Ava Habibian

Ava Habibian is an associate in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Orange County office. She is a member of the firm's Food and Beverage Team and AI Team.

Areas of Practice

Ava is an analytical litigator with experience handling a broad range of complex disputes across industries, including trusts and estates, business and commercial litigation, brand reputation defense, and regulatory matters. She represents clients in cases involving breach of contract, business torts, fiduciary obligations, and defamation, with a particular focus on navigating high-stakes disputes efficiently and strategically. Ava also advises companies on regulatory compliance and defends businesses against class action lawsuits and other litigation risks.

Business & Commercial Litigation

Ava represents companies in a wide range of business disputes, from single-party commercial conflicts to complex class action defense. She litigates breach of contract claims, business torts, fraudulent misrepresentation, and fiduciary duty matters. Ava also has experience handling data privacy and cybersecurity-related litigation, including cases involving data breaches, consumer privacy claims, and regulatory enforcement. Additionally, she provides strategic guidance to businesses on mitigating litigation risks and ensuring regulatory compliance. In the food and beverage industry, Ava has advised companies on FDA regulations and defended them in labeling, advertising, and product liability disputes.

Trusts & Estates Litigation

Ava represents trustees, beneficiaries, and fiduciaries in disputes involving estate administration, trust contests, and fiduciary duties. She helps clients navigate complex litigation to protect their financial interests and legacies.

Brand Reputation & Defamation Litigation

Ava assists individuals and businesses in protecting their reputations through defamation litigation, responding to false or misleading claims, and implementing legal strategies to safeguard brand integrity.

Pro Bono & Community Involvement

Beyond her commercial practice, Ava is deeply committed to pro bono litigation supporting the unhoused community, asylum seekers, and children’s legal rights. She actively participates in cases advocating for vulnerable populations and remains dedicated to increasing access to justice through her firm’s pro bono initiatives.

Experience

Representative Matters

• Prevailed on a Daubert motion in a false advertising class action, successfully excluding an expert witness and limiting Plaintiff’s claims.
• Prevailed on a motion to dismiss in a putative PFAS class action, leading to the Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissing their case.
• Substantially prevailed on a motion to dismiss a data breach class action involving 25 claims across multiple jurisdictions; court dismissed 17 claims, including those under seven state laws.
• Secured a favorable arbitration award, including attorney’s fees, on behalf of a long-time client after drafting a successful arbitration demand and post-arbitration brief.
• Successfully argued and won a motion in limine in the Superior Court of California, securing the exclusion of critical evidence ahead of trial.
• Successfully opposed an anti-SLAPP motion, allowing Plaintiff to proceed with limited discovery against Defendant’s claim.
• Defeated a motion to stay, ensuring the case proceeded without delay.

Articles

FDA Law Blog Posts

• "“Dietary Guidance Statements” in Food Labeling: What You Need to Know About FDA’s Latest Draft Guidance for the Food Industry," April 11, 2023

• "Comment Period for “Healthy” Regulations Extended; But Consumer Class Actions Targeting “Health Halos” May Continue," December 20, 2022 

Retail Law Blog Posts

• "New California Bill Seeks to Eliminate Certain Food Additives," April 11, 2023