Courtney L. Baird

Partner

  • Courtney L. Baird
  • Phone: +1 619 744 2285

    Courtney L. Baird - LinkedIn Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    750 B Street, Suite 2900
    San Diego, CA 92101-4681
    USA
  • Duane Morris LLP
    100 North City Parkway, Suite 1560
    Las Vegas, NV 89106-4617
    USA
  • Duane Morris LLP
    865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 3100
    Los Angeles, CA 90017-5450
    USA

Courtney L. Baird is co-chair of the Commercial Litigation Division of the Firm's Trial Practice Group and a member of the Firm's governing Partners Board. Ms. Baird serves as outside counsel to businesses handling prosecution and defense of litigation and compliance and risk management issues. She has extensive experience in complex litigation, including defense of class actions, consumer claims (Consumer Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition and False Advertising Law), products liability, contract and tort. Her strategic approach, substantive experience and ability to cost-effectively optimize her clients' business and legal objectives has led to her representation of companies across the United States and internationally.

Ms. Baird is licensed to practice in California and Nevada. She represents clients in all forums, including federal and state courts and arbitration. She has been involved in hundreds of arbitrations and advises businesses on all arbitration-related issues. She serves as a pro bono Arbitrator for the Arbitration Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association.

Ms. Baird has been recognized as San Diego’s Leaders of Influence in the Law, San Diego's Women of Influence in the Law, San Diego’s Super Lawyers and San Diego's Best of the Bar. She is the past chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the San Diego County Bar Association and served on the San Diego Board of Governors for the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Ms. Baird is a member of the Firm's Women's Impact Network for Success Steering Committee and San Diego office chair, the hiring Partner for the Firm's San Diego office Summer Associate Program, a member of the Firm’s AI Steering Committee, and a member of the Firm’s Technology Committee.

Representative Matters

    Business Litigation

  • Represented one of the largest general contractors and construction managers in the U.S. in a complex construction defect dispute involving construction of a luxury hotel. Through a motion for summary judgment, effectively negotiated a multimillion-dollar settlement in the client’s favor that the client found favorable.

  • Representation of the world's largest producer of standard welding equipment in complex products liability and toxic tort litigation involving allegations of negligence, strict liability, failure to warn, design defect and fraudulent concealment. Obtained settlement that client found favorable and dismissal of action with prejudice through the filing of a motion for summary judgment on the issue of general causation.

  • Trial counsel for national insurance companies in matters involving tort and products liability claims.

  • Representation of a group purchasing organization and its parent company involving claims of breach of contract, breach of duty of loyalty, and interference claims against former employees and their competing business. Following a six-day jury trial, obtained an $8 million verdict, including punitive damages, on behalf of the clients.

  • Representation of private equity firm in serial claims alleging alter-ego liability. Obtained defense verdicts in each of the cases.

  • Representation of national customer service business with respect to claims of breach of duty of loyalty, interference with contract and prospective economic advantage, and unfair competition law against former executives of company.

  • Representation of general contractor in state court action involving claims of unfair competition, contractual interference, and unfair business practices. Obtained dismissal in client’s favor.

  • Representation of global convenience store franchisor in obtaining temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against franchisee of numerous franchised stores in federal court action involving claims for breach of contract, fraud, trademark infringement, and violation of RICO.

  • Representation of university and instructor in defense of sexual harassment allegations. Achieved defense award for the clients.

  • Representation of international cosmetic manufacturer in a complex state court business dispute regarding purchase of assets and formation and governance of business. The matter involved claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, misrepresentation and self-dealing, and a cross-complaint. Obtained a judgment in client's favor.

  • Representation of scientific clinical-development services corporation in action arising out of clinical drug trials involving causes of action for breach of contract, common counts, unjust enrichment, and conversion. Negotiated a dismissal and settlement that client found favorable.

  • Representation of a top 5 franchisor in federal court franchise termination against former franchisees involving claims of violation of RICO, fraud, breach of contract, unfair competition, and trademark infringement. Obtained outcome client found favorable.

  • Representation of commercial real estate investor in fraud action against developer. Obtained million dollar settlement on behalf of client and possession of the property.

  • Representation of document scanning and data storage company in complex federal court shareholders' action involving claims and counterclaims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, and fraud. Negotiated settlement that client found favorable and dismissal of the action.

  • Representation of cannabis company that was victim of misappropriation of funds by its payroll company. Obtained recovery for company.

    • Defense of Class Actions

  • Representation of various companies in state and federal court actions alleging claims under the Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act concerning allegations of deceptive labeling as to consumer products.

  • Representation of company in consumer class action involving claims under the Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act. Ms. Baird compelled the matter to arbitration and as a threshold matter in arbitration obtained an award defeating the class action.

  • Representation of marketer and seller of supplement products with respect to a consumer class action alleging mislabeling of nutritional information.

  • Representation of national theme park in federal court consumer class action alleging violation of the Song-Beverly Credit Card Act, which prohibits the collection of personal information from credit card customers. Obtained a dismissal with prejudice at the preliminary stage of the litigation.

  • Representation of college in federal court class allegation alleging unfair trade practices claims. Obtained dismissal in client’s favor.

  • Representation of university in state court consumer class action alleging violations of the Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law, and Consumer Legal Remedies Act. Defeated class certification by demonstrating that the plaintiffs could not prove the necessary elements for class certification. The case then proceeded on an individual basis in state court and was resolved on terms the university found favorable.

  • Representation of college in state court wage and hour class action. Successfully defeated the class action claims by obtaining a determination that the parties' arbitration agreement did not authorize class arbitration and the individual claims were compelled to arbitration.

  • Representation of company in state court consumer class action. Prevailed in compelling the case to arbitration. In arbitration, defeated class certification. After class certification was denied the plaintiffs filed a motion to vacate and a motion for reconsideration in state court. Successfully opposed both motions. Thereafter, the remaining plaintiffs pursued their individual claims in arbitration. Prevailed on a dispositive motion to dismiss a substantial portion of the plaintiffs' causes of action and a former employer of the company who had been named as a defendant.

  • Representation of university in state court class allegation involving claim with respect to accreditation issue. Achieved result client found favorable.

  • Representation of cosmetology school in federal court wage and hour class action in which students claimed they were employees. Defeated the class through a motion for summary judgment and obtained dismissal with prejudice in school's favor.

  • Representation of company in state court wage and hour class action. Obtained order compelling arbitration and obtained dispositive ruling in arbitration that the case could not proceed on a class basis, including the plaintiffs' alleged Private Attorneys General Act claims.

  • Representation of institution in Consumer Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law class action which alleged misrepresentations in marketing of services in which consumers sought damages, including full-refunds, restitution and injunctive relief.

    • Defense of Consumer Claims

  • Representation of national bank in federal court action involving claims for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act. Obtained dismissal and judgment in bank's favor through a motion to dismiss and successfully opposed plaintiffs' motion for relief from the judgment.

  • Representation of company in state court consumer action with over 30 individual plaintiffs alleging claims of fraud, negligence, and violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law. Compelled case to arbitration and successfully opposed plaintiffs' writ. Thereafter, managed over 30 individual consumer arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association and obtained favorable results for the Company.

  • Representation of corporation and its subsidiary in complex consumer claim involving multiple claimants in which plaintiffs sought millions of dollars in alleged damages based on claims sounding in contract and tort. Obtained an award in her clients' favor, including an award of attorneys' fees and cost, in which the trier of fact specifically determined that Ms. Baird's representation of her clients in the matter was critical to the result achieved.

  • Representation of national bank in federal court action involving violations of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and negligence. Through enforcement of an indemnity agreement and dispositive motion, achieved a result that the bank found favorable.

  • Representation of company in consumer action alleging claims under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law with respect to alleged false advertising. Through a dispositive motion, obtained a judgement in her client's favor.

  • Representation of company in consolidated consumer arbitration alleging claims for breach of contract, fraud, and violations of consumer protection laws. Obtained award in client's favor, including an award of attorneys' fees.

    • White Collar Criminal Defense and Fraud Litigation

  • Representation of DoD contractor in ongoing federal criminal investigation regarding fraudulent billing practices in sales to the Navy.

  • Representation of CFO of private equity fund in criminal tax investigation in the Northern District of California conducted by the Tax Division of DOJ.

  • Representation of former executive of DoD contractor in federal criminal investigation of fraudulent billing practices being conducted in the Southern District of California.

  • Representation of environmental services company in federal criminal investigation of possible illegal transportation of hazardous waste materials.

  • Representation of federal government contractor in ongoing civil litigation alleging violations of the whistle-blower provisions of the Civil False Claims Act.

  • Representation of hotel management company that was victim of misappropriation of funds by a former manager. After obtaining a TRO tying up the defendant’s assets, obtained a recovery of the full amount stolen, as well as client's legal fees and investigative costs.

  • Representation of former DoD contractor in the sale of its business and disputes arising therefrom.

  • Representation of Taiwanese biotechnology company regarding potential claims against competitor for misappropriation of trade secrets.

Admissions

  • California
  • Nevada
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • 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 Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada

Education

  • University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., with Honors, 2004
  • San Diego State University, B.A., with Distinctions, 2000

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Partner, 2014-present
    - Associate, 2006-2013
  • Cozen O'Connor
    - Associate, 2004-2006

Professional Activities

  • Steering Committee, University of San Diego School of Law Fourth Annual Class Action Law Forum, March 2022 - present
  • American Bar Association

  • California State Bar
    - Litigation Section 

  • San Diego County Bar Association
    - Chair, Civil Litigation Section, 2018 and 2019
    - Vice-Chair, Civil Litigation Section, 2017
    - Serves as an Arbitrator for Fee Arbitration Committee
    - Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
    - Business/Corporate Law Section

  • Association of Business Trial Lawyers
    - Served on the Board of Governors
  • Lawyers Club of San Diego
  • Duane Morris Women's Impact Network
    - San Diego Office Chair
  • San Diego Office Chair for Duane Morris Summer Associate Program
  • Vice Chair of the Commercial and Antitrust Litigation Division of Duane Morris' Trial Practice Group

Honors and Awards

  • Named to San Diego Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence in Law
  • Named to San Diego Business Journal's Women of Influence in Law
  • Honored as a San Diego Super Lawyer
  • Honored as one of the Best of the Bar by the San Diego Business Journal
  • Honored as San Diego's Young Influentials, which recognizes San Diego County's young successful business leaders
  • Honored as one of the Best Young Attorneys in San Diego County
  • Honored as San Diego Super Lawyer, Rising Star

Selected Publications