Jeffrey D. Farrow

Partner/Litigation Department Chair
Irvine
+1 714-557-7990
[email protected]
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Jeffrey D. Farrow

Partner/Litigation Department Chair
“In high-stakes litigation, the courtroom is only part of the battle. The real value is protecting what’s next for the client’s business.”

Jeffrey Farrow protects businesses through their most consequential legal challenges, litigating trade secret disputes, defending against fraud claims, and advising on risk even before conflicts arise. As Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department and a member of the Executive Committee, he brings both courtroom authority and strategic foresight to every engagement.

A veteran trial lawyer with a track record of decisive wins in state and federal courts nationwide, Jeff—who also serves as the firm’s Trade Secrets, Financial Fraud & Executive Disputes Chair—represents clients in high-stakes matters involving executive departures, unfair competition, and financial misconduct, among others. His litigation work spans industries including insurance, technology and intellectual property, and manufacturing. Jeff is particularly sought after by insurance brokerages and agencies navigating ownership transitions, restrictive covenant enforcement, and book-of-business disputes.

Equally skilled in appellate advocacy, Jeff has secured victories that have shaped California law on issues such as director’s liability and employment protections. His tenacity in both trial and appellate courts has earned him a reputation as one of the firm’s go-to litigators for cases that carry existential operational, reputational, or financial risk.

Clients rely on Jeff for more than litigation—they trust him to anticipate disputes before they escalate and to advise on governance decisions that protect the future of their businesses.

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Associated Industries

Insurance

Technology

Associated Practice Areas

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • Breach of Contract Claims: Filed a lawsuit on behalf of a buyer misled into purchasing commercial real property located on a closed landfill, information that was purposefully omitted from detailed disclosures by the seller and a report by a geotechnical company. Subsequently obtained evidence that the seller knowingly made false statements about the location of the landfill, and that the geotechnical company misread the testing data which, if interpreted correctly, would have disclosed the existence of the landfill. After successfully opposing two summary judgment motions, the defendants paid the buyer a multi-million dollar settlement.
  • Computer Trade Secrets: Filed a lawsuit on behalf of a young entrepreneur whose “life’s work” was stolen by a large corporation, which claimed the work was owned by the company. After a four-year legal battle involving some of the largest national law firms, obtained a multi-million dollar verdict in favor of the entrepreneur, representing one of the largest awards in the United States for the misappropriation of computer trade secrets.
  • False Advertising: After discovering that a client's competitor was knowingly publishing false testing data about the client's product, sent a demand to cease letter, which was quickly accepted. The competitor then paid damages to the client caused by the unfair business practice.
  • Fraud Allegations: After pleading guilty to a long list of federal crimes for bribery and money laundering activities, client faced a civil lawsuit seeking to recover nearly $48 million earned through the criminal activity. Crafted a strategy to obtain dismissal of the civil lawsuit by arguing that, as a matter of law, the acts that gave rise to the federal crimes did not result in any civil liability to the client. As expected, the trial court refused to dismiss the lawsuit by virtue of the client's admissions of guilt and terms of a lengthy plea agreement in the underlying criminal matter, and an appeal was quickly taken. The court of appeal ordered that the lawsuit be dismissed, and that the client's fees and costs on appeal be reimbursed.
  • Injunctive Relief: Defeated an ex parte application and subsequent motion for preliminary injunction filed against the largest supplier of forklift batteries and chargers on the West Coast. The moving party unsuccessfully sought to enjoin the supplier from helping its customers apply for credits under California’s Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program (providing incentives to fuel supply engine owners to reduce greenhouse emissions).
  • Intellectual Property: Represented a small company threatened with legal action by a larger company that wanted to acquire it. It was believed that the threatened litigation was designed to “re-engage” merger discussions. In the wake of the threat, successfully designed and implemented a strategy to increase the purchase price of the acquisition target which, in the end, was acquired at a 20 percent premium. No legal action was ultimately filed.
  • Unfair Competition Claim: Filed a lawsuit and obtained an injunction and judgment forever barring a defendant’s use of a client's trademarked name after it was discovered that the defendant had set up a company with the trademarked name and was trying to “take over” the client's identity and clients.
  • Unfair Competition: A mid-sized insurance agency learned that a former employee had stolen its customer list and taken it to a large competitor. After a significant number of clients moved to the larger company based on faulty information that it had acquired the smaller agency, issued a cease and desist demand on the mid-sized agency's behalf and gave notice of a hearing for an injunction. The larger company quickly accepted all terms necessary to settle the claim, including disgorgement of all profits earned from the wrongfully solicited business, and agreed to cease all efforts to obtain business from a select group of clients.
  • Whistleblower Claims: Negotiated a highly favorable settlement on behalf of a whistleblower in an accounting fraud case perpetrated by executives of a publicly-traded company, who were eventually convicted in federal court.
  • PUBLISHED DECISIONS: Appellate - Klistoff v. Superior Court (City of South Gate) (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 469: Acted as lead counsel, obtaining positive result for our client in case alleging he could be held civilly liable for crimes that he had pled guilty to in federal court. The case was dismissed on demurrer.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
Professional Affiliations
  • Orange County Bar Association (Business Litigation Section)
  •  Republican National Lawyers Association
  •  Surfing Lawyers Association
Community Involvement
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Education
  • Southwestern University School of Law, J.D.
  • University of Madrid, Spain
  • San Diego State University, B.A
Recognition
  • Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine (2016-2025)
  • Recommended by The Legal 500 along with M&R’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group (2018)

Insights & News
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Media Mentions / June 23, 2025

Chasing the Puck: Insights on Trade Secret Management from a California Litigator
Media Mentions / March 28, 2025

Creative ‘Honeypot’ Trap at Centre of HR Software Provider Trade Secret Spat
Media Mentions / January 18, 2025

GlobalFoundries and IBM Call Truce on Semiconductor Trade Secret Battle
Media Mentions / November 19, 2024

Shielding Trade Secrets During Mass Layoffs and Lessons from the Home of High Tech
Media Mentions / November 6, 2024

The New President Will Need To Get Tough on Trade Secrets
Media Mentions / August 22, 2024

Quashed $72 Million Boeing Jury Verdict Underlines Importance of Trade Secret Descriptions
Media Mentions / August 12, 2024

Pegasystems Decries Appian’s ‘Harassment’ Ahead of New Trial
Media Mentions / July 22, 2024

Tesla Sues Chinese Auto Parts Company Over ‘Dangerous’ Supercharger Compatibility Claims
Media Mentions / July 18, 2024

Defend Trade Secrets Act’s extraterritorial reach upheld by appellate court in major boost for IP owners
Media Mentions / June 10, 2024

From Partners to Rivals: Collaboration Contamination Perils in Zunum v Boeing
Media Mentions / December 13, 2023

Case spotlight: Refusal to return misappropriated trade secrets “won’t go unchecked”
Media Mentions / November 28, 2023

Corona Factory Files Landmark Trade Secret Lawsuit in New Hampshire Federal Court
Media Mentions / October 5, 2023

Apple’s “aggressive” trade secrets enforcement in Rivos case fuels noncompete clause debate
Headlines / April 19, 2022

8 M&R Attorneys Named to Southern California Super Lawyers for 2019
Headlines / April 19, 2022

8 M&R Attorneys Named to Southern California Super Lawyers for 2020
Headlines / February 2, 2022

Michelman & Robinson, LLP Ranked by The Legal 500
Headlines / February 2, 2022

The Legal 500 Recognizes M&R for the Fifth Consecutive Year
See All Insights Arrow Right

Jeffrey D. Farrow

Partner/Litigation Department Chair
Irvine
+1 714-557-7990
[email protected]
“In high-stakes litigation, the courtroom is only part of the battle. The real value is protecting what’s next for the client’s business.”
Overview

Jeffrey Farrow protects businesses through their most consequential legal challenges, litigating trade secret disputes, defending against fraud claims, and advising on risk even before conflicts arise. As Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department and a member of the Executive Committee, he brings both courtroom authority and strategic foresight to every engagement.

A veteran trial lawyer with a track record of decisive wins in state and federal courts nationwide, Jeff—who also serves as the firm’s Trade Secrets, Financial Fraud & Executive Disputes Chair—represents clients in high-stakes matters involving executive departures, unfair competition, and financial misconduct, among others. His litigation work spans industries including insurance, technology and intellectual property, and manufacturing. Jeff is particularly sought after by insurance brokerages and agencies navigating ownership transitions, restrictive covenant enforcement, and book-of-business disputes.

Equally skilled in appellate advocacy, Jeff has secured victories that have shaped California law on issues such as director’s liability and employment protections. His tenacity in both trial and appellate courts has earned him a reputation as one of the firm’s go-to litigators for cases that carry existential operational, reputational, or financial risk.

Clients rely on Jeff for more than litigation—they trust him to anticipate disputes before they escalate and to advise on governance decisions that protect the future of their businesses.

Practice Area

Insurance

Technology

Commercial & Business Litigation

Representative Matters

  • Breach of Contract Claims: Filed a lawsuit on behalf of a buyer misled into purchasing commercial real property located on a closed landfill, information that was purposefully omitted from detailed disclosures by the seller and a report by a geotechnical company. Subsequently obtained evidence that the seller knowingly made false statements about the location of the landfill, and that the geotechnical company misread the testing data which, if interpreted correctly, would have disclosed the existence of the landfill. After successfully opposing two summary judgment motions, the defendants paid the buyer a multi-million dollar settlement.
  • Computer Trade Secrets: Filed a lawsuit on behalf of a young entrepreneur whose “life’s work” was stolen by a large corporation, which claimed the work was owned by the company. After a four-year legal battle involving some of the largest national law firms, obtained a multi-million dollar verdict in favor of the entrepreneur, representing one of the largest awards in the United States for the misappropriation of computer trade secrets.
  • False Advertising: After discovering that a client's competitor was knowingly publishing false testing data about the client's product, sent a demand to cease letter, which was quickly accepted. The competitor then paid damages to the client caused by the unfair business practice.
  • Fraud Allegations: After pleading guilty to a long list of federal crimes for bribery and money laundering activities, client faced a civil lawsuit seeking to recover nearly $48 million earned through the criminal activity. Crafted a strategy to obtain dismissal of the civil lawsuit by arguing that, as a matter of law, the acts that gave rise to the federal crimes did not result in any civil liability to the client. As expected, the trial court refused to dismiss the lawsuit by virtue of the client's admissions of guilt and terms of a lengthy plea agreement in the underlying criminal matter, and an appeal was quickly taken. The court of appeal ordered that the lawsuit be dismissed, and that the client's fees and costs on appeal be reimbursed.
  • Injunctive Relief: Defeated an ex parte application and subsequent motion for preliminary injunction filed against the largest supplier of forklift batteries and chargers on the West Coast. The moving party unsuccessfully sought to enjoin the supplier from helping its customers apply for credits under California’s Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Program (providing incentives to fuel supply engine owners to reduce greenhouse emissions).
  • Intellectual Property: Represented a small company threatened with legal action by a larger company that wanted to acquire it. It was believed that the threatened litigation was designed to “re-engage” merger discussions. In the wake of the threat, successfully designed and implemented a strategy to increase the purchase price of the acquisition target which, in the end, was acquired at a 20 percent premium. No legal action was ultimately filed.
  • Unfair Competition Claim: Filed a lawsuit and obtained an injunction and judgment forever barring a defendant’s use of a client's trademarked name after it was discovered that the defendant had set up a company with the trademarked name and was trying to “take over” the client's identity and clients.
  • Unfair Competition: A mid-sized insurance agency learned that a former employee had stolen its customer list and taken it to a large competitor. After a significant number of clients moved to the larger company based on faulty information that it had acquired the smaller agency, issued a cease and desist demand on the mid-sized agency's behalf and gave notice of a hearing for an injunction. The larger company quickly accepted all terms necessary to settle the claim, including disgorgement of all profits earned from the wrongfully solicited business, and agreed to cease all efforts to obtain business from a select group of clients.
  • Whistleblower Claims: Negotiated a highly favorable settlement on behalf of a whistleblower in an accounting fraud case perpetrated by executives of a publicly-traded company, who were eventually convicted in federal court.
  • PUBLISHED DECISIONS: Appellate - Klistoff v. Superior Court (City of South Gate) (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 469: Acted as lead counsel, obtaining positive result for our client in case alleging he could be held civilly liable for crimes that he had pled guilty to in federal court. The case was dismissed on demurrer.

Credentials

Bar & Court Admissions
  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
Professional Affiliations
  • Orange County Bar Association (Business Litigation Section)
  •  Republican National Lawyers Association
  •  Surfing Lawyers Association
Community Involvement
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Education
  • Southwestern University School of Law, J.D.
  • University of Madrid, Spain
  • San Diego State University, B.A
Recognition
  • Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine (2016-2025)
  • Recommended by The Legal 500 along with M&R’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group (2018)