Managing Attorney - Stuart G. Gross

Stuart G. Gross is an experienced litigator, representing clients ranging from small business owners to individuals to large municipalities to commercial fishermen to local communities in El Salvador and Indonesia to Fortune 100 companies, in a broad range of forums, including federal and state courts throughout the United States, the highest court of Indonesia, and the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.

Stuart’s tenacious and skilled advocacy has not only achieved exceptional results for his clients, it has earned him high praise from both bench and bar. Stuart’s peers have named Stuart a Northern California Rising Star each of the last four years.

Prior to forming Gross Law, Stuart clerked for the Honorable Samuel Conti of the United States District Court of the Northern District of California, and was a litigator with Shearman & Sterling, LLP in New York, NY and Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP in Burlingame, CA. At Sherman & Sterling, Stuart defended Fortune 100 and 500 companies in complex commercial litigation and individuals in white collar criminal investigations. At Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, Stuart represented small business, individuals, non-profit, and governmental clients in environmental/natural resource, commercial, and business practices litigation.

Stuart has advised the governments of New Zealand and Australia in trilateral trade negotiations with Malaysia and has been called by Indonesia’s highest court to testify as an expert witness concerning Indonesia’s international investment treaty obligations.

Representative Matters

Represented commercial fishermen in environmental and natural resource claims arising out of the Cosco Busan oil spill, successfully certifying a litigation class and achieving settlements worth over $8 million.

Defended a Fortune 100 company in a suit alleging fraud in connection with a corporate acquisition, obtaining judgment in its favor and the reversal of a $1.6 billion jury verdict.

Represented an individual in breach of contract and fraud claims arising out of a small business loan, achieving a settlement worth twice the owed principal.

Defended four executives in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation arising out of telecommunications project in West Africa, resulting in no further action by the Department of Justice.

Represented British and U.S. trans-Atlantic airline passengers in price-fixing claims, achieving settlements worth approximately $200 million.

Defended a regional transportation agency in suit alleging technical default of lease-in-lease-out transactions, preventing enforcement of approximately $60 million in liquidated damages obligations.

Represented a high net-worth family in claims arising out of structured life settlement transaction, achieving cancellation of approximately $75 million in stranger-owned life insurance policies.

Defended a Fortune 500 company in a suit alleging breach of a facilities acquisition agreement.

Represented approximately two dozen California and New York cities, counties, and public agencies and non-profits in claims arising out of bid-rigging and market allocation in the municipal derivatives market.

Represented four high net-worth families in breach of contract and fraud claims arising out of their placement by tax advisors in illegal tax shelters, achieving substantial confidential settlements for each.

Represented purchasers of Puerto Rican ocean shipping services in claims arising out of price fixing by ocean shipping companies, achieving settlements worth approximately $50 million.

Defended a provider of investment services against securities claims, resulting in dismissal of all claims.

Represented a non-profit animal rights organization, horse rescue organization, and individuals in Administrative Procedure Act, Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, and National Environmental Policy Act claims arising out of the Bureau of Land Management's treatment of wild horses and burros on public lands.

Represented Indonesian local communities and international environmental organizations in defense of a ban on open-pit mining in Indonesia’s protected forests, defeating international mining company efforts to overturn the ban.

Represented Central California investors in fraud and unfair business practices claims arising out of a ponzi scheme.

Represented approximately thirty California cities, counties and public agencies in fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and price-fixing claims arising out of their purchase of municipal bond insurance.

Represented a small business owner in legal malpractice claims arising out of theft of trade secrets and wrongful termination litigation.

(Please also refer to representative matters listing on practice area pages.)