Lisa Zepeda

Lisa Zepeda is Of Counsel in Early Sullivan’s litigation department, where she handles a variety of business, entertainment, and intellectual property matters. She has represented a diverse roster of clients, from high-profile celebrities, to startups, to private equity firms. She manages all phases of litigation, including conducting initial client interviews, devising case strategies, drafting pleadings, propounding and responding to discovery, taking and defending depositions, retaining and managing experts, drafting pre-trial filings, participating in settlement conferences and mediations, and negotiating and drafting settlement agreements. She also advises start-up ventures and small to mid-size businesses in various transactional matters, including business formation, strategy, and growth.

Prior to joining Early Sullivan, Lisa was Founding Partner of Zepeda Law Group and a Senior Associate at Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP. Before that, she served as Deputy Attorney General with the U.S. Department of Justice. Lisa received her Juris Doctorate from the Berkeley School of Law at the University of California, where she served as Executive Editor of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with degrees in Biology and Anthropology.

Lisa is admitted to practice law in the state of California, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court, Central District of California. She was selected as a “Super Lawyers Rising Star” in business litigation from 2010 – 2017, and was also recognized by Los Angeles Magazine as one of the “Top Women” attorneys in Southern California. Lisa is a member of the State Bar of California, the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association, and the Business and Corporations Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She is also on the Pro Bono Civil Rights Panel for the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.

• Represented award-winning actress and model in high-profile federal defamation lawsuit. Researched and drafted complaint, devised case strategy, conducted and defended key depositions, and successfully opposed anti-SLAPP motions. Negotiated favorable settlement of case resulting in retraction of defamatory statements and public apology.
• Defended global private equity firm in lawsuit involving multi-million dollar real estate investment. Conducted and defended key depositions. Participated in settlement conference resulting in favorable settlement of the case the day before trial. Prepared key witnesses for trial. Developed case and trial strategy. Served as primary contact for General Counsel and other key employees. Drafted and argued dispositive motions.
• Defended leading hospitality company, directors, and officers in federal securities class actions and federal and state shareholder derivative suits involving alleged misrepresentations, insider selling, and breach of fiduciary duties. Developed case strategy. Researched and drafted dispositive motions. Researched and drafted mediation brief and participated in favorable settlement. Drafted settlement agreement and related documents.
• Represented holding company in SEC investigation resulting in decision to terminate investigation. Researched and drafted Wells submission involving disclosure requirements under federal securities laws. Participated in SEC presentation.
• Represented major motion picture studio in copyright infringement case. Researched and drafted pleadings and dispositive motions. Prepared and implemented discovery plan.