Norma García Guillén

Ms. García Guillén is an associate in the Business Trial and Latino Business Practice Groups in Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton's Orange County office.

Areas of Practice

Ms. García Guillén specializes in general business litigation in various industries, including financial institutions, pharmaceuticals, insurance and information technology. Her litigation experience centers around complex breach of contract and business tort claims, as well as intellectual property, unfair competition, securities and products liability claims.

She has managed all claims on behalf of a federal Receiver in a high profile Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement action for a ponzi scheme where thousands of investors were defrauded out of tens of millions of dollars, including claims for professional malpractice.

She has successfully brought contempt, turnover, and disgorgement motions and handled evidentiary hearings.

A former President of the Hispanic Bar Association, Ms. García Guillén has handled numerous high profile cases as part of the Latino Business Practice Group, including business and defamation disputes for Latin American celebrities.

She also successfully represented a Hong Kong based manufacturer of cell phones and cell phone equipment in international arbitration, before the International Chamber of Commerce ("ICC") International Court of Arbitration, applying Mexican law, in a breach of contract dispute.

She has also successfully represented brokers in a self-insurance group in a breach of contract, business tort, and defamation dispute.  Ms. García Guillén managed the entire action, which resulted in a remarkable victory for the client. Indeed, the legal research and drafting persuaded a panel of three arbitrators that the proper measure of damages for a breach of contract dispute was loss of gross commissions, and not lost profits. This decision made a multi-million dollar difference to the client.  The victory was replicated in a related action before an Orange County Superior Court Judge who issued the same ruling in a jury instruction, forcing the opposing party to settle.

Ms. García Guillén has litigated matters in both state and federal courts. She has extensive experience in mediation and arbitration.

Additionally, Ms. García Guillén has handled transactional matters for clients such as Broadcom Corporation.

Ms. García Guillén is also committed to pro bono work.

Education

• J.D., University of Southern California, 2002
• A.B., Smith College, 1997
• Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, 1995 (semester abroad)

Admissions

• All California Courts
• United States Central District Court

Languages

• Spanish

Honors

• Inspirational Alumnus Award, USC Gould School of Law La Raza Students Association, (March 2009)
• 20 Women to Watch, OC Metro (March 2008)
• Emerging Leader Award, American Jewish Committee (March 2008)
• Voices of Hope, Community Service Programs, Inc. (2005)
• Shattuck Award, USC Gould School of Law (2002)

Memberships

• President, Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County (2008)
• Member, Saturday Academy of Law Oversight Committee, University of California, Irvine (2008 - Present)
• Member, Board of KidWorks (2007 - Present)
• Member, Board of TECMA (Orange County Mexican Consulate's Red de Talentos) (2009 - Present)
• Member, Board of MEXCLA (Los Angeles County Mexican Consulate's Red de Talentos) (2010)
• Appointed Member, Administration of Justice Committee, Orange County Bar Association (2007, 2008)
• Member, Orange County Superior Court ADR Committee (2007)
• Member, City of Santa Ana Charter Amendment Task Force (2006)
• Member, Board of Santa Ana Education Foundation (2006 - Present)
• Member, Orange County Bar Association (2002-Present)
• Member, Jessup International Law Moot Court, USC Gould School of Law (2001-2002)
• President, La Raza Law Students Association, USC Gould School of Law (2000-2001)

Articles

• 20 Women to Watch, OC Metro Business, March 13, 2008

Hispanic/Latino Newsletter

• Enfoque Latino - Spring 2007
• Enfoque Latino - Summer 2005
• Enfoque Latino - Winter 2005

Speeches

• The Reach of U.S. Products Liability Law on Foreign Entities, México City, México (December 2008). Hosted by Mexican law firm, Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C.
• International Implications of E-Discovery, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (April 2007). Hosted by Mexican law firm, Barrera Siqueiros y Torres Landa.
• International Implications of E-Discovery, Mexico City, Mexico (March 2007). Hosted by Mexican law firm, Barrera Siqueiros y Torres Landa.
• Latino Educational Attainment, Santa Ana, CA (November 2004). Hosted by the Orange County Register and the Orange County Business Council.