Kevin Calia has been recognized as a “rising star” of California’s legal community for his deep experience handling a wide range of complex litigation matters at every stage of the trial process. He has represented executives, businesses, and senior government officials at trial and on appeal. He has advised the managers and directors of Fortune 500 companies, startups, and small businesses in crisis situations, dealing with simultaneous threats from litigation opponents, enforcement authorities, and regulators. He defends clients against claims of securities fraud, antitrust violations, unfair business practices, and breaches of fiduciary duties.
In his civil litigation practice, Kevin has represented clients in the most complex matters facing their businesses. He has defended clients in multi-district litigation proceedings and against parallel class actions in state and federal courts. He has frequently worked with expert witnesses to simplify complex data and analyses to enhance the persuasiveness of this important information to judges and juries. He has substantial experience drafting motions to dismiss lawsuits and other pretrial motions, managing the preservation and production of electronic evidence, gathering information from the opponent’s documents and witnesses, and preparing for trial and possible appeals.
Kevin regularly protects the interests of senior executives and corporate directors during internal corporate investigations and in responding to outside regulators, including the SEC, FINRA, and the FTC. He has guided clients through the process of responding to civil investigative demands, Wells notices, and subpoenas.
Before becoming a partner with Illovsky & Calia LLP, Kevin ran his own law office. From 2015 to 2017, Kevin served as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of California where he defended the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and other officials and executive departments in litigation matters involving constitutional law, elections, and government operations. Kevin started his legal career in the major international law firm Morrison & Foerster. He spent 11 years at the firm, first as an associate and then as a partner, defending executives and businesses operating in a wide range of industries, including finance, technology, healthcare, food products, and energy.
Kevin received California Lawyer’s “Lawyer of the Year” award in 2010 for his work in a landmark case that ensured enhanced protections for veterans applying for disability benefits. He has repeatedly been named to the Northern California Super Lawyers list of Rising Stars in securities litigation.
Education
Stanford Law School, J.D., 2003
Articles Editor, Stanford Journal of Law, Business & Finance
University of California, Davis, B.A., 2000
Regents Scholar
Department Citation for Undergraduate Achievement in Political Science
Clerkship
Law Clerk to the Honorable Mary M. Schroeder
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2003-2004
Representative Client Matters
Corporate Governance and Securities Defense
- Defended founders of emerging bio-energy company against claims of breach of fiduciary duty
- Represented app developer in securities class actions and related derivative suits and requests for books and records
- Represented community bank in action to inspect corporate books and records
- Represented and defended various companies and individuals in securities class actions
- Represented and defended various directors and executives in derivative litigation
Corporate and Commercial Litigation
- Defended healthcare company against antitrust claims related to pricing of hospital services
- Defended manufacturer of liquid crystal display panels against antitrust claims
- Defended coffee producers in litigation regarding alleged need for Proposition 65 warnings
- Defended producers of fruit juice and fruit products against claims of unfair business practices
- Defended pharmaceutical company against RICO and antitrust claims regarding drug pricing
Internal and Regulatory Investigations
- Represented financial services company in investigations by SEC and FINRA into investments in mortgage-backed securities
- Represented client in FTC investigation regarding in-app purchases available in in apps that allegedly were targeted to minors
- Represented board of international bank in internal investigation of anti-money-laundering compliance procedures
Public Policy Litigation
- Defended municipality against claims that its city council election procedures violated the California Voting Rights Act
- Represented California Attorney General in two trials alleging that state policies regulating charitable solicitation violated the First Amendment
- Represented state constitutional officers in litigation about California’s procedures relating to the Electoral College
- Represented Department of General Services in arbitration of a bid protest relating to the purchase of firefighting helicopters