BAHRAM SEYEDIN-NOOR (CEO and Founder)
Clients don’t hire me for easy cases. They come to me when the stakes are high, the problems are messy, and failure isn’t an option — whether it’s a boardroom clash, a bet-the-company class action, an SEC investigation threatening careers, or a high-stakes trade secrets fight. My approach is simple but relentless: master the facts early, develop a laser-focused strategy, and drive it forward with precision and intensity.
That commitment to outmaneuvering adversaries and delivering results has earned the trust of top executives and companies, along with consistent recognition from the legal industry. Chambers & Partners ranks me among California’s leading securities litigators. Benchmark Litigation twice named me San Francisco Litigator of the Year and regularly nominates me for California Securities Litigator of the Year. The National Law Journal honored me as an Elite Boutique Trailblazer, and the Daily Journal ranks our firm among California’s top litigation boutiques.
EDUCATION
Harvard Law School
(J.D., 1999)
Editor, International Law Journal
Teaching Fellow, Harvard University Department of Economics
Pomona College
(B.A., 1996)
Economics
Spanish and Russian Literature
PRACTICE AREAS
Business Litigation & Counseling
Securities Litigation
SEC Investigations
Trade Secrets Litigation
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Recent results that show exactly why clients trust me with their toughest cases:
2025 (so far…):
Secured settlement for an investor in a dispute against a tech venture, following an aggressive multi-jurisdictional litigation strategy.
Won a sweeping arbitration award for a technology client.
2023-24:
Defeated founder and fiduciary claims after years of litigation against a tech CEO and directors, orchestrating dismissals, eliminating a jury trial, prevailing on summary adjudication, and forcing a total walk-away settlement.
Won a complete trial victory for an angel investor and board director in Delaware, compelling sweeping inspection rights—including privileged board materials—after a paper trial that demolished attacks on his motives.
Achieved a near-instant walk-away settlement for entrepreneur falsely accused of receiving fraudulent transfers, dismantling all claims on demurrer, and demonstrating to opposing counsel why they had no good faith basis to continue with the lawsuit without incurring the risk of a malicious prosecution lawsuit.
Neutralized shareholder derivative claims against biotech directors, shifting the case to the complex division of the superior court, gutting claims via serial demurrers, and securing a settlement with no payment exposure—while even entitling clients to future recoveries.
Preemptively dismantled cross-border fraud and contract allegations against a European software firm and its CEO, using complex case procedures, strategic dismissal and jurisdictional motions, and forcing settlement on exceptionally favorable terms.
Directed a billion-dollar advisory firm’s internal investigation into a rogue executive, locking down evidence via device access, cataloging misconduct, and driving a forceful pre-litigation demand to protect the firm and its trade secrets.
Resolved a contentious corporate divorce on optimal terms before costly discovery, exposing the minority member’s breaches and driving a favorable settlement through pointed mediation strategy.
2021-22:
Defeated high-stakes fiduciary duty claims against four former outside directors of a medical technology company, securing dismissal with prejudice in bankruptcy court and compelling plaintiffs to abandon their Ninth Circuit appeal.
Delivered a sweeping multi-forum victory for an investment fund by obtaining an asset freeze order over millions of dollars, defeating arbitration demands, winning partial summary judgment, and forcing a high-value settlement in litigation over misappropriated funds.
Flipped the momentum in a complex genomic technology case against a venture investor, securing sanctions, defeating a protective order, and positioning trade secret claims for success after taking over the case amid stalled discovery.
Secured a premium resolution for the former president of a global social media company in a high-stakes equity conversion dispute, leveraging books and records demands and litigation threats to achieve a payout exceeding the client’s original expectations.
Won complete dismissal with prejudice for four outside directors in a high-stakes bankruptcy litigation—successfully invoked exculpatory clauses to end the case at the pleading stage.
Achieved a favorable settlement for investment funds in a fast-tracked “baseball arbitration” against a public biotech company—navigated complex fraud claims under tight deadlines and secured a strong outcome.
Recovered a favorable buyout for a client in a founder dispute—used targeted discovery and third-party subpoenas to force early settlement on terms advantageous to the company and its remaining stakeholders.
In 2020:
Recovered nearly $1 million from an overseas business partner who had misappropriated funds—by creatively freezing U.S. assets, flipping a co-conspirator, and leveraging powerful evidence.
Won a total victory for Stanford University and its investment fund in a fraud case—secured a judgment on all claims, defeated retaliatory suits, and obtained sanctions and dismissals across multiple courts.
In 2018-19:
Convinced the SEC to drop all charges against a former public company CFO after an in-person meeting with senior enforcement officials—an exceptionally rare outcome in securities enforcement.
Won dismissal for a former CFO in a federal shareholder class action—successfully argued the claims were legally unsupported, ending the case early without liability.
Resolved a high-stakes founder dispute for a global board game company—moved swiftly to file counterclaims and gather evidence, leading to a favorable confidential settlement.
Defeated a multimillion-dollar equity claim against a high-profile startup—secured a fast settlement for pennies on the dollar after exposing major flaws in the claimant’s case.
In 2017:
Secured a complete defense victory in a multimillion-dollar shareholder dispute on behalf of a software company and its CEO, obtaining dismissal of all claims in arbitration and an award of hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees and costs.
Achieved full dismissal of all claims against the former CFO of a Fortune 500 company in a federal securities class action seeking nearly $100 million.
Recovered a high six-figure settlement in a trade secret misappropriation case on behalf of two former executives—turning a defensive posture into an offensive one through counterclaims and strategic leverage, despite prior adverse rulings.
PUBLICATIONS & LECTURES
Bahram Seyedin-Noor, Corporations: Ownership, Management & Control Disputes, in “Litigating and Judging California Business Entity Governance Disputes 2-1 (Neil J. Wertlieb ed., 2023)
“Litigation Global Practice Guide,” 2024 Edition, and “International Fraud & Asset Tracing 2024 Global Practice Guide,” Chambers and Partners.
Quoted extensively in article titled “Ninth Circuit’s High Scienter Standards May Influence Financial Reporting Practices,” appearing in Corporate Accountability Report, Vol. 7, No. 136, January 30, 2009.
“The Impact of the Grosset and Schoon Decisions on Derivative Lawsuits,” The Issue of Standing in Shareholder Derivative Lawsuits, Aspatore 2008.
“Supreme Court Rejects ‘Scheme’ Liability: Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC v. Scientific Atlanta Inc.,” An Immediate Look at the Legal, Governmental, and Economic Ramifications of Stoneridge Investment Partners v. Scientific Atlanta, Aspatore 2008.
“Insider Trading: Law, Trust and Prevention,” Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, February 3, 2010.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & ACTIVITIES
Adjunct Professor of Law, U.C. Hastings School of Law,
Teaching Civil Procedure II
Law Clerk to Hon. James Ware,
United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 2001-2002
Member, State Bar of California
Admissions: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and California’s federal district courts.
I support the following charities: Asylum Access, Community Lawyers, Inc., and Rising Farm Worker Dream Fund.
When I have time, I love to teach and learn from students. I’ve taught Advanced Civil Procedure at Hastings Law School, and trial skills at Stanford Law School’s trial advocacy skills workshop.
