An interview with Seth Aronson
Interview with Seth Aronson, mediator and arbitrator in Phillips ADR’s…
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Area of expertise:
Seth Aronson joined Phillips ADR in 2023 and has mediated or co-mediated disputes up to ten figures in a broad range of areas, including securities, consumer class actions, privacy, false claims, false advertising, shareholder derivative, antitrust, RMBS fraud, and complex litigation. He is a member of the ADR panel for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Seth retired from O’Melveny & Myers LLP in December 2022, after more than 40 years of experience as a trial and appellate lawyer in a wide range of disputes. He is the former managing partner of O’Melveny’s Los Angeles office and firm-wide chair of its Securities Litigation practice.
Seth has been ranked by Chambers USA for 20 years. He was twice named California Securities Litigation Attorney of the Year by Benchmark Litigation; a “Top 100 Lawyer” by the Daily Journal; and recognized by Best Lawyers in America in four categories: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), and Litigation – Securities, and named Los Angeles Lawyer of the Year three times. He was recognized by Who’s Who Legal: California as one of the top 34 commercial litigators in California; by the Daily Journal as one of the top 30 securities litigators in California; and Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Lawyers in America” and “100 Securities Litigators You Need to Know.”
Seth is the author or co-author of numerous articles and handbooks, including the definitive treatise “Shareholder Derivative Actions: From Cradle to Grave.” Seth has been a frequent moderator and panelist for Practising Law Institute; American Bar Association; Association of Business Trial Lawyers; and Federal Bar Association. Seth took the baton from Hon. Stanley Sporkin and moderated the annual “Ethics for the Securities Lawyer” program of the Los Angeles County Bar Assoc. Securities Regulation Institute for several years.
A recognized leader in the legal community, Seth has served as the President of Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Association of Business Trial Lawyers and Chancery Club of Los Angeles. He has served on the boards of Loyola Law School and UCLA School of Public Affairs. Seth was heavily involved in the creation of the Los Angeles Superior Court Complex Courts, serving as the initial Chair of the LA County Bar Assoc. Complex Courts Committee. Seth also established the O’Melveny & Myers Scholarship at Loyola Law School for deserving students who might not otherwise afford a legal education.
Seth argued and won a US Supreme Court victory in a much-watched class action case, obtaining a unanimous Court decision that significantly narrows the tolling provisions established decades ago in the Court’s landmark American Pipe decision. China Agritech v. Resh, 2018 WL 2767565 (June 11, 2018).
In November 2021, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, the oldest and largest legal aid organization in California, honored Seth with its Maynard Toll Award for Distinguished Public Service. This award honors members of the bar whose exemplary record of public service and commitment to legal services for the poor are in the best traditions of the legal profession.
Seth received his B.A. from Ohio University and his J.D. from Loyola Law School. While in high school Seth worked evenings and weekends as an usher at Carnegie Hall. Seth was on the boxing and lacrosse teams at Ohio U. During his college summers he was a beach lifeguard in Virginia Beach.
Seth and his wife Valerie currently reside in Newport Beach, California. They have three grown sons and three grandchildren, all of whom reside in Southern California. A noted car enthusiast, Seth can be spotted driving the canyons and coastline of California and on his annual pilgrimage to Monterey Car Week.
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