About Neil:

Neil Sunkin is a former Litigation Partner of the national law firm of Arter & Hadden, LLP and a former Counsel of First Interstate Bank of California.  Neil was Chair of the Business Litigation section of the California Offices of Arter & Hadden. He formed Law Office of Neil M. Sunkin in 2003, after practicing in large law firms and corporate law departments for more than 20 years.  Neil has focused on civil litigation since 1985. Neil served as the Co-Chair of the Business and Real Estate Law Section of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association for several years. Neil was selected to serve as a Settlement Officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court. Originally from New York City, Neil, practiced law in Dallas, Texas before moving to Los Angeles in 1991.  He offers clients the experience and skill of a big firm litigator at a more manageable cost. Neil is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell. The “AV-Preeminent” rating is the pinnacle of professional excellence earned through a strenuous peer review rating process that is managed and monitored by the world’s most trusted resource, Martindale-Hubbell.  This rating is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards, shared by approximately 3% of America’s lawyers.

Neil has represented clients in a variety of industries involving a wide range of legal problems and issues. These are described in the Practice Areas pages.

Neil has authored:

  • 'Civil Law Update: Recent California Supreme Court Decisions', Valley Lawyer, September 2015.
  • 'A Trial Lawyer's Perspective on Litigating D & O Claims' (2012).
  • 'Federal Court Decision Eases Factoring of Perishable Goods,' American Cash Flow Journal, Vol. 10, Issue 10 (November, 2002).
  • 'Banks and Thrifts: Government Enforcement and Receivership Law' (Matthew Bender 1991) (Contributing Author).

Neil has presented and taught:

  • 'A Trial Lawyer's Perspective on Litigating D & O Claims' in February, 2012, in Dallas, Texas.
  • 'Taking Depositions” as part of a Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) program in 2002.

Neil was selected to serve as a settlement officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Neil's leadership roles with associations include:
San Fernando Valley Bar Association:

  • Co-Chair Business and Real Estate Law Section

Dallas Association of Young Lawyers:

  • Chairman, Grants Committee, 1987–1988
  • Chairman, Scared Straight Project, 1988
  • Vice-Chairman, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1989
  • Chairman, Aid To Homeless Committee, 1990

The New West Symphony Association:

  • Former Member, Board of Directors
  • Former Chairman, Finance Committee
  • Former member, Executive Board and
  • Former member, Personnel Committee

Education

  • Brandeis University, B.A., cum laude, with honors in English/American Literature, 1981
  • Emory University School of Law, J.D., 1985

Reported Cases

  • Boulder Fruit Express, et al. v. Transportation Factoring, Inc., 251 F.3d 1268 (9th Cir. 2001), cert. den'd 534 U.S. 1133 (2002)
  • F.D.I.C. v. Selaiden Builders, Inc., 973 F.2d 1249 (5th Cir. 1992), cert. den'd 507 U.S. 1051 (1993)
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. v. Claycomb, 945 F.2d 853 (5th Cir. 1991), cert. den'd. 504 U.S. 955 (1992)

Admitted

  • 1985, Texas
  • 1991, California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th and 9th Circuits
  • U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
  • U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Pro Hoc 2014)

Memberships

  • State Bar of California
  • Formerly - Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • San Fernando Valley Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas

Birthplace

  • New York, N.Y.