Overview

Anna McLean is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group. She is a Leader of the firm’s Class Action Defense Team.

Areas of Practice

Anna focuses on the defense of complex class actions, with particular emphasis on consumer products, consumer finance, and building products. She regularly defends companies in state and federal courts with regard to alleged unfair business practices, product defect and warranty claims, and disclosure issues, as well as alleged violations of the TCPA, ECOA, FCRA, TILA, and their state-law analogues.  She has represented clients in matters before the CFPB and the CPSC. 

Anna litigates issues at the vanguard of state and federal law on the enforcement of consumer arbitration clauses containing class action waivers, e.g., Trabert v. Consumer Portfolio Services Inc, 2015 WL 9271437 (Cal. Ct. App. 2015) (dismissing appeal from trial court order compelling arbitration); Arguelles-Romero v. Superior Court, 184 Cal. App. 4th 825 (2010) (finding arbitration clause with class action waiver not unconscionable); and Smith v. AmeriCredit, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115767 (S.D. Cal.) (granting motion to compel arbitration and dismissing action).

Anna also represents major building products manufacturers in putative class actions alleging consumer warranty and unfair business practices claims arising out of the use of allegedly defective building materials.  E.g.,Camenson v. Milgard Manufacturing, Inc., 2008 WL 2381904 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008) (upholding denial of class certification of homeowner claims alleging defective windows).

Anna has received an AV® rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating an attorney can receive for legal quality and ethics. 

Experience

Experience

Representative engagements defending:

  • Major auto finance companies in consumer class actions challenging financing and leasing issues, including Toyota Financial Services, GM Financial, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation, Consumer Portfolio Services and Santander Consumer USA, among others. E.g. In re Toyota Motor Corp. Unintended Acceleration Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, 785 F. Supp. 2d 883, 904 (C.D. Cal. 2011) (granting motion to dismiss with prejudice); AmeriCredit Financial Services, Inc. (now GM Financial), including Bankston v. AmeriCredit, 2011 WL 89730 (N.D. Cal.) (granting dismissal for lack of standing); and Wright v AmeriCredit, 2010 WL 5058345 (S.D. Cal.) (upholding validity of notice and dismissing action).
  • Major building products manufacturers in putative class actions alleging consumer warranty and unfair business practices claims arising out of the use of allegedly defective building materials.  E.g., Camenson v. Milgard Manufacturing, Inc., 2008 WL 2381904 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008) (upholding denial of class certification of homeowner claims alleging defective windows).

  • Major banks, insurers and consumer finance companies in class actions in state and federal courts challenging force-placed insurance on automobile and home loans, including Wahl v. American Security Ins. Co., 2008 WL 2444802 (N.D.Cal.).
  • Major car rental companies in multiple state and federal class actions challenging fees, pass-throughs and refueling charges. Defeated class certification or prevailed on dispositive motion in four cases, including Guerra v. Hertz, 504 F. Supp. 2d 1014 (D. Nev. 2007).
  • Major disk drive manufacturer in class action alleging consumer warranty claims. In re Seagate Technology LLC Litigation, 2019 WL 282369 (N.D. Cal.) (denying plaintiffs’ second attempt at class certification).

Honors

Honors

Consumer Protection Editorial Advisory Board, Law360, 2022, 2023

Insights

Articles

Articles and Presentations

Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator, "Emerging UCL Issues," California Lawyers Association, January 12, 2023

Events

Memberships

Memberships

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Member, American Bar Association

Admitted, State Bar of California

Admitted, State Bar of Texas

Member, Bar Association of San Francisco

Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers Board of Governors

Digital Media

Education

J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1989, UCLA Law Review

B.A., University of California, Berkeley, with high distinction

Admissions

  • California
  • Texas
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