KRISTI W. DEAN, MANAGING PARTNER

Kristi W. Dean, Managing Partner, is an experienced litigator and transaction attorney who represents clients in business transactions and litigation disputes. Her litigation practice includes extensive experience in trade secrets, unfair business competition, insurance law and complex business disputes. She focuses on insurance-related issues and complex litigation defense involving high value cases. She is a skilled trial lawyer who litigates cases in both State and Federal Courts, as well as private arbitration. Common litigation topics involve complex business contracts, high exposure accidents, errors and omission claims, shareholder obligations, wrongful termination and discrimination, unfair competition, and trade secrets. She also acts as general counsel for businesses who seek to avoid litigation through effective risk management techniques.

Kristi is a regular speaker and panelist throughout the United States and U.K on issues affecting the insurance industry. She is qualified as a continuing education provider for the California Department of Insurance and provides CE courses to her clients and to insurance trade associations.

Kristi was named a 2013 Trusted Advisor by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. She has been consistently named a “Southern California Super Lawyer” and recognized as “one of the top” lawyers in Southern California by her peers in Los Angeles Magazine, Law & Politics Media, Inc., and Super Lawyer publications.

Areas of Practice:

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Professional Liability/E&O
  • Employment
  • Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
  • Insurance Defense
  • Insurance Administrative/Regulatory Matters
  • Mergers and Acquisitions (Insurance Industry)
  • Contracts/Transactions (Insurance Industry)

Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, California State University, Fresno
  • Juris Doctorate, Pepperdine University School of Law

Membership and Activities:

  • California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA)
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California (IIAB)
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA)
  • Professional Association of Defense Attorneys (DRI)
  • San Fernando Valley Bar Association (SFVBA)
  • The Esquire Network (TEN)
  • Vistage Hosting
  • Wholesale and Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA)

Personal:
Kristi is California-born and raised, and lives in Westlake Village. She enjoys traveling and anything outdoors, especially gardening and riding horses.