Overview
Jacob Kreilkamp is a litigator who advises on complex commercial litigation, with a focus on financial services, regulatory investigations and law firm representations.
He handles high-stakes matters at all stages in state and federal courts and counsels clients to and through trial. He also represents them in sensitive internal investigations and regulatory investigations.
Jake represents banks and other financial institutions in connection with major claims and investigations arising out of the purchase, sale and trading of complex financial products, contractual disputes, securities law issues, mergers and acquisitions, and related matters.
He also advises clients in a variety of industries on a broad range of commercial claims.
Before becoming a lawyer, Jake served as coordinator and acting director of PEN American Center’s Freedom-to-Write Program, which advocates on behalf of imprisoned and harassed writers and journalists worldwide.
Capabilities
Practices
Experience
Complex Civil Litigation
A social media platform in litigation involving its advertisement targeting practices.
FIGS, a medical apparel company, and its co-founders in Lanham Act false advertising and state law intentional interference litigation and unfair competition claims brought by the main industry incumbent, resulting in a full and complete defense verdict following a three-week federal jury trial in the Central District of California, which achieved American Lawyer Litigator of the Week Runner-Up recognition and designation by the Daily Journal as a Top Defense Verdict of 2022.
A global business services and solutions company in litigation arising out of the sale of part of its business to a privately held investment firm.
An educational software company in a Federal Trade Commission investigation regarding its subscription renewal practices.
Verizon in a variety of matters related to telecommunications law, including a lawsuit relating to “traffic pumping,” a form of telecommunications arbitrage that costs the industry and its customers billions of dollars.
Financial Services Litigation
Bank of America and other banks in numerous mortgage-backed securities cases in federal and state courts across the country, including defense of novel claims against RMBS trustees and servicers.
DoubleLine Capital LP and certain of its founders, including its CEO Jeffrey Gundlach, in winning a $66.7 million jury verdict in favor of Gundlach against his former employer, Trust Co. of the West (TCW), on his cross-complaint. TCW originally brought suit against Mr. Gundlach and his company, DoubleLine Capital, claiming breach of fiduciary duty, trade secret theft and tortious interference in connection with a large scale departure of employees to DoubleLine Capital after Mr. Gundlach was fired. The jury awarded no damages on TCW’s complaint against DoubleLine Capital and the individual defendants.
An estate venture partner in the defense of a dispute over the ownership and value of specific intellectual property rights. The matter was tried over a two-week period.
Regulatory Investigations and Litigation
An investment advisory firm in an internal investigation of trading and allocation practices in parallel with SEC and DOJ investigations of alleged cherry-picking by the firm’s CIO.
An educational software company in an FTC investigation of auto-renewal policies related to its web-based products. Jake met with all of the commissioners of the FTC and met multiple times with staff in the Bureau of Consumer Protection and the Bureau of Economics, and with regional staff.
A social media platform in an FTC investigation of its advertisement targeting practices.
Gaming, aerospace, financial services and other companies in a variety of internal investigations, often including interactions with federal and state regulators.
Professional Liability Litigation
A law firm defending against allegations of malpractice relating to its representation of a bio-sciences company.
Law firms challenging or preparing for potential executive orders from the Trump administration.
More
- Top Defense Verdict of 2022, Daily Journal – a complete defense verdict for FIGS, a medical apparel company, and its co-founders following a three-week federal jury trial (see above)
- First-ever individual recipient of the Advocate for Justice Award, ACLU of Southern California, 2022
- Recognized for his pro bono work with the ACLU with the Access to Justice Award, the Immigrants’ Rights Award, and the Freedom of Information Award, 2021
- Director of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California; Chair, Real Estate Committee; Member, Executive Director Search Committee, Audit Committee, Strategic Planning Committee
- Director of the Inner City Law Center
- Member, Homeboy Industries’ Legal Support Council
Jake is co-chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and has an active pro bono practice focusing on civil rights litigation.
He represented alleged gang members, against the Orange County District Attorney’s office (OCDA) and Orange Police Department (OPD) who sought a civil injunction against these members, claiming they were agents of a criminal street gang. In this landmark case, the judge found that the OCDA and OPD violated the individuals’ right to procedural due process, and the ruling was upheld in all respects on appeal by the Ninth Circuit.
Publications
- Co-Author, “4 Paths To Defending Calif. Unfair Competition Claims,” Law360, June 14, 2023
Speaking Engagements
- Virtual Panelist, “Pro Bono Strategies”
News & Insights
Press