Anna S. McLean

Ms. McLean is a partner in the Business Trial practice group in the firm's San Francisco office.

Areas of Practice

Ms. McLean has had substantial experience litigating complex class action cases in both the consumer disclosure and product liability areas. In her consumer class action practice, she has defended clients in a variety of industries with regard to alleged unfair business practices, consumer disclosure issues, liquidated damages/penalty claims, fee and interest rate claims, force-placed insurance, and other mortgage and auto lending issues. In her product liability practice, she has represented major manufacturers in the tobacco, building products, and chemicals industries in multistate class actions and public entity cost-recovery litigation. She also has substantial experience in other complex commercial litigation matters.

Education

• J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1989, UCLA Law Review
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1984, with High Distinction

Admissions

• California

Representative Engagements

Represents a major car rental company in multiple state and federal class actions challenging fees, pass-throughs, and refueling charges. Defeated class certification or prevailed on dispositive motion in four recent cases.

Represented banks and consumer finance companies in class actions in state and federal courts challenging force-placed insurance on automobile and home loans. Currently represents major insurer in similar litigation.

Represented several automotive finance companies in class and “private attorney general” cases challenging automobile repossession and auction practices. Currently represents financial institutions in class actions challenging post-repossession notices. 

Represented a major window manufacturer in a California state-wide class action product liability litigation seeking recovery for damages to single-family homes and other properties caused by allegedly defective aluminum windows and doors. Defeated class certification.

Represented a Fortune 500 building products manufacturer in multiple putative state and nationwide class actions filed in eight states alleging that exterior wood coatings fail to retard mildew growth and ultraviolet light degradation.

Represented cigarette manufacturer in numerous cases alleging products liability and consumer disclosure claims concerning tobacco products, including class actions, public entity “cost recoupment” cases, Attorney General, and “private attorney general” actions.

Represented a leading consumer finance company in multiple putative class actions challenging alleged “predatory lending” practices.

Represented a major automotive finance company in consolidated class and “private attorney general” cases challenging automobile leasing practices.

Represented a major building products manufacturer in product liability, breach of fiduciary duty and RICO actions concerning roof insulation.

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• State Bar of California
• Bar Association of San Francisco
• Association of Business Trial Lawyers

Articles

Articles and Presentations

• ABA Antitrust Section, Consumer Protection Committee Spring 2008 Meeting: "California Schemin', Unfair Practices and False Advertising in California"
• Product Liability Roundtable Discussion, California Lawyer Magazine, December, 2007
• Bridgeport Continuing Education 2006 Class Action & UCL Litigation Conference, May 2006, Recent Developments in UCL Case Law
• CLE International Class Actions Conference, February 2006, Impact of the Class Action Fairness Act 
• New Federal Law re Multi-State Class Actions, February 18, 2005
• CEB, Continuing Educating the Bar, April 2003, Unfair Business Practices - B&P Code §17200 and Beyond
• Practising Law Institute, Unfair Competition Claims 2002: California Section 17200's Impact on Corporations Everywhere, August 2002
• Glasser Legalworks Seminars, Litigation & Resolution of Complex Class Actions: Product Liability/Mass Tort Developments & Medical Monitoring Class Actions, January 2002