Alison N. Kleaver

Alison Kleaver is an associate in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office and a member of the firm's Latin America Practice.  Ms. Kleaver is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School.

Areas of Practice

Ms. Kleaver specializes in business litigation. Her experience includes representing clients in a variety of business disputes with particular experience in the areas of insurance, environmental, and construction litigation.  Ms. Kleaver's cases represent a broad spectrum of industries including financial institutions, insurance, oil, and the luxury day spa industry.  Ms. Kleaver has experience in both California and federal civil procedure, including drafting and opposing motions; propounding and responding to discovery; conducting and defending depositions; preparing for trial; and briefing for the California Courts of Appeal, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the California Supreme Court.

Education

• J.D., Southwestern University School of Law, 2007, Editor-in-Chief, Southwestern University Law Review, 2006-2007; Writer, Moot Court Honors Program, 2005-2006; Co-Chair, Public Interest Law Committee, 2005-2006; Co-Founder, Southwestern Emergency Legal Clinic, 2005
• A.B., Washington University in St. Louis, 2004, magna cum laude

Admissions

• California
• U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Languages

• Spanish

Representative Matters

Ms. Kleaver represented State Compensation Insurance Fund ("State Fund") in the matter Cumbre, Inc. et al. v. State Compensation Insurance Fund, in which several insurance brokers alleged that State Fund improperly terminated their broker relationship due to the broker's unprofitability.  The brokers asserted a variety of novel legal theories including unfair business practices and violation of the duty of fair procedure.  With Ms. Kleaver's assistance, State Fund prevailed at trial.

Ms. Kleaver has represented financial institutions in several state and federal court actions concerning mechanic's liens and stop notices filed against the institutions as lenders on large-scale commercial and residential real estate developments.

Ms. Kleaver also represents Exxon Mobil Corporation in several matters pending in a variety of state and federal courts relating to the use of MTBE in refined gasoline.  

Memberships

• Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
• Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
• First Violinist, Los Angeles Lawyers Philharmonic
• Steering Committee Member, Washington University Ambassadors Program
• Member, Washington University Alumni and Parents Admissions Program
• Member, Los Angeles Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi International Fraternity

Speeches

• Panelist, "Women & the Law: Work-Life Balance," February 8, 2010, Southwestern Law School
• Panelist, "Women & the Law: Work-Life Balance," February 2, 2009, Southwestern Law School