Sarah A. K. Blitz

Sarah Blitz is an associate in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office. She is the Leader of the firm’s Cannabis Industry Team and a member of the firm’s Food and Beverage industry and Product Liability teams. 

Areas of Practice

Sarah specializes in commercial and business litigation. Her practice entails matters in state and federal court, including business torts, products liability, professional liability, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties and allegations of unfair business practice and fraud.

Sarah also advises cannabis companies and ancillary businesses on regulatory compliance. She also counsels consumer products manufacturers and distributors on products liability and regulatory compliance issues. Sarah also provides regulatory and product liability advice during acquisitions of consumer product and materials companies. 

Sarah is experienced in all aspects of California and federal civil procedure, including motion practice, arguing motions in court, taking and defending depositions, trial and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She also has significant appellate and writ experience before the California Court of Appeal.

Activities

Outside the firm, Sarah is involved with the Alliance of Moms. She formerly served on the Advisory Council for City Scholars Foundation. Sarah is also active with the Anti-Defamation League and a participant in the Glass Leadership Institute. She was selected to participate on Law360’s 2020 Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board.

Experience

Select Representative Matters: 

• Secured the return of the Ontario International Airport from the City of Los Angeles back to the City of Ontario.
• Obtained complete dismissal at the pleadings stage of lawsuit against Ernst & Young’s Korean member firm involving allegations of negligence and misrepresentation.
• Obtained complete defense victory in professional liability lawsuit following an eight-day arbitration.
• Advised various consumer products businesses in the CBD and cannabis space regarding California regulatory framework and FDA regulations.
• Substantial experience representing foreign clients challenging personal jurisdiction in actions based on both contract and the so-called “stream of commerce” theory, and has obtained dismissals on behalf of multiple clients based on the lack of “minimum contacts” under California’s and federal due process standards for jurisdiction.
• Obtained favorable settlement for charitable foundation in a breach of contract dispute with a university over the disposition of a collection of sports memorabilia and a failure to account for donations to university programs.
• Represented pharmaceutical company in product liability lawsuit. Obtained complete early dismissal of claims following aggressive and targeted discovery.
• Obtained summary judgment for London based insurance companies on a $25 million claim involving arson, theft, murder, corruption and bribery.
• Represented golf club manufacturer in breach of contract dispute. Resolved by favorable settlement.
• Represented insurer in bad faith and breach of contract dispute with insured. Obtained complete dismissal at the pleadings stage.
• Represented clothing manufacturer in breach of contract dispute with fashion house. Resolved by favorable settlement.

Published Appellate Decisions:

• Quanta Computer Inc. v. Japan Communications Inc. (2018) 21 Cal. App. 5th 438 (upholding trial court’s discretion to refuse to enforce forum selection clause on foreign defendant.)

Articles

• "Obscenity on the Internet: Nationalizing the Standard to Protect Individual Rights," 38 Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly 233, 2010

Cannabis Law Blog Posts

• "BREAKING NEWS: USDA Releases Interim Final Hemp Rule," October 29, 2019
• "California Revises Its Hemp Cultivation Laws," October 15, 2019
• "CBD Unfair Competition and False Advertising Lawsuits Are On The Rise," October 11, 2019
• "U.S. House of Representatives Passes SAFE Banking Act," September 26, 2019

Class Action Defense Strategy Law Blog Posts

• "Unreasonable Reliance: Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of FAL, Fraud and UCL Claims at the Pleading Stage," September 17, 2012
• "The Ninth Circuit Again Follows Concepcion And Enforces Consumer Arbitrations," March 28, 2012

FDA Law Blog Posts

• "New Set Of Guidance From FDA Provides Clarity On Digital Health Policies, Machine Learning," September 30, 2019 

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• Panelist “Recent Developments in Business & Corporate Litigation,” ABA Business Law Section 2020 Spring Meeting, March 26, 2020
• Panelist, “Green Light to Grow: Navigating Hemp's Inaugural Growing Season,” Native American Finance Officer Association’s 38^th Annual Conference, April 7, 2020
• "New Set of Guidance Provides Clarity on Digital Health Policies, Clinical Decision Support," Celesq Webinar, December 12, 2019

Events

Memberships

• Member, National Cannabis Industry Association
• Member, National Association of Cannabis
• Member, California State Bar, Litigation Section
• Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
• Member, City Scholars Foundation Advisory Council
• Member, International Cannabis Bar Association
• Member, Anti-Defamation League, Glass Leadership Institute

Digital Media