Profile
Karin Bohmholdt is a shareholder in the litigation group of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Her areas of concentration include Financial Service and Fiduciary Litigation and Appellate Practice in both the state and federal courts. Following a clerkship with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Ms. Bohmholdt obtained experience in a wide variety of litigation and appellate matters, including real estate disputes, financial services and banking litigation, trust and estate matters, class actions, employment matters, securities law, ADA matters, public entity representation, and Federal False Claims actions. Ms. Bohmholdt's appellate experience also includes obtaining and defending orders compelling arbitration; agency appeals; wide-ranging motion practice in the state and federal appellate courts; and writ and permissive appeal practice in state and federal court.
Ms. Bohmholdt also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, teaching Appellate Advocacy and Legal Drafting.
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented owner, manager and developer of office real estate in an action related to the termination of a lease involving “The Cube,” an iconic building located in San Francisco. Represented client on appeal, which resulted in a unanimous appellate opinion affirming the trial court’s ruling that the Appellant’s lease interpretation was invalid and their lease termination was ineffective. HWA 555 Owners, LLC vs. RGN-San Francisco XXIV, LLC, et al. (Cal. Ct. App., First District 2023)
- Represented pharmaceutical manufacturer on appeal in which the California Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's order granting a motion to quash for lack of personal jurisdiction. In re: Amiodarone Cases, case numbers A157035, A158160 and A159522, in the Court of Appeal of the State of California (2020).
- Represented Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. in Corber v. Xanodyne/Romo v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., 771 F.3d 1218 (9th Cir. 2014) (en banc), in which the Ninth Circuit, sitting en banc, reversed an order of remand following removal under the mass action provisions of the Class Action Fairness Act. Case was one of first impression concerning the impact of a plaintiff’s request for coordination of actions under California’s coordination statutes.
- Defended TACA International Airlines, S.A. in Court of Appeal for the State of California, Second Appellate District against a wide array of wage and hour claims. This was a case of first impression involving standards for pleading statutory labor code claims (section 2810) and, in particular, the standard for pleading facts concerning what a defendant "knew or should have known" under Labor Code section 2810. Obtained complete affirmance in Hawkins v. TACA Airlines, et al., 223 Cal. App. 4th 466 (2014).
- Represented the prevailing defendant in Thomas v. Taco Bell Corp., No. 12-56458 (9th Cir. 2014), the appeal of a TCPA case alleging both direct and vicarious liability for the transmission of text messages.
- Represented Wendy’s International, Inc. in petition for permission to appeal from an order of remand to state court following removal under the Class Action Fairness Act. Ninth Circuit granted petition and reversed the order of remand.
- Moeller v. Taco Bell Corp., 531 Fed. Appx. 805 (9th Cir. 2013). Represented Respondent in appeal from a preliminary injunction order in Americans with Disabilities Act case. Obtained dismissal of appeal.
- Obtained reversal of default judgment award for a failure of evidentiary support relating to damages calculations on behalf of default judgment debtor. Case involved complicated issues of stock purchase transactions and valuation of shares in thinly-traded market.
- Represented Appellant in case of first impression concerning federal court’s removal jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. sections 1441 and 1446. Roth v. CHA Hollywood Medical Center, 720 F.3d 1121 (9th Cir. June 27, 2013), Case No. 13-55771.
- Represented national brokerage firm on appeal from order denying motion to compel arbitration in case in which the plaintiff claimed not to recall receiving the relevant arbitration provisions, securing reversal of the order.
- Represented commercial property owner in dispute over payments under a reciprocal easement agreement, securing reversal of judgment on key issues on appeal. Valencia Town Center Venture L.P. v. VTC Business Center, LLC, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Case No. B235948 (Jan. 28, 2013).
- Represented large brokerage firm in trial and appellate courts in dispute with investors, compelling arbitration, defeating multiple writ petitions and obtaining affirmance of sanctions award on appeal plus an additional sanctions award for a frivolous appeal. Lee v. Deutsche Bank, Court of Appeal of California, Second Appellate District, Case Number B228166 (Dec. 2, 2011).
- Represented judgment creditor in appeal from denial of motion to vacate judgment that judgment debtor claimed to be void. Defended judgment in Court of Appeal and on petition for review to the California Supreme Court. (Imagitas, Inc. v. Jonathan Shiff (Cal. Ct. App. D052877) (March 26, 2009).)
- Represented airline in federal agency appeal from final decision of the Department of Labor Administrative Review Board. Defended Board decision in action involving allegations of retaliatory termination for alleged whistle-blowing to the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Represented a large financial institution in trial and appellate courts on appeal from a judgment dismissing plaintiff’s claims for defamation per se and negligence related to plaintiff’s rental of a safe deposit box, securing affirmance of the judgment.
- Represented national brokerage firm on appeal from order denying motion to compel arbitration in case in which the plaintiff claimed not to recall receiving the relevant arbitration provisions, securing reversal of the order.
- Represented large brokerage firm in trial and appellate courts in dispute with investors, compelling arbitration, defeating multiple writ petitions and obtaining affirmance of sanctions award on appeal plus an additional sanctions award for a frivolous appeal. Lee v. Deutsche Bank, Court of Appeal of California, Second Appellate District, Case Number B228166 (Dec. 2, 2011).
- Represented major financial institution throughout entirety of multi-year action in which Plaintiff sought $88 million for alleged breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting various wrongful conduct by third parties. Jury found no liability after a 4-week trial.
- Represented prominent financial institution and individual defendants in seven-day jury trial over claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud, stemming from institution’s investment decisions pursuant to an investment management contract with the plaintiff. Successfully argued motion in obtaining non-suit of fraud claim at close of plaintiff’s case; thereafter, jury returned verdict fully vindicating clients on remaining claims. Retained on appeal and secured decision affirming judgment.
- Represented financial institution in arbitration involving claims to unwind settlement agreement and pursue employment-related claims, resulting in summary disposition of claim and confirmation in trial court.
- Represented prominent financial institution in probate matter involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty, securing complete dismissal with prejudice.
- Represent large financial institution in capacity as trustee in various matters, including securing complete dismissal of claims.
- Represented the trustees of family trust in litigation against certain trust beneficiaries (and their business partners) in wide ranging disputes involving a substantial real estate portfolio owned or controlled by the trust. After securing a ruling rejecting beneficiaries’ primary claim, negotiated a settlement of all outstanding claims.
- Represented fifty percent income beneficiary of nine-figure family trust with a "no contest" clause, who sought leave to challenge trust amendments that disadvantaged her. Retained after trial court ruled that proposed challenge would be a "contest" that would result in her disinheritance if she tried her claims and lost. Convinced Court of Appeal to consider arguments not raised below and secured unpublished decision reversing trial court and establishing that proposed challenges were not a "contest." Thereafter, handled resulting bench trial and secured judgment invalidating all amendments, and negotiated settlement thereafter.
- Represented SPUS05 Corona Summit, LLC, and CB Richard Ellis Strategic Partners U.S. Opportunity 5, LP after they received an adverse trial court decision. Retained on appeal and successfully secured reversal of claim for specific performance of a forward-looking purchase contract, limiting liability to liquidated damages. Corona Summit LLC v. SPUS05 Corona Summit, LLC.
- Represented the purchaser of two adjoining commercial properties in Las Vegas, Nevada. After client had invested substantial sums to develop and entitle the property, and was poised to sell it for an approximate $150 million profit, seller sued to rescind the transaction and take back the property. Dispute spilled into eight courts – Los Angeles Superior Court, California Court of Appeal, California Supreme Court, United States District Court for Central District of California, Nevada District Court, the Nevada Supreme Court and federal bankruptcy courts for the Central District of California and District of Nevada -- and a two month arbitration before a three-judge panel appointed by JAMS. Secured published decision from California Court of Appeal (and unpublished decision from Nevada Supreme Court) reversing trial court orders denying arbitration. After California appellate victory, represented client in bench trial on the sellers' affirmative defense to arbitration (which mirrored the sellers' affirmative claims). Thereafter, tried both sides' affirmative claims to the arbitration panel throughout January and February of 2009, and secured award for more than $140 million in damages, plus more than $3 million in attorneys’ fees and costs. Thereafter, defended a wide variety of efforts to mount collateral attacks on arbitrators and their awards, secured order confirming awards and entering judgment thereon (along with an additional $2.3 million in fees and costs), and secured published decision affirming judgment.
- Represented former NBA coach in dispute with team concerning payment under contract. Secured complete relief for coach in arbitration.
- Adjunct Faculty Member, Loyola Law School, teaching Legal Drafting
- Adjunct Faculty Member, Loyola Law School, teaching Introduction to Appellate Advocacy
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, 2024-2025
- Listed, Euromoney's Expert Guides: "Women in Business Law," 2022
- Recognized, American City Business Journals, “Women of Influence,” 2019
- Finalist, Los Angeles Business Journal, Leaders in Law, "Litigation Firm Attorney of the Year," 2019
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Southern California Super Lawyers, "Rising Star," 2009, 2010 and 2013-2014
- Member, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)
- Member, American Bar Association, Council of Appellate Lawyers
- Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Member, Century City Bar Association
- Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers Los Angeles
Credentials
Education
-
J.D., magna cum laude, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 2004
- Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review, 2003-2004
- B.A., English, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1998
Clerkships
- Hon Stephen S. Trott, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2004-2005
Admissions
- California
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California