Neil Popović

Neil A.F. Popović is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm’s San Francisco office and is Team Leader of the International Arbitration team. Mr. Popović’s litigation experience includes a wide range of commercial disputes, including consumer class actions, white collar criminal matters (including internal investigations) and international dispute resolution (including international arbitration and litigation) and counseling.

Mr. Popović has developed expertise in legal issues related to environmental marketing, as well as federal preemption. Mr. Popović also practices international environmental law, including representing clients in international negotiations. He teaches courses in International Litigation and Arbitration and International Environmental Law at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall).

His commercial practice includes extensive experience litigating matters under California’s Unfair Competition Law, Business and Professionals Code section 17200. Mr. Popović also serves as a Project Complaint Mechanism Expert for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, he was a shareholder at Heller Ehrman in San Francisco; before that, he was an attorney with the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (now called Earthjustice) International Program in San Francisco; and prior to that, he practiced with a San Francisco civil and criminal litigation boutique.

Education:

• J.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1987, Note and Comment Editor, California Law Review
• M.A., Tufts University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1992, Ford Foundation Fellow in Public International Law
• Academy of European Law, Summer Session 1995
• A.B., University of California, Berkeley, 1983

Admissions:

• California
• United States Supreme Court

Experience:

• Represented Seagate in class actions challenging disclosures about computer hard drive storage capacity, including arguing leading case regarding class action settlements, Cho v. Seagate Technology Holdings, Inc., 177 Cal. App. 4th 734 (2009).
• Represented international medical products company in threatened international arbitration regarding distribution rights.  Successfully prevented other party from initiating arbitration.
• Represent community hospital in putative class action challenging reasonableness of prices charged to uninsured patients for emergency care.
• Represented McDonald’s in highly publicized, multiple class action “french fries” litigation in California, Washington, Texas, New Jersey and Illinois, involving alleged non-disclosure that fries contain beef flavoring.
• Represented Russian freight forwarding company Concern Sojuzvneshtrans in litigation involving alleged breach of guaranty on lease of shipping containers.
• Successfully defended pharmaceutical manufacturer in administrative disciplinary proceedings to suspend license.

Memberships:

• Advisor to the Executive Committee, International Law Section, State Bar of California
• Board of Directors, EarthRights International (1999-2013)
• Board of Directors, Center for Youth Development Through Law
• Advisory Board, Center for Law, Energy and the Environment
• Board of Directors, Bar Association of San Francisco’s Justice & Diversity Center, successor to the Volunteer Legal Services Program
• International Law Association (American Branch)