Chad Elder is a counsel in the Los Angeles office of Irell & Manella LLP.

Mr. Elder's practice has encompassed a wide variety of complex commercial disputes in both the trial and appellate courts, with a focus primarily on securities litigation.

Representative Matters

• Defending two former officers and directors of a publicly-held telecommunications company in connection with a number of high-profile shareholder class actions alleging violations of the securities laws.
• Defending the outside directors of a publicly-held transportation company in connection with a SEC investigation and shareholder securities class actions and derivative actions.
• Successfully defending an aviation company in a federal injunctive action alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and infringement of intellectual property.
• Defending a privately-held California technology company against a lawsuit by preferred shareholders seeking to dissolve the company and remove several key executives. This matter settled after Irell obtained dismissal of the key claims in the trial court.
• Representing a major music company in a dispute stemming from a complex joint venture agreement to produce and distribute records by various artists. The dispute settled shortly after Irell obtained summary adjudication in our client's favor on a key issue of contractual interpretation and several of the plaintiff's other claims.
• Defending one of the nation's most prestigious law firms in a malpractice lawsuit involving allegedly incorrect securities regulatory advice. Irell obtained summary judgment of all malpractice claims asserted against our client.
• Defending a major record company in connection with a federal Lanham Act claim brought by a songwriter who claimed he was not properly credited on a successful album. Irell obtained summary judgment on behalf of our client.
• Defending one of the nation's largest investment banks in two separate engagements: one involving the default by the Russian government on its international debt obligations; and one involving allegations of securities fraud in connection with research analyst reports. In both cases, Irell obtained an outcome favorable to our client.

Professional Activities

• Association of Business Trial Lawyers

Bar & Court Admissions

• 1996, California