Our Results

• Grasshopper v. Clean & Sober Media
  After back-to-back jury and bench trials in Los Angeles, we prevailed in this $180 million Lanham Act false advertising case that the Daily Journal named a Top 20 Defense Verdict of 2021.
• In the Matter of Creative Care
  After a 4-week bench trial, we prevailed in this license revocation proceeding in which the State of California sought to shut down our client, a pioneering addiction treatment facility.
• Fairbairn v. Fidelity Charitable
  We designed this pathbreaking case challenging the fire-sale liquidation of our clients’ $100 million stock donation (New York Times article). Overcoming longstanding precedent insulating charities from donor lawsuits, we defeated defendant’s attempts to avoid a public trial, exposing “secrets about Silicon Valley’s favorite philanthropic loophole” and earning “Impact Case of the Year” recognition from International Tax Review.
• Private Equity arbitration
  After a 1-week hearing, we obtained an arbitration award of no damages ($40 million sought) in this Bay Area dispute between co-founders of a leading private equity fund.
• GMPC v. Design Lab
  After a multi-week jury trial in Santa Monica, we successfully defended against tort and trade secret claims that presented an existential risk to our client, a private-label design and manufacturing company.
• Americana Juice v. Nestle
  We defended Nestle in this South Texas jury trial. The plaintiff sought $330 million asserting tort and trade secret claims. Nestle offered $10 million to settle before trial. We persuaded the jury to award only $1 million after which a confidential settlement was immediately reached.

• Hillsborough County v. Volkswagen 
  Representing two large counties, we revived environmental claims that Volkswagen said will subject it to over $11 billion in liability. Watch the argument.
• Schueneman v. Arena Pharmaceuticals 
  We persuaded the Ninth Circuit to revive this securities fraud case and then settled for $24 million. Watch the argument.
• Fourth Estate v. Wall-Street.com
  We prevailed before the U.S. Supreme Court in this copyright case named “Impact Case of the Year” by Managing IP.
• Montanile v. National Elevator 
  We persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Eleventh Circuit in this healthcare case for which Peter Stris and Radha Pathak were named California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year.
• Merrill Lynch v. Manning 
  We prevailed on behalf of several large shareholders who lost over $50 million in this U.S. Supreme Court case about the scope of exclusive jurisdiction under the Securities Exchange Act.
• Frommert v. Conkright (Xerox)
  We obtained Second Circuit reversal and then recovered over $22 million for pensioners.
• LaRue v. DeWolff Boberg
  We persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Fourth Circuit in what the New York Times described as “one of the most important rulings in years on the meaning of the federal pension law.” Watch TV coverage.

• McDougal v. American Media
  We developed a litigation and communications strategy that recovered model Karen McDougal’s life rights from the National Enquirer, allowing her to speak publicly about her 10-month relationship with President Donald Trump. The case was a media sensation. Watch TV coverage.
• Bard College v. Duchess County Board of Elections
  We prevailed before New York trial and appellate courts in this case about accessibility and safety in voting, and generated a groundswell of public support in the process. Our work led the New York legislature to pass a law requiring on-campus voting sites at colleges with 300 or more students.
• Disney Enterprises v. VidAngel
  Four Hollywood studios obtained a preliminary injunction against our client VidAngel, a successful startup offering families the ability to filter obscenities out of popular films. We helped VidAngel position itself before the Ninth Circuit, the public, and its investors, and ultimately helped them pivot to a new and ongoing business model. Watch the argument.
• San Clemente v. Sovereign
  Following the playbook of other California beach cities, San Clemente filed litigation seeking to shutter our client, one of the nation’s then-largest behavioral treatment networks. We helped construct our clients’ public relations strategy and negotiated a settlement that allowed it to continue its fight against the crisis of addiction.

“Liz and her partners at Stris & Maher approach IP litigation with a sophisticated understanding of our business and strategic goals. I highly recommend them.”
– Brad Feuer, GC, Barnes & Noble

“Stris beat heavy-hitting opposition at my bet-the-company jury trial.”
– Adam Beatty, President, Playology

“California tried to shut us down. But after a four-week trial, Dana and her team prevailed, allowing us to resume our three-decade mission of providing care to patients with severe mental illness.”
– Dr. Farrah Khaleghi, COO, Creative Care

“They are smart, efficient, and practical. And they win.”
– Mark Coker, CEO, Smashwords

“The ‘very skilled and effective’ Peter Stris represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a range of constitutional and business disputes, including media-related litigation. Clients praise his ‘meticulous preparation,’ adding: ‘The tenacity with which he prepares is outstanding.'”
– Clients as quoted by Chambers USA