Lawrence M. Cirelli, Partner

Practice Areas/Industries
Litigation

Based in our San Francisco Office
415-995-5003 Direct Phone
415-541-9366 Fax
lcirelli@hansonbridgett.com
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Larry Cirelli is a partner in Hanson Bridgett's Litigation Section and is the Chair of the litigation side of the Business Owners Dispute Resolution Team. His practice emphasizes complex business litigation, including disputes among shareholders and other business owners, and officers and directors of companies. These and the other matters he handles often involve fiduciary duty, contract, trade secret, non-competition agreements and unfair competition claims. He has represented numerous clients in partnership and corporate dissolution actions. His experience as a certified public accountant brings a unique set of skills and perspective to these types of actions. He also handles professional liability and product liability litigation. The matters he handles include court and jury trials, as well as arbitrations and alternative dispute proceedings.

Notable Engagements

• Won a $4.3 million verdict and additional punitive damages on an interference with business relationship claim against a major advertising agency arising from the acquisition of a local company by the agency.
• Successfully tried a dissolution action involving a real estate company that resulted in the client receiving all of the funds in dispute from the partnership's capital account.
• Successfully tried a dissolution action involving a family-owned construction supplies business.
• Won a $4.7 million verdict for an international mining company on a claim involving complex international tax issues.
• Won a large verdict in a shareholder dispute involving a medical practice.
• Handled a dissolution action under California Corporations Code section 2000 involving a large family-owned consumer products manufacturer.
• Obtained a defense verdict after a one-month trial of a multi-million dollar claim of business interruption involving a telecommunications equipment plant.
• Won a large verdict against the former president of a company and his new employer for breach of fiduciary duty and violation of his non-competition agreement.
• After a two-week trial, obtained a nonsuit for a gas manufacturer in a product liability suit.
• Successfully tried a dissolution action involving a dental practice.
• Obtained a large verdict on a lost corporate opportunity claim for a paving and grading contractor. Also successfully defended the stock and wrongful termination claims of a former vice president of the client.
• Successfully tried an action involving the enforcement of a non-competition agreement.
• After a three-week trial, achieved a nonsuit for a welding products manufacturer in a suit involving claims of alleged respiratory problem due to the inhalation of welding fumes.
• Represented a founder of a publicly traded internet company in a dispute over stock ownership.
• Achieved a favorable settlement after a three-month trial involving legal malpractice defense.
• Defended a Big Four Accounting Firm in actions brought by a public entity arising out of that entity's financial crisis.
• Handled numerous disputes among owners of family businesses in various industries.

Published Opinions
Gaeta v. Delta Air Lines, 25 CCH Avi Cases 18,173 (N.D. Cal. 1997) (Termination of travel agency contract, defamation)

Presentations

• "Basics of Accounting and Finance: What Every Practicing Lawyer Needs to Know" – Speaker, Practising Law Institute, 1998 to present – Program Co-Chair 2007
• Faculty Member, USF School of Law Intensive Advocacy Program, 1997 to present
• "What Every Successful Lawyer Needs to Know About Accounting" – Speaker, Practising Law Institute, August 1996
• Instructor, Business Law, Becker CPA Review Course, 1981–2001
• Frequent speaker on professional liability and general business litigation issues

Publications

• "The Accountants Strike Back", Defense Research Institute (1997)
• "Accountants' Liability In The Litigation Support Arena", Defense Research Institute (1996)

Professional Affiliations
Bar Association of San Francisco
Defense Research Institute (Professional Liability Newsletter, Editor, 1996-99; Professional Liability Subsection Steering Committee)
Professional Liability Underwriters Society (Bay Area Steering Committee)
Association of Business Trial Lawyers (Programs Chair, 2007; co-Programs Chair, 2006)
San Francisco Lawyers' Club
University of San Francisco Law Assembly (President, Board of Governors, 1998)
Italian American Bar Association
Volunteer Panel Attorney for Legal Services for Children
Volunteer Panel Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of San Francisco
Easter Seals of the Bay Area (Board of Directors, 1995 - 2002)
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
California Society of Certified Public Accountants
American Association of Attorneys - Certified Public Accountants
University of San Francisco Inns of Court (President 2005 to present)
University of San Francisco School of Law Board of Counselors (2001 to present)

Professional Licenses
Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, 1981, California

Honors
Northern California SuperLawyers, San Francisco Magazine (2006–2010)

Education
J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law (1984)
B.S., Accounting, University of San Francisco (1978)