Andrew Servais
Partner
Andy Servais’ practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, complex litigation, and professional liability. As a litigator and trial attorney, Mr. Servais counsels local businesses, attorneys, and law firms in pre-litigation matters, multi-week jury trials, and bench trials. In addition, Mr. Servais has represented attorneys in claims of malpractice and malicious prosecution arising from numerous underlying practice areas, including alleged conflicts of interest in seven and eight-figure transactions involving business-to-business transactions, shareholder/LLC membership issues, real estate and trust/estate, tax planning, and complex marital dissolutions.
Mr. Servais also provides counsel to attorneys and law firms on a wide-range of matters, including State Bar of California actions, state and federal enforcement investigations, general risk management and ethics issues and law firm partnership disputes, dissolutions and employment issues.
On behalf of his clients, Mr. Servais has obtained dozens of pre-trial dismissals of claims through summary judgment, non-suit, and California’s Anti-SLAPP statute, with attorney fee awards resulting in well over six figures. Featured in the Daily Journal’s Top Verdicts of 2015, Mr. Servais was recognized for obtaining a $33.7 million verdict. Mr. Servais’s extensive litigation experience allows him to effectively and efficiently analyze legal issues confronting his clients. He provides clients with the information they need to assess the costs and benefits of proceeding at each stage of litigation.
Mr. Servais earned his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Servais received several American Jurisprudence Awards, including those in Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, and Aging Law and Public Policy. He also served as an Extern for the U.S District Judge of Nevada, the U.S. Magistrate Judge, and the Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office, White Collar Division. Before law school, he gained legislative experience as a congressional aide in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Servais is an active member of his community, and has served as Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s (SDCBA) Legal Ethics Committee. He continues to serve as a member of this respected committee, regularly publishing articles and helping the SDCBA’s 10,000+ members navigate the ever-changing world of legal ethics.
(619) 387-3149
Admissions
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California
Practice Groups
- Business and Commercial Litigation
- Lawyers and Accountants
- Professional Liability
Education
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California Western School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2005)
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University of San Diego (B.A., 2000)
Professional and Community Affiliations
San Diego County Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee: Chair (2016), Vice- Chair (2015), Committee Member (2011–2021, 2024–Present)
Recognition and Awards
Publications
“Recent Decision Confirms Importance of Ensuring Preservation of Evidence,”SDCBA Blawg 401 (January 30, 2024)
“Release Of The ‘Pandora Papers’ Is A Good Reminder Of Attorney Duties WhereThere Is A High Probability A Client Is Seeking Advice To Commit A Crime,”SDCBA Blawg 401 (October 13, 2021)
“Recent Decision Rejecting Attorney-Client Privilege Protection Shows Consequences of Attorneys’ Lack of Candor to Court and Public,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (May 12, 2021)
“ABA Issues Formal Opinion 493 To Explain The Purpose, Scope, And Application Of Model Rule 8.4(G) Prohibiting Harassment And Discrimination,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (August 19, 2020)
“Duties Owed to Non-Client Insurance Carriers,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (co-author) (February 26, 2020)
“Consequences For Attorneys Failing To Abide By Their Duties To Tribunals And Opposing Counsel,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (September 23, 2019)
“Potential And Actual Conflicts: Be Aware Of The New Rules,” SDCBA Blawg 401(July 11, 2018)
“Associates Do Not Get a Free Pass from Abiding by the Rules of Professional Conduct by Following a Partner’s Direction,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (February 7, 2018)
“High Profile Motion to Disqualify in Georgia v. Trump Prosecution Serves As Important Reminder Regarding Attorney Obligations Related to Extrajudicial Statements,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (February 15, 2024)
“ABA Formal Opinion 499 Provides Critical Guidance for Attorneys Considering Investment in Jurisdictions Allowing Nonlawyer Ownership of Law Firms,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (September 15, 2021)
ABA Issues Opinion on Conflicts Providing Guidance as to “Materially Adverse Interests” Regarding Duties to Former Clients,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (March 3, 2021)
“ABA Issues Formal Opinion on Attorney Duties Where There is a “High Probability” a Client is Seeking Advice to Commit a Crime,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (June 17, 2020)
“Ethical Implications of Client Testimonials,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (co-author with Meredith Montrose) (January 27, 2020)
“Although California’s New Rules of Professional Conduct Align More Closely to ABA Model Rules, Do Not Forget About the Duty of Confidentiality Codified inBusiness & Professions Code section 6068(e)(1),” SDCBA Blawg 401 (February 13,2019)
“The Onslaught of News Regarding Accusations of Sexual Harassment Also Highlight Core Attorney Ethical Duties to Their Clients,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (January 24, 2018)
“Efferin Deans and the Boundaries and Evolution of the Practice of Law,” SDCBABlawg 401 (Co-Author) (November 30, 2021)
“Courts Continue to Strictly Apply Partnership and Employee Duties to Not ActAdversely Toward a Current Law Firm Even if the Attorney Intends to Leave theFirm,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (July 14, 2021)
“No Adverse Inferences May be Drawn from a Refusal to Disclose Attorney-Client Privileged Communication,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (co-author with Chandler Ciernia) (November 18, 2020)
“When Shelter-In-Place Becomes Practice-In-Place – Avoiding Confidentiality Pitfalls While Practicing Law From Home,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (co-author with Meredith Montrose) (May 4, 2020)
“Representing a Client Adverse to a Lawyer’s Own Former Employer,” SDCBA Blawg 401 (co-author with Mark Imada) (November 22, 2019)
“Amendments to California Evidence Code Will Require Attorneys Ensure TheirClients Understand that What Happens in Mediation, Stays in Mediation,” SDCBABlawg 401 (October 3, 2018)
Speaking Engagements
“The Boundaries and Evolution of the Practice of Law,” California Western Schoolof Law MCLE Series (January 27, 2022)
Connect with Andy Servais
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