Dawn Sestito

Dawn Sestito, honored by the Daily Journal as a “Top 20 Under 40” attorney in California, has experience in trials and administrative hearings, arbitrations, mediations, and all phases of business litigation across a wide swatch of industries. Her practice focuses on a broad range of commercial litigation, including matters involving unfair business practices, energy and the environment, natural resources, employment issues and Title IX, intellectual property, contract disputes, and damages issues.

In addition to her commercial litigation practice, Dawn also devotes a significant amount of time each year to pro bono matters, including substantial work on the Ninth Circuit’s landmark decision overruling the State of Nevada’s ban on same-sex marriage. Dawn also co-authored an amicus curiae brief in United States v. Windsor, in which the Supreme Court struck down portions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional. In addition, she is the firmwide chair of the Associate and Counsel Review Committee.

Experience:

• Representing major international oil and gas company in connection with various government investigations resulting from accidental release at refinery
• Representing major international oil and gas company in a contract dispute with a private party, including bench trial and two appeals to state supreme court
• Representing major international oil and gas company in class action lawsuit alleging antitrust violations and related government investigation
• Representing various educational institutions regarding Title IX and Clery Act sexual assault issues, including investigations and audits by the U.S. Department of Education as well as litigation brought by current and/or former students and employees
• Represented major international oil and gas company in an oil and gas contract dispute, including defending client in two administrative hearings and appeals and in a separate lawsuit for damages
• Represented consumer electronics companies in Section 337 investigations pending before the U.S. International Trade Commission
• Represented major international oil and gas company in ongoing litigation with the federal and state governments related to natural resource damages resulting from an oil spill
• Represented consumer electronics companies in patent disputes pending in E.D. Texas and other district courts, including one jury trial
• Represented financial services firm during multi-week arbitration involving business disputes with former employees including claims of unfair competition and breach of contract
• Represented national package delivery company in class action lawsuit alleging unfair business practices and misclassification of employees
• Defended biotechnology company in two class actions involving allegations of unfair business practices, violations of the California Labor Code, and employee misclassification

Admissions:

• California

Education:

• University of California at Berkeley, J.D.: Order of the Coif
• University of California at Berkeley, B.A.: Phi Beta Kappa; with high distinction

Member:

• Values Award Committee