Gary J. Lorch

Gary J. Lorch is a Partner in the Los Angeles office of GRSM. He is a member of the firm’s D&O and Shareholder Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Consumer Protection Litigation practice groups. Gary has more than 30 years of litigation experience in both the state and federal district courts throughout the State of California, handling cases from initial client consultation through trial and appeal.

His practice covers a wide range of business and business-related matters, such as shareholder disputes, corporation, partnership and joint venture disputes, intellectual property claims (including copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and misappropriation of trade secrets litigation), contract disputes, class actions, unfair competition and related claims under California Business and Professions Code sections 17200 and 17500, litigation under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act and the California Rosenthal Debt Collection Practices Act, financial institution litigation, franchise disputes, and professional liability defense (attorneys, architects, insurance brokers, and agents).

He has extensive D&O experience and regularly defends both businesses and management in shareholder actions, and cases involving fraud, misappropriation, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.  He also has represented professionals, individual entrepreneurs, partnerships, and small and large companies in numerous industries, including accounting, banking, law, architecture, insurance, technology, manufacturing, printing, oil, gas and refining, alternate energy, debt collectors, and fashion.

In addition to his successful track record in litigation, Gary has achieved successful results on behalf of his clients outside of litigation through business counseling and skillful negotiation. His philosophy is to fully understand his client’s business, goals, and strategies, so that a result consistent with those goals and strategies can be achieved whenever possible. This philosophy results in a cost-effective and efficient approach to achieving the best possible results for his clients.

Admissions

• California
• U.S. District Courts, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Central Districts of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Memberships

• State Bar of California
• American Bar Association
• Los Angeles Bar Association
• Beverly Hills Bar Association

Representative Experience

Examples of Gary’s experience include the following:

• Obtained dismissal of all claims in shareholder/investor dispute involving claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty brought against bio-technology Company and management.
• Obtained favorable settlement in shareholder/investor dispute involving claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty brought against solar technology Company and management.
• Obtained complete defense verdict on behalf of a film production company in action to recover damages for lost opportunity to make feature film.
• Obtained dismissal of all claims asserted against property management company in action brought by investors in underlying properties.
• Obtained complete defense verdict in putative class action brought against self-storage company and its property manager.
• Obtained summary judgment of all intellectual property claims asserted against internet company, followed by voluntary dismissal by plaintiff of all state law claims, including misappropriation of trade secrets, asserted against client. In that case, he also obtained a successful ruling invalidating an exclusivity and non-compete agreement that formed the basis of the action.
• Following GRSM's substitution as attorneys for a defendant cemetery in a case in which a class already had been certified, obtained summary judgment of all claims brought by the individual class representatives.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of franchisor in action against terminated franchisee to recover unpaid royalty fees and to recover damages for trademark infringement.
• Obtained in numerous cases orders of dismissal of unfair competition and false advertising claims asserted under California Business and Professions Code sections 17200 and 17500.
• Convinced plaintiff to dismiss all claims against the manufacturer of underground gasoline tank pump after demonstrating that client was not the manufacturer of the product at issue.
• Convinced plaintiff to dismiss all claims against the manufacturer of a submersible turbine pump after demonstrating that product could not have caused alleged injury.
• Obtained summary judgment of professional negligence claims asserted against law firm. Summary Judgment later was affirmed by Court of Appeals, and California Supreme Court denied review.
• Obtained favorable settlement of claims asserted in dispute between architect and property owners, including recovery for architect of close to 100 percent of outstanding fees and dismissal of all claims asserted against architect for breach of contract and professional negligence.

Education

J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1985

B.A., University of California at Los Angeles, 1982

Honors

Top Rated Lawyer-AV® Preeminent™,
Martindale-Hubbell

Super Lawyers® distinction in the fields of Business Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, and Insurance Coverage (2007-2016)

What do you enjoy most about your practice?

Outside of winning, I most enjoy working with my clients to understand their business, concerns, goals and strategies, so that the results to be achieved, and the manner of achieving those results, is most in-line with the client's business.

What is the secret to obtaining successful trial results?

The keys to obtaining successful trial results are preparation, commitment to detail, creativity in both the presentation of the case and in the development of legal arguments and, perhaps above all, listening to your opponent's presentation so as to be able to immediately capitalize on every opportunity.

What are your favorite pastimes when you are not practicing law?

When not practicing law, I enjoy family and friends, performing improv, and attending sporting events.