Eric Kennedy is the Managing Shareholder of Buchalter’s Orange County office. Drawing on two decades of experience, Mr. Kennedy often functions as outside general counsel for his clients, utilizing Buchalter’s full service platform and deep bench of talented lawyers to address a wide variety of legal needs from litigation counseling and management, to employment, to financing, to mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Kennedy’s personal practice focuses on complex litigation matters in two primary areas:
(1) Real Estate. Mr. Kennedy routinely handles matters involving owners, operators, investors, developers, landlords, commercial tenants, purchase agreements, SPVs/SPEs, leases, financing, construction and development, and land use and entitlements.
(2) Corporate Financing, Governance and Operations. Mr. Kennedy regularly represents clients in disputes involving all aspects of corporate financing, governance, and operations, including disputes involving founders, directors, managers, officers, shareholders, investors, lenders, partners, affiliates, vendors, etc.
Mr. Kennedy also has significant experience defending consumer class actions and disputes involving contracts, unfair competition, fiduciary relationships, false advertising, trade secrets, and trademark and copyright infringement. Mr. Kennedy represents clients in a variety of industries, including technology, retail, apparel, social media, consumer products, and automotive.
Mr. Kennedy handles matters in both state and federal court and has tried cases on both coasts.
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27
Nov
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Eric Kennedy Recognized on the 2024 OC500 list by the Orange County Business Journal
Awards
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Buchalter is pleased to announce Shareholder Eric Kennedy has been recognized on the “2024 OC500 list” by the Orange County Business Journal. This yearly publication […]
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15
Nov
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Eric Kennedy Featured in the “How I Made It” series on Law.com
Firm News
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Law.com recently featured Buchalter Shareholder Eric Kennedy in their ‘How I Made It’ Q&A Series, where attorneys offer career advancement advice and success stories. By: […]
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22
Mar
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Eric Kennedy Featured in JD Journal
Press
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Unveiling the Versatile Life of Eric Kennedy: Managing Shareholder; Buchalter March 21, 2024 By: Maria Lenin Laus Eric Kennedy Takes Center Stage: A Rockstar Managing […]
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20
Mar
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Eric Kennedy Featured in the Orange County Business Journal
Press
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Buchalter High-Stakes Litigator Rockin’ Right Along March 18, 2024 By: Kevin Costelloe For Eric Kennedy, the managing shareholder at Buchalter in Orange County, occasionally singing […]
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19
Jan
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Buchalter Announces Eric Kennedy as New Office Managing Shareholder in Orange County
Firm News
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January 18, 2024. Buchalter is pleased to announce Eric Kennedy as Office Managing Shareholder in Orange County. Actively involved in Firm leadership for many years, […]
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10
Jan
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers
Awards
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Buchalter is pleased to announce that several attorneys in the Firm’s Los Angeles & Orange County offices were named 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers. These […]
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15
Oct
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Peggy Hosking and Eric Kennedy Recognized as OC Visionaries by the TimesOC B2B Publishing
Awards
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Buchalter is pleased to announce Shareholders Peggy Hosking and Eric Kennedy have been recognized among TimesOC B2B Publishing’s 2023 OC Visionaries. This list showcases individuals […]
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22
Jul
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Buchalter’s Eric Kennedy and Oren Bitan Named “Top Litigators” by the Los Angeles Business Journal
Awards
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Los Angeles Shareholders Eric Kennedy and Oren Bitan were recognized as two of the “Top Litigators & Trial Lawyers” by the Los Angeles Business Journal. […]
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13
Jan
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Eric Kennedy Quoted in Law360
Press
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Feds’ Self-Driving Car Policy Rife With Regulatory Blind Spots By: Linda Chiem January 10, 2020 “A lack of hard-line federal rules governing self-driving cars has […]
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04
Sep
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Buchalter Victorious in Anti-SLAPP Appellate Matter
Representative Matters
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Plaintiff originally sued our client for harassment, stalking, and invasion of privacy based on all manner of disparaging allegations. As part of the settlement, plaintiff […]
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28
Aug
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Buchalter Team Negotiates Beauty Brand Deal with Millie Bobby Brown
Representative Matters
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Buchalter represented Beach House Group in its recent joint venture with Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown launching her first beauty brand — Florence by […]
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19
Aug
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Buchalter’s Joshua Mizrahi and Eric Kennedy Named “Top Litigators and Trial Lawyers of 2019” by the Los Angeles Business Journal
Awards
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August 19, 2019 Los Angeles Shareholders Joshua Mizrahi and Eric Kennedy were recognized as two of the “Top Litigators and Trial Lawyers of 2019” by […]
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18
Jul
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Eric Kennedy Quoted in POLITICO
Press
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POLITICO July 18, 2019 By: Tanya Snyder Automakers have had to decide whether congressional lobbying is “the best use of their time and money,” said […]
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02
May
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Buchalter Team Leads Negotiations in Kendall Jenner’s First Beauty Industry Deal
Firm News
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Buchalter recently represented Beach House Group in forming Moon Oral Care, a joint venture with Kendall Jenner and her first cosmetics industry deal. Moon has […]
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31
Jan
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Buchalter Joins California Strong in Aiding Those Affected by Recent California Tragedies
Firm News
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In response to the recent tragedies in California, MLB stars Christian Yelich (current NL MVP) , Ryan Braun, and Mike Moustakas, along with Los Angeles […]
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24
Jan
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Buchalter Wins Civil Harassment Bench Trial
Representative Matters
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After a recent four-day bench trial, Buchalter convinced Judge Michael J. Convey to deny a permanent civil harassment restraining order against its client, a successful […]
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24
Jan
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Buchalter Secures $1.1MM Attorneys’ Fees Award in Patent and Trademark Case
Representative Matters
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Buchalter recently obtained a significant attorneys’ fees award for their Louisiana-based baby products client, Nuby, in a hotly contested, five-year-long patent and trademark case against […]
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01
Feb
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Pro-AV bill hits Senate pothole
Press
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Automotive News By Eric Kulisch Support from a unified U.S. Senate could help ease public skepticism about allowing more driverless vehicles on the road. But […]
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01
Feb
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The 4 Hottest Practice Areas For 2018
Press
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Law360 January 1, 2018 By Aebra Coe A few practice areas are set to skyrocket in 2018, launching the law firms that are poised to […]
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10
Jan
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Eric Kennedy comments on Autonomous Vehicles in Law360
Press
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Eric Kennedy was featured in the article “The 4 Hottest Practice Areas For 2018” published by Law360 on January 1, 2018. From the article… “Part of […]
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03
Aug
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Buchalter Prevails in Arbitration for Breach of Contract Dispute
Representative Matters
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August 3, 2017 – NCT Sociedad Anonima aka Next Nivel, S.A. (“NCT”) manufactured t-shirts for YS Garments, Inc. dba Next Level Apparel (“Next Level”). After […]
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26
Aug
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Buchalter Welcomes New Automotive Industry Group Chair in Los Angeles
Firm News
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Los Angeles, August 26, 2016 Buchalter is pleased to announce that Eric M. Kennedy has joined as Chair of the firm’s Automotive Industry Group in […]
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Publication
Manufacturer Liability & Autonomous Vehicles
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April 26th, 2022
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Presentation
Eric Kennedy Speaker, Strafford CLE
March 30th, 2022
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Publication
Pre-Allocation of AV Risk & Liability
December 22nd, 2021
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Publication
Executive Order Aimed at Restricting Civil Liability Protections Afforded to Social Media Companies
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May 29th, 2020
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Presentation
Eric Kennedy, Panelist at the ADAS & AV Legal Issues & Liabilities World Congress
October 22nd, 2019
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Publication
Why is the US not leading the global race in AV readiness?
April 3rd, 2019
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Publication
Espionage, Trade Secrets & Antitrust Violations: A Real-Life DRAM Drama Unfolds
November 19th, 2018
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Publication
House Hands SELF DRIVE Act to Senate
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September 18th, 2017
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Publication
House Panel Approves Sweeping Proposal on Autonomous Vehicles, Putting Innovation Above Regulation
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July 22nd, 2017
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Publication
Bipartisan Group of Senators Releases Principles for Federal Autonomous Vehicle Laws
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June 21st, 2017
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Publication
Are You Allowed to Jailbreak Your Car? As of October 28, the Answer is Yes
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November 1st, 2016
- Lead counsel in obtaining seven-figure judgment representing founder and majority shareholder in arbitration regarding fraud, fiduciary duties, and corporate governance.
- Lead counsel in obtaining favorable settlement representing founder and board members in dispute regarding corporate control, fiduciary duties, fraud, and shareholder rights.
- Lead counsel in obtaining summary judgment in dispute regarding commercial broker disclosure duties.
- Co-lead counsel in month-long trial representing publicly traded heavy equipment manufacturer based in Korea. Obtained seven-figure breach of contract and fraud judgment. Proved alter ego liability regarding defendants’ founders. Obtained full defense judgment on all counter-claims.
- Demurrer sustained without leave to amend on all causes of action brought in response to partition action.
- Prevailed on appeal in vast consolidated matter regarding a statutory award of attorneys’ fees in connection with an application for a civil harassment restraining order.
- Lead counsel for publicly traded real estate services and investment firm in breach of contract matter. After a week-long arbitration, obtained a seven-figure award and a complete defense of all counter-claims.
- Lead counsel in successful motion to dismiss publicly traded REIT from wrongful death lawsuit.
- Lead pro bono counsel for a family that lost their home in the Woolsey Fire. After the fire, the HOA claimed that the family’s lot was 25% smaller than originally thought, making it impossible for them to rebuild their home. Mr. Kennedy led the effort to secure a lot line adjustment and obtained a large settlement addressing the harm the family experienced by being displaced throughout the process.
- Obtained favorable settlement for a publicly traded residential developer in a dispute regarding the establishment of a community facilities district for a 900 home development in Southern California.
- Lead counsel in obtaining favorable settlement in a class action brought against publicly traded owner of single family rental homes in the country relating to the sale of large property portfolio.
- Lead counsel in obtaining favorable settlement in class action brought against large mobile accessory manufacturer regarding alleged design defect claims.
- Lead counsel for large health and beauty brand in arbitration regarding a breach of contract matter against international distributor. Obtained complete victory on all claims and complete defense on all counter-claims.
- Lead counsel in obtaining seven-figure judgment following two week arbitration involving breach of contract and fraud claims among international apparel companies.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of global petroleum company in one of largest class actions filed in California. Plaintiffs sought damages on behalf of all consumers required to provide zip code when paying for gasoline at the pump.
Eric earned his J.D. at USC Gould School of Law and received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University, Provo UT.
- Supreme Court of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California