Debra Belaga
Partner
Debra Belaga is the Head of the Litigation Department for O’Melveny’s San Francisco office. She is a member of the Firm’s Business Trial and Litigation Practice and the Class Actions, Mass Torts, and Aggregated Litigation Practice. Debra is an experienced litigator who regularly serves as national litigation counsel for public companies in complex commercial litigation, mass tort and class actions, environmental litigation, enforcement matters, fiduciary duty and corporate governance litigation, and bankruptcy litigation. Debra also has significant appellate experience. Debra was named one of the “Top Women Litigators in California” by the
Daily Journal in 2008 and 2009.
Illustrative Professional Experience
- On the eve of trial, obtained the dismissal of a lawsuit against Lennar Corporation brought by a developer that claimed it had a partnership interest in a half-billion dollar planned community development.
- Represents Lennar Corporation in the Delaware bankruptcy proceeding of LandSource Communities Development LLC, one of the largest land ventures in the country.
- Successfully appealed to the California Supreme Court a $1 billion jury verdict against Bank of America. The jury had found illegal Bank of America's practice of using directly deposited Social Security benefits to pay overdrafts and fees.
- Led the O’Melveny team that secured a $48 million reduction of a $61 million jury award in a national-origin harassment and discrimination case.
- On behalf of Home Depot, negotiated a favorable settlement of a statewide investigation by the California Attorney General’s office and District Attorneys’ offices into the company’s statewide hazardous waste and materials practices.
- Represents Lennar Corporation in a RICO, libel, and stock manipulation suit in Florida alleging that an ongoing internet campaign against the company is causing damage to its stock, including a single-day loss of market value in excess of $500 million.
- On behalf of Contra Costa County, obtained a reversal in the Ninth Circuit of a district court ruling compelling the county to permit use of its public libraries for the conduct of religious services.
Professional Activities
Admitted to Practice, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (and all districts within the Ninth Circuit); U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Member, American Bar Association; San Francisco Bar Association; Board of Visitors, Stanford Law School