Fredrick S. Levin
Partner
Biography
Fredrick Levin has over 30 years of experience representing individual and corporate clients in high-stakes class action and complex civil litigation throughout the country. He represents financial services industry clients in consumer class actions arising under federal and state consumer protection statutes. He also regularly represents clients in enforcement matters before the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI) and advises corporate clients on regulatory and compliance issues. He also advises clients on the drafting and enforcement of consumer and commercial arbitration agreements and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
In The News
Legal 500 2022 recognizes 18 Buckley attorneys in five practice areas
“They treat their clients better than any other law firm I’ve experienced,” is what one respondent said about Buckley LLP to Legal 500, which ranked the firm as a top law firm in five categories and recognized 18 of its attorneys for its 2022 edition.
The publication recognized...
AnnouncementsBuckley Sandler wins motion in Johnny Depp suit against ex-lawyer
WASHINGTON, DC (August 30, 2018) – Buckley Sandler and co-counsel Stein Mitchell Cipollone Beato & Missner won a major motion in its representation of Johnny Depp in a $30 million suit against his ex-lawyer. L.A. Superior Court Judge Terry Green ruled that a contingency-fee arrangement claimed by a former attorney was voidable by Depp.
Press ReleasesJohnny Depp Litigation – News and Resources
A compilation of media coverage and developments:
In The NewsFredrick S. Levin quoted in Law360 article, "'Extraordinary' $46M BofA award upends punitives formula"
Fredrick S. Levin was quoted on April 27, 2018 in a Law360 article, “'Extraordinary' $46M BofA award upends punitives formula,” which discussed Judge Christopher M. Klein’s judgment excoriating Bank of America and its executives for its mistreatment of a California couple, Erik and Renee Sundquist...
In The News
Publications
“Implications of the SCOTUS Viking River Cruises decision for arbitration agreements covering California consumer protection claims” by Fredrick S. Levin, James McGuire, Sarah Davis, and Lauren L. Erker
For practitioners seeking to send California consumer claims to arbitration, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent opinion in Viking River Cruises, Inc. v. Moriana (“Viking”), offers guidance for avoiding the pitfalls of California’s McGill rule, which has been a roadblock...
Buckley Commentary & Analysis"New 9th Circ. rulings may restrict McGill Rule's scope" by Fredrick S. Levin, James McGuire, Ali M. Abugheida, and Megan E. Whitehill (Law360)
In the 2017 McGill v. Citibank NA decision, the California Supreme Court held that any arbitration clause that bars a plaintiff from seeking public injunctive relief in any forum is unenforceable. The so-called McGill rule has become a central feature of the California arbitration landscape, and...
Articles"Battle over business interruption coverage already underway" by Fredrick S. Levin and Ali M. Abugheida (Law360)
Businesses across the country are reviewing their insurance policies to assess whether they have valid claims against losses suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government shutdown directives. Two types of insurance coverage are particularly relevant: business interruption...
Articles"The hazy legal landscape of cannabis: A review" by Fredrick S. Levin and Benjamin W. Hutten (Los Angeles Daily Journal)
The legality of cannabis varies widely on what product is at issue and what law applies. There is significant divergence, and at times direct conflict, between state and federal laws. Under federal law, a slight difference in chemical composition or the marketed use of a product can determine...
Articles"End of the Hollywood handshake deal" by Fredrick S. Levin (Daily Journal)
Stop us if you've heard this one before. A young actor, talented but unknown, is trying to break into the business. She is introduced to an entertainment lawyer who tells her he'll handle all of her modest legal work for "free" on the front end, and take a cut of whatever income she eventually...
ArticlesFredrick S. Levin Authored a Law360 Article, "2 Litigation Trends Offer Guidance On TCPA Compliance"
$76 million, $14.8 million, $12 million and $3.7 million. These numbers represent some of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act settlement agreements negotiated in 2017. As shown by these numbers, TCPA litigation continues to be a leading litigation risk for corporate America. Recently, several...
ArticlesSpecial Alert: SCOTUS Vacates Ninth Circuit Decision in Case Alleging Procedural FCRA Violations
On May 16, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion vacating the Ninth Circuit’s 2014 ruling that a plaintiff had standing under Article III of the Constitution to sue an alleged consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), for alleged procedural violations...
Articles"Fredrick S. Levin on UDAP reform: ALEC’s proposed model act" (Legal Solutions Blog)
In the 1960s and early 1970s, in response to concerns that the Federal Trade Commission had failed to adequately enforce the FTC Act’s prohibition of “unfair and deceptive trade practices,” numerous states passed consumer protection laws. Many of these state statutes were modeled on the FTC Act and...
ArticlesRecent Developments in Residential Mortgage Backed Securities Litigation
Fredrick Levin and Amanda Raines Lawrence authored "Recent Developments in Residential Mortgage Backed Securities Litigation," which was published in the Spring 2016 issues of the American Bar Association's Business Lawyer. Originally published on www.americanbar.org. Reposted with permission.
ArticlesSpotlight Article: California Supreme Court Holds that Borrowers Have Standing to Challenge an Allegedly Void Assignment of the Note and Deed of Trust in an Action for Wrongful Foreclosure
Yesterday, the California Supreme Court held in Yvanova v. New Century Mortgage Corp , Case No. S218973 (Cal. Sup. Ct. February 18, 2016) that borrowers have standing to challenge an allegedly void assignment of a note and deed of trust in an action for wrongful foreclosure. In reaching this...
ArticlesConsumer Financial Services Answer Book 2016
The fifth edition of the Practising Law Institute’s Consumer Financial Services Answer Book was published this month, with 29 Buckley Sandler attorneys contributing to this leading desk reference. The 2016 edition of the Consumer Financial Services Answer Book continues to provide practitioners...
ArticlesConsumer Financial Services Answer Book 2015
Buckley Sandler lawyers played a prominent role in the publication of this leading desk reference on consumer financial services, published by the Practising Law Institute. The 2015 edition of this publication continues to provide practitioners with a core understanding of the laws governing...
ArticlesConsumer Financial Services Answer Book 2014
The “Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010” (CFPA), Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act, made major changes in how consumer financial services are regulated, and many of these important changes are now in effect. The Consumer Financial Services Answer Book 2014 describes in concise detail the new...
Articles
Awards and Recognitions
Awards & Recognitions
- Legal 500 2022: Recognized in the Financial Services: Litigation practice area
Education
- J.D., University of Michigan
- A.B., Princeton University (cum laude)
Admissions
- California
- Illinois
- Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
Community/Civic Activities
- American Jewish Committee, Los Angeles Chapter, President, April 2008-2011
- Darfur Task Force, Chair, 2006-2008
- Shalom Comay Fellow, 2006-2007
- Blaustein Institute, 2006
- Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, Executive Committee-Legal Division, 2005-2007
- Legal Division Dinner, Chair, 2006
- LA Couples Young Leadership Program, Co-chair, 2004-2006
Memberships & Involvements
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Committee on Class Actions & Derivative Suits, Sub-Committee Chairman, 2005-2007
- California Bar Association
- Los Angeles County Bar Association