Alexander R. Safyan
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Counsel
Consumer Products
Internet, Software & Technology
Class Action & Complex Litigation
Commercial & Business Litigation
Los Angeles
Bar & Court Admissions
- State Bar of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Courts for the Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California
Education
- Harvard Law School, Certificate in Financial Analysis
- Loyola Law School, J.D. (cum laude, Order of the Coif)
- University of Southern California, B.A. (magna cum laude)
Alex Safyan is counsel in M&R’s Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s Class Action & Complex Litigation Practice Group. A dynamic litigator known for his fierce advocacy and unflappable demeanor, Alex has successfully handled disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition, trade secret and employment claims, among others. Along the way, Alex has earned a stellar reputation for his sharp legal analysis and execution of winning litigation strategies.
Alex is particularly sought after by companies in the consumer products and food and beverage spaces facing complex business disputes and class actions. He has substantial experience defending false advertising, unfair competition and other consumer fraud claims, as well as prosecuting and defending competitor lawsuits. What is especially unique about Alex is that he has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in some of the largest and most groundbreaking class action cases ever filed. He brings this breadth of experience to bear for the benefit of all of his clients, which range from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
Beyond the consumer products and food and beverage sectors, Alex is a trusted advisor to clients in a broad range of business disputes, including contract, partnership and employment cases. He has demonstrated an ability to negotiate pre-litigation resolutions of many of these matters—this by virtue of his extraordinary talent for strategically and aggressively litigating cases when lawsuits do become necessary. At bottom, Alex is a problem solver who works closely with his clients to achieve their business goals, whether it be through an early negotiated resolution or through hard-fought litigation. In recognition of his successes both in and out of the courtroom, Alex was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2022.
Alex regularly writes articles analyzing major trends and significant legal decisions affecting the consumer products industry. Likewise, he has contributed to the leading treatise and practice guide in California on competition and consumer protection law and held leadership roles in legal organizations focusing on those topics.
Antitrust: Represented manufacturer of the world’s leading energy shot in proposed antitrust class action alleging claims under the seldom-litigated Robinson-Patman Act and California Unfair Practices Act. Successfully opposed class certification and individual plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, then defeated follow-on litigation that resulted in a complete defense jury verdict following a three-week trial.
Breach of Contract: Represented sheet metal fabricator and its CEO in a contract dispute involving alleged breaches of operating agreement and lease agreement. After taking over the case more than a year into the litigation, successfully moved for leave to assert cross-claims and engaged in strategic discovery that turned a six-figure demand into a walk-away settlement.
Breach of Contract/Unfair Competition: Represented leading fresh meal solutions provider in business dispute with its largest shareholder over claims of alleged unfair competition. Negotiated a favorable, pre-litigation business divorce that allowed the client to reorganize and raise additional capital to accelerate its growth plan.
Fraud: Represented individual defendants in fraudulent conveyance action arising from an $11.5 million judgment against a related party. After taking over the case from two previous law firms, engaged in aggressive discovery and investigation that revealed the plaintiff’s spouse had filed for bankruptcy and leveraged the bankruptcy filing to disqualify plaintiff’s counsel and resolve the case on extremely favorable terms.
Shareholder/Partnership Dispute: Represented minority shareholders in partnership dispute involving claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and gross mismanagement against officers of the company. Worked closely with economic expert to demonstrate financial malfeasance and self-dealing, leading to a valuable buy-out of clients’ interests.
Tortious Interference: Represented preeminent U.S.-based cannabis real estate investment trust in multi-party litigation involving a dispute over property acquisition. Successfully defeated opposing party’s anti-SLAPP motion and negotiated an effective gag order for the party’s CEO.
Consumer Class Action: Represented gas company in consumer class action alleging deceptive and unfair conduct in the advertising of “cash” vs. “credit” prices. Helped obtain decertification of the class after class certification was initially granted against another law firm, paving the way to a highly strategic no-payment settlement.
