SharePrinter-friendly versionSend by emailA TitleA TitleA Title A A A Christian J. Scali TabsetOverviewBar & Court Admission Bar & Court Admissions California Bar US District Court, Central District of CaliforniaUS District Court, Eastern District of California Education Ohio State University College of Law, JD, 1997 Miami University, BA, 1994 Christian J. ScaliPartnerLos Angeles, CA T 213.443.7621 E christian.scali@arentfox.com Download vCard Christian Scali is a litigation partner in the firm’s litigation, automotive industry, and labor and employment groups. His practice focuses on business, employment, and consumer litigation at both the trial and appellate level, with a significant emphasis in retail consumer and advertising class actions, franchise law, complex business disputes, disputes resulting from employee mobility, corporate raiding and intellectual property misappropriation, advertising and retail litigation, employment discrimination, and commercial law. He counsels large retail companies on regulatory issues, new car dealers on automotive retail sales and financing, as well as provides legal services to technology, entertainment, and large retail companies. Representative Matters Mr. Scali has successfully represented businesses involved in the automotive parts industry and has extensive experience litigating claims under the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act (CUTSA) and developing trade secret protection and data security strategies. Mr. Scali has obtained numerous victories on behalf of his clients: Represented a parts manufacturer in an antitrust and fraud case, in which he obtained summary judgment, defeating the franchisee’s claims for $5 million in damages. First-chaired a three-week arbitration representing a bank against Article 9 Commercial Code claims resulting from liquidation of collateral of a truck parts business after it defaulted on its SBA loan; obtained defense award on all but two claims. Engineered the successful dismissal of over 1,400 dealerships as a member of the defense steering committee in coordinated class actions alleging statutory disclosure violations under the Vehicle Leasing Act and Unfair Competition Law. Obtained pre-certification dismissal of consumer class action claims by developing strategies that are used today by attorneys across the state in defending various truth-in-lending and statutory claims against automotive dealerships. Obtained a decision in the dealer’s favor before the New Motor Vehicle Board after a three-week hearing involving a protest by an automobile dealership of the manufacturer’s attempted addition of a new point within the dealer’s sales area. Co-chaired a three-week bench trial representing an automobile dealership, resulting in a defense judgment that barred the manufacturer’s attempted denial of the automotive franchisee’s application for a new franchise, and obtained nearly $300,000 in attorney’s fees for the dealer. Obtained numerous summary judgments on behalf of dealers in consumer fraud cases. He has also litigated numerous employment discrimination and harassment lawsuits on behalf of automotive dealers. Obtained successful injunction under the CUTSA against a former employee after the employee allegedly stole his former employer’s trade secrets and obtained a $3 million contract with the former employer’s customer by use of those trade secrets. Successfully opposed an injunction under the CUTSA after a three-week arbitration; obtained a complete defense of claims under the CUTSA and related torts and a six-figure attorney’s fee award. Obtained numerous successful settlements in employment discrimination claims by employing tactical strategies designed to minimize settlement value. After executive employee obtained arbitration award against employer, blocked confirmation of award against employer-related entities by utilizing successful procedural tactics. Professional Activities Mr. Scali is a member of the National Association of Dealer Counsel, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Publications, Presentations and Recognitions “High Court Rules FAA Trumps State Law on Covenants Not to Compete,” Arent Fox News Alert, December 3, 2012 “Arbitration Woes: Is the Arbitration Provision in the ‘Law 553’ Sales Contract Invalid?” Westlaw Journal–Automotive, January 2012 “Dissecting the Sanchez Decision: No More Arbitrations,” Auto Advisory Services, October/November 2011 “Did the Supremes go too far? The backlash against Concepcion,” Los Angeles Daily Journal; August 31, 2011 Christian’s speaking engagements include: "Ripped From the Headlines: Stealing Company Secrets; Real Stories of Betrayal and Intrigue and How They Could Have Been Prevented,” 2012 California Employment Law Review, Los Angeles, CA, December 6, 2012 “Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility Claims: Strategies for Protection & Litigation,” 2012 Bridgeport Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Los Angeles, CA; February 23 “Arbitration and Class Waivers,” 2011 National Association of Dealer Counsel Conference, Chicago, IL; October 10 Life Beyond the Law Mr. Scali serves on the administrative services committee of the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center and enjoys fitness training and swimming. Newsroom Date Type Title 1 / 25 / 2013 Event 2013 California Employment Law Webinar Series - Part 3 1 / 24 / 2013 Event 2013 California Employment Law Webinar Series - Part 2 1 / 17 / 2013 Event 2013 California Employment Law Webinar Series - Part 1 1 / 9 / 2013 Alert Behind the Scenes | Volume 2, Issue 1 1 / 2 / 2013 Alert Congress Expands Scope of Criminalization of Trade Secret Theft in Economic Espionage Act. Is a Federal Civil Right of Action Next? 12 / 14 / 2012 Alert Who Owns Twitter Followers and What Are They Worth? 12 / 3 / 2012 Alert High Court Rules FAA Trumps State Law on Covenants Not to Compete 10 / 23 / 2012 Event Harry Johnson, Carla Feldman and Christian Scali to Speak at the 2012 California Employment Law Review 6 / 8 / 2012 Event Arent Fox Partners Carla Feldman and Christian Scali to Speak at Labor and Employment Seminar: Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility Claims 4 / 29 / 2012 Event Arent Fox Partners Aaron Jacoby and Christian Scali and Senior Counsel Rob Cohen to Speak at Dealer Counsel Conference 4 / 10 / 2012 Media Mention Arent Fox's Christian Scali Published in Law360 – “Will Sanchez V. Valencia Holding Co. Be Reversed? 3 / 22 / 2012 Alert California Supreme Court Grants Review in Consumer Arbitration Decision, Sanchez v. Valencia Holding Company 3 / 13 / 2012 Alert New After Hours Video Podcast on Departing Employees and Trade Secret Protection 3 / 2 / 2012 Alert Will New Jersey Continue to Recognize “Inevitable Disclosure” Under Its New Trade Secret Act? 2 / 23 / 2012 Event Arent Fox Partners Carla Feldman and Christian Scali to Speak at Labor and Employment Seminar: Trade Secrets and Employee Mobility Claims 12 / 28 / 2011 Alert Saab Bankruptcy – What Does it Mean for US Dealers? 10 / 28 / 2011 Alert Court Finds Arbitration Provision in LAW553-CA-ARB Form Contract Invalid 10 / 27 / 2011 Event Scarier than Halloween: True Stories from the Workplace (and ways to avoid “Halloween Part II”) 10 / 10 / 2011 Event Arent Fox Partner Christian Scali to Speak at 2011 National Association of Dealer Counsel Fall Conference 9 / 20 / 2011 Alert ASFA Reform, Relief From Tire Fee Class Actions 7 / 25 / 2011 Press Release Arent Fox Adds Litigator Christian J. Scali as Partner in Los Angeles Office