Adrian Sawyer focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including unfair competition and trade secret matters, shareholder disputes, fiduciary and trust litigation, and securities matters.

Mr. Sawyer has represented companies, individuals, and governments before trial and appellate courts, as well as before the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Sawyer regularly advises a number of small and mid-sized companies in connection with business issues.

A native San Franciscan, Adrian is devoted to our city and serves in a number of community organizations supporting education and the arts.

Representative Matters

• Defense of former officers and employees in actions alleging employee raiding and theft of trade secrets in connection with departure from employment.
• Representation of private venture investor in claims arising out of complex financial fraud.
• Representation of beneficiaries in trust litigation arising out of decades of transactions by institutional trustee.
• Defense of U.S. subsidiaries of international financial services company in consolidated nationwide wage and hour litigation.
• Defense of investment advisers and corporate officers in SEC investigations including allegations of accounting fraud, insider trading, misappropriation of client funds, and sale of unregistered securities.
• Defense of political activist against criminal charges arising out of the exercise of First Amendment rights.

Professional Associations

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

Community Contributions

Director, Edgewood Center for Children and Families
Member, Alumni Advisory Council of Cathedral School for Boys

Publications

“Friese v. Superior Court and Grosset v. Wenaas: The Future of the Internal Affairs Doctrine in California,” Securities Litigation Report (February 2006) (with Jordan Eth)

“Recent Litigation Victories Against The SEC,” 33rd Annual Securities Regulation Institute (January 2006) (with David B. Bayless)

“Defending Your Client in The New World of SEC Enforcement,” 33rd Annual Securities Regulation Institute (January 2006) (with David B. Bayless)

“SEC Investigations: What to Do When Investigators Call,” East Bay Business Times, Legal Issues Guide (March 25, 2005) (with David B. Bayless)

Education

A.B., Princeton University, 1996

J.D., magna cum laude, UC Hastings College of the Law, 1999
Order of the Coif
Thurston Honor Society
Senior Articles Editor, Hastings Law Journal

Clerkship

Hon. William H. Orrick, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California