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10100 Santa Monica Boulevard
Suite 2200
Los Angeles, California
90067
Tel 310.282.2033
Fax 310.919.3902


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Peter S. Selvin
Partner

Peter Selvin is a trial lawyer whose practice is focused on complex commercial, financial and corporate disputes; insurance coverage and bad faith litigation; and international litigation and arbitration. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law.

Representative commercial litigation matters have included a three-month jury trial involving the defense of German media giant Bertelsmann in a "bet the company" case; the representation of such Fortune 500 companies as AIG, City National Bank and Travelers Insurance Company in high stakes litigation; and the ongoing representation of media personality Tony Robbins and his affiliated companies in civil litigation, insurance coverage and labor matters.

In the insurance arena, Mr. Selvin has handled insurance coverage, bad faith and broker's malpractice cases. He has obtained significant insurance recoveries on behalf of policyholders.

In the area of international litigation, Mr. Selvin has handled cases involving foreign parties; the coordination of parallel proceedings in different jurisdictions; sovereign immunity; and discovery proceedings abroad.

Mr. Selvin is also a noted author and speaker on matters involving international litigation and arbitration. He periodically speaks at The Director’s Roundtable, Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) and the American Association of Corporate Counsel (ACCA).

Representative Experience

  • Represented Jacques Cousteau and The Cousteau Society in highly publicized trademark infringement and dilution action involving the right to use the name “Cousteau”; defendants included Jean-Michel Cousteau, Post Ranch Inn and owner of the Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort. Obtained preliminary injunction from U.S. District Court, parallel proceedings in Fiji.
  • Represented Travelers Insurance Company in connection with federal court litigation arising out of defaulted $30.5 million construction loan. Litigation included lender liability action brought by borrower against Travelers and fraud action brought by Travelers against Sumitomo, the general contractor. Achieved summary judgment on borrower’s lender liability claim and highly successful resolution of fraud claim against Sumitomo.
  • Successful defense of celebrity Tony Robbins in connection with high-profile claim asserted by former Robbins franchisees for fraud, R.I.C.O. and other claims arising out acquisition by plaintiffs of franchise; plaintiffs not only had their complaint dismissed with prejudice, but ended up paying Robbins money as part of settlement; case generated three published U.S. District Court opinions in client's favor.
  • Three-month “bet the company” jury trial defending German media giant Bertelsmann, A.G. in connection with $3.5 billion lawsuit by former “promoters” and “developers” of electronic commerce joint venture for a share of the venture’s profits.
  • Successful insurance recovery actions brought on behalf of Salvation Army against liability insurers and insurance broker arising out of multi-million dollar personal injury claims asserted by third party claimants, where carriers had originally declined to provide coverage.
  • Tried to judgment case for Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) against TIAA’s commercial loan borrower for failure to complete loan transaction, achieving $1.2 million judgment representing damages in action for breach of loan agreements.
  • Tried to judgment case for commercial lender in federal court against borrowers for fraud, fraudulent transfer and related claims, resulting in $1.5 million judgment, including punitive damages and a finding of alter ego against borrower’s wife and borrower’s affiliated companies.
  • Represented franchisee of French conglomerate in international franchise dispute involving novel questions of jurisdiction and application of California Franchise Investment Law; case involved parallel proceedings in France; achieved summary judgment on franchise issues, resulting in highly successful resolution of client’s claims.
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Publications/Speeches


Affiliations

  • Board of Governors, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, ABTL (2006-present)
  • Executive Committee, Los Angeles County Bar Association, International Law Section (1996-present)
  • Member, State Bar Committee on the Administration of Justice (1992 and 1993)

Distinctions

  • Named "Best Lawyer" in Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America, published by Woodward White, Inc. (2007-2009)
  • Named "Southern California Super Lawyer" in Business Litigation, Insurance Coverage and International by Law & Politics in Los Angeles magazine (2007 and 2008 editions) 
  • Extern, Honorable Presiding Justice Otto Kaus, California Court of Appeals, Second District, Division Five (1979)
  • U.S. Correspondent on International Litigation for International Commercial Litigation (1996-1999)
  • Volunteer Criminal Prosecutor, Los Angeles City Attorney (1998)
  • Highest "AV" Professional Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Practice Areas
Education
University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1980
University of Chicago, M.A., 1976
University of California at San Diego, B.A., 1975, summa cum laude
Bar Admissions
California, 1980
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 1980
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 1990
U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, 1990
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1987
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 2006
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