Sheppard Mullin).
• Lead counsel in a high-profile civil action arising from a dispute between the founders of an asset management firm. (Peikin v. Aletheia Asset Management).
• Lead counsel in a lease dispute between a grocery chain and a landlord. (Bodega Latina v. Lakeview).
• Lead counsel for the plaintiffs in a legal malpractice action stemming from a law firm's conflicted representation of members of a real estate fund of funds, formed by the plaintiffs and a CEO of a real estate company. (SAW-AVP Partners, LLC v. Pircher, Nichols & Meeks).
• Lead counsel for defendants in a shareholder dispute involving an internet startup. (Haden v. Audience Delivered, LLC).
• Lead counsel for the plaintiff in breach of contract and fraud action arising from the sale of a celebrity's estate. (Global Icons v. Bear Stearns & Co.).
• Lead counsel for the defendant in a fraud case arising from the collapse of an entertainment payroll giant; the plaintiff dismissed the case. (Goldentree Asset Management v. Garber).
• Lead counsel for the defendant in an adversary proceeding brought by the trustee for the debtor, an entertainment payroll giant. (Ehrenberg v. Visconti).
• Lead counsel in a $100 million dispute arising from the sale of two consumer reporting agency company internet subsidiaries. (Experian v. Ybrant Digital).
• Lead counsel for the former chief financial officer of a publicly traded jewelry company, against an $11 million claim by a lender. (New Stream Secure Capital, LLC v. Rankin).
• Lead counsel for the defendant, a broker-dealer, in an action for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. (Corona Corp. v. Global Capital Partners, LLC).
• Lead counsel for a securities group regarding broker-dealer litigation arising from the Orange County bankruptcy. (Orange County v. Daiwa Securities, et al.).

• Women of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal (2023)
• Southern California Super Lawyers (2006–2021); Top 50 Women, Southern California (2009–2010, 2013, 2015–2018), Super Lawyers Magazine
• Top 75 Women Litigators, Daily Journal (2011)
• Attorney of the Year, The Recorder (2011)

• American Bar Association
  • Book Publishing Board, Criminal Justice Section
• Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles Chapter
  • Board of Directors
• Los Angeles Business Council
  • Board of Directors