Belinda M. Vega

Representative Matters

Commercial Litigation

• Negotiated a $245 million buy-out for the inventor of grape varietals in a deal with a private equity company related to the client's royalty rights and sale of assets of client's employer, a private California-based fruit breeding company
• Obtained summary judgment and won a California Court of Appeal decision for a Las Vegas hospitality company in a securities fraud, fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit brought by Chinese investors participating in the United States EB-5 Pilot Program
• Represented a real estate development entity in international arbitration proceedings involving breach of contract claims related to the construction of a luxury hotel in Baja California, Mexico
• Serves as West Coast lead trial counsel for a national hospitality company defending against personal injury claims related to its hotels
• Served as West Coast lead trial counsel for an international car rental company defending against personal injury and wrongful death claims
• On behalf of a refrigeration services company, obtained summary judgment on a wrongful death and collision case for vicarious liability and negligent supervision, involving an employee who drove his vehicle while intoxicated, causing a severe accident
• First-chaired a books and records trial and won, resulting in protection of the client's financial records from disclosure to outside parties claiming to have shareholder and director rights
• Defended a global oil exploration and production company against the Alaska Department of Natural Resources in two bench trials and one appeal to the Supreme Court, involving a dispute over oil and gas leases
• Defended a global solar company in multi-party state litigation against breach of contract, breach of warranty, and indemnity claims, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client
• Defended, in mediation, a major international wire transfer company against claims of intentional interference, unfair business practices, and trademark violations under the Lanham Act

Labor & Employment

• Defended an international Spanish-language media company, in two employment matters, in which plaintiffs alleged wrongful termination, retaliation, and discrimination, successfully removing both cases to federal court and securing prompt and favorable disposition of both matters
• Defended a global payroll and HR company in an employment matter involving claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination, securing favorable disposition of the matter
• Defended a family-owned international corporation that produces and distributes Mexican food products in four Private Attorney General Act and wage and hour cases, securing favorable disposition of all four matters
• Represented the board of directors of a cooperative agriculture association in internal investigations and litigation relating to potential misconduct by the general manager and senior executive
• Represented a leading Spanish-language television network in an internal investigation relating to a potential breach of employment contracts and ethical violations by employees
• Represented a national media and entertainment company in the defense against a lawsuit by on-air talent alleging discrimination, retaliation, and violation of public policy
• Represented talent in negotiations with a network over an employment agreement, development services rendered to a studio, and the acquisition of an idea and all related works for the adaptation of a television series
• Represented a musician before the National Labor Relations Board in claims filed against American Federation of Musicians Local 47 over false accusations of violating union rules
• Represented a private research university in an internal investigation relating to ethical violations by one of its senior-level employees, and related reporting obligations to the federal government under the False Claims Act
• Represented a major studio executive in negotiations over a severance package and advised on potential age discrimination claims

Antitrust Litigation

• Assisted in the defense of a leading semiconductor manufacturing company in two federal trials involving patent infringement and antitrust monopoly claims, resulting in a $250 million sanctions award against the opposing party and in favor of the company for document spoliation
• Defended a global health insurance provider in multidistrict shareholder litigation against antitrust, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) claims filed because of government investigations into broker compensation practices, resulting in a settlement for the client
• On behalf of an international computer chip maker, investigated a competitor's anti-competitive behavior in Mexico, including the competitor's offer of rebates in exchange for exclusive purchases and the competitor's engagement in retaliatory conduct

Securities Litigation

• Defended a director and majority shareholder in a Texas shareholder class action securities litigation arising out of the sale of a company, resulting in the dismissal of claims against the client at the pleading stage
• Obtained a win for the client, a leading financial institution, at the summary judgment stage in litigation arising from its capacity as a guarantor of bonds
• Represented a high-net-worth individual and family trust in FINRA arbitration proceedings against investment advisors, related to mismanagement of funds and breach of fiduciary duties

Entertainment Litigation

• Settled a dispute for a Chicago-based television station involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, and unfair business practices brought by a Colombian-owned media company
• Defended a Los Angeles Spanish-language station against breach of contract and fraud claims brought by a major television network studio, resulting in a settlement favorable to the client
• Represented talent in an arbitration proceeding against a major motion picture studio, related to claims of breach of contract, accounting, and copyright infringement, involving a film distributed internationally and sold to a cable network
• Represented an animation studio in a dispute with investors and alleged shareholders involving claims of breach of contract, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duties
• Reached a favorable settlement for a music licensing company in mediation over a partnership dispute involving licensing rights, copyrights, and royalties
• Represented the president and CEO of an entertainment company in a criminal investigation and civil lawsuit arising from federal RICO and state conspiracy charges
• Represented an independent production company in mediation and arbitration proceedings against a leading TV network, involving breach of duty, breach of contract, and accounting claims

White Collar Criminal Defense and Internal Investigations

• Completed two international investigations, representing the board of directors of a multi-million-dollar agricultural corporation, and advising on disclosure obligations
• Represented an investment management firm in completing an internal investigation related to potential SEC whistleblower issues
• Assisted an investigation team representing a global oil and gas company in state civil cases, and state attorney general and district attorney general investigations related to hazardous waste substances and compliance with environmental regulations involving underground petroleum storage tanks
• Defended the board of directors of a major publicly traded book publishing and advertising company in an SEC investigation of its accounting practices, and in related federal class action and state derivative lawsuits for alleged violations of federal securities laws
• Represented a private research university in an internal investigation concerning ethical violations by one of its senior-level employees and related reporting obligations to the federal government
• Represented a dietary supplement company in a government investigation into its compliance with FDA regulations and prepared key witnesses for grand jury and congressional hearing testimony
• Represented a large manufacturer and supplier of specialized materials for aircraft and aerospace in an internal investigation involving compliance and disclosure obligations under the False Claims Act (FCA), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
• Defended a telemarketing company in a federal investigation into alleged violations under the False Claims Act
• Defended a co-founder of a real estate mortgage banking company in a federal investigation involving allegations of bank and loan fraud, tax fraud, and false representations
• Served as interim general counsel for a private jet company; spearheaded an internal investigation into allegations of corruption and fraud by the company's former managing director

Education

• J.D. Columbia Law School 1999
• • Foundation scholar, Mitsubishi International Corp.
  • Staff editor, Columbia Business Law Journal
• B.A. Political Science, Chicana/o Studies cum laude University of California at Los Angeles 1995
• • Scholar, Ralph J. Bunche Alumni Scholarship

Bar Admissions

• California

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Member, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)
• Member, Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
• Member, Board of Directors, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), Los Angeles Chapter
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Mexican-American Bar Association
• Member, Latina Lawyers Bar Association
• Former commissioner, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions (appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti)
• Former member, Board of Airport Commissioners, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)

• Profiles in Diversity Journal, Latino Leaders Worth Watching, 2022
• Daily Journal, Top Women Lawyers, 2021 – 2022
• Los Angeles Business Journal
  • Top 100 Lawyers, 2022 – 2023
  • Leaders of Influence: Thriving in Their 40's, 2021
  • Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Lawyers, 2021
  • Leaders in Law Nominee, 2020 – 2021
  • Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys, 2019 – 2022
• Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2013

Volunteerism

• Former vice chair, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust (an organization that builds parks and gardens for inner-city communities in Los Angeles)
• Member, Board of Directors, Teach Democracy (formerly, the Constitutional Rights Foundation; a nonprofit, nonpartisan, community-based organization that teaches youth about civic engagement)

Personal Activities

• Belinda is married to her high school sweetheart, Benjamin Vega, and together they have a son, Elijah Vega, and live in Hollywood