Craig A. Pinedo

Craig Pinedo is an associate in the Financial Institutions and Business Trials Practice Groups in the firm's San Francisco office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Pinedo's primary practice area is complex commercial litigation, including financial services, insurance, securities, energy, intellectual property, and unfair competition litigation. 

Mr. Pinedo also advises and represents clients in litigation brought under various natural resource and environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Protection Act.

Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin in 2001, Mr. Pinedo was an associate with the firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco.  He has served as a judge for the Boalt Hall (University of California) 1L moot court competition and as an advisor to various Boalt Hall moot court teams.

Education

• J.D., University of Michigan, 1997
• B.S., University of California, Los Angeles, 1993

Admissions

• California, 1997

Notable Engagements

Recently obtained a dismissal of a consumer class action alleging unfair competition and false advertising claims against one of the nation's largest homebuilders.

Recently obtained a dismissal of an antitrust and unfair competition action filed by a competitor of the nation's largest home furnishings retailer.

Recently obtained summary judgment of a trademark infringement action brought by licensee of the Sean John marks against one of the nation's largest off-price retailers.

Obtained summary adjudication of a $10 million insurance coverage claim against a major insurance carrier.

Obtained the dismissal of a multi-million dollar breach of contract suit filed by one of the world's largest information technology companies against one of its electronic component suppliers.

Obtained the dismissal of an unfair competition and false advertising class action filed against a prominent trade association comprised of more than 185,000 members statewide.

Represented independent power producers in litigation over long-term power purchase agreements with PG&E and Southern California Edison.

Defended officers and directors of prestigious software company in SEC investigation of investment bank's practice of allocating shares in IPOs.

Represented large life insurance company in action alleging fraud in the marketing and sale of "universal life" insurance policies.

Defended large financial institutions in nationwide consumer class action challenging the alleged sale of private financial information to third parties.

Defended large property and casualty insurance company in CERCLA action for reimbursement of remedial clean-up costs.

Memberships

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Bar Association of San Francisco (Litigation Section)
• Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) Leadership Development Committee, 2006

Articles

• Pinedo, C. "Status of Unfair Competition Class Actions is Unclear," August 11, 2003 edition of The Daily Journal. 
• Pinedo, C. "Court Dredges Safe Harbor for Trade Secrets Plaintiffs," October 27, 2005 edition of The Daily Journal.

Speeches

• Guest Lecturer, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2003 and 2004