Samuel A. Moniz

Samuel Moniz is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Orange County office.

Areas of Practice

Sam is a civil litigator with a robust trial practice and experience managing complex, high-stakes litigation matters from inception through trial. He represents a range of clients, including global companies and high-profile individuals but also small businesses and private individuals. His practice involves a wide variety of matters, including all manner of contract disputes, fraud, business torts, unfair competition, malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent transfer, partnership disputes, and defamation.

Sam routinely handles all aspects of complex arbitrations and litigations in state and federal courts, including analyzing claims and developing litigation strategy; conducting depositions and written discovery; briefing and arguing discovery disputes; briefing and arguing dispositive motions; trial advocacy; and writs and appeals. In addition, his practice emphasizes reputation management, particularly in the context of sensitive or highly publicized disputes and PR crises. He is active in pro bono matters.

Experience

• Lead trial counsel in a breach of contract action resulting in a favorable decision on the merits.
• Represented the plaintiff in an arbitration between two billion-dollar companies, ending in a favorable multimillion-dollar award and judgment.
• Representation at trial of multiple individuals and entities in a complex business and contract dispute with a large multinational corporation.
• Multiple representations of high-net-worth individuals on issues such as fraud, contract disputes, partnership/investment disputes, and defamation.
• Represented the plaintiff in a contract action that ended in a favorable eight-figure judgment.
• Represented the defendant in a contract action that resolved favorably on summary judgment.
• Representation of a publicly traded company in a contract dispute that settled favorably on the eve of trial.

• Representation of a real estate developer in litigation with governmental entity that resolved favorably in settlement.

• Represented defendants in an action for fraud and unfair practices that resolved favorably in a dismissal.
• Represented defendants in a trademark and contract action that resolved favorably in a dismissal.
• Represented multiple defendants in an action for accounting malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Represented a defendant in a complex, multi-jurisdictional international dispute with a competitor.
• Multiple representations of bankruptcy trustees in investigative and litigation matters.
• Representation of multiple parties in a complex real estate litigation.

Honors

Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025

Media, Technology and Telecoms – Media and Entertainment: Litigation, The Legal 500 US, 2023-2024