Aaron M. May

Los Angeles

Litigation

Aaron M. May is a founding partner of his 17-lawyer firm, which specializes in white-collar investigations and defense, insurance recovery, professional liability defense and trials and appeals. May, who says he has never lost a trial in which he was lead counsel, graduated second in his class at Stanford Law School. He clerked for U.S. District Judge W. Matthew Byrne Jr. of Los Angeles and for Judge Raymond C. Fisher of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

After nearly seven years at Munger Tolles, May spent another six years as an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, working in the major frauds section.

His background as a prosecutor who led grand jury investigations was key in his selection by the State Bar to conduct an independent probe into how it handled complaints filed against the disbarred Thomas V. Girardi and whether that process had been affected by Girardi's connections throughout the legal world.

"I felt honored that they selected me. It's one of the best things I've done as a lawyer," May said. "I felt a duty to the profession."

May's 16-month investigation led to the release in March 2023 of the May Report. It detailed Girardi's connections at the State Bar and identified numerous State Bar employees and officers who received unreported gifts and income from Girardi. Some were individuals who were handling Girardi discipline matters. The State Bar has initiated reforms based on May's findings.

"It was fascinating. I learned a lot," May said. "A team from the firm and I put a lot of effort into it. I've been steering clear of making my own recommendations because my role was that of a fact-finder."

In that role, May testified earlier this year before a joint session of the Legislature's judiciary committee as it considered its own reform efforts.

For client Berkshire Hathaway, May obtained a speedy dismissal from high-profile litigation over the sale of a multimillion-dollar Malibu property owned by a foreign dictator and seized by federal authorities. One seller's agent sought to bring Berkshire into the matter; May won his motion to dismiss, although other similarly situated defendants were unable to do so. Sweetwater Malibu CA LLC et al., v. Hakim et al., 2:20-cv-08945 (C.D. Cal., filed Sept. 29, 2020).

"There was an interesting factual background, and the saga goes on, but we got out quickly," May said.

--John Roemer