Laura K. Kaufmann is a skilled litigator who has represented clients in a broad spectrum of industries in high-stakes commercial litigation, securities litigation, class actions, M&A transaction disputes, corporate governance disputes, director and officer liability matters, antitrust litigation, regulatory matters, and arbitrations. Technology companies and financial institutions also turn to Laura for guidance on regulatory compliance and enforcement risk, particularly businesses working with artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, and other cutting-edge technologies.
Laura litigates at all levels of federal court and across the California trial and appellate courts. She has deep case-management experience, taking on responsibility for managing all stages of litigation, including leading dispositive motion briefing, discovery, and work with expert witnesses, in a wide variety of disputes.
Laura maintains an active pro bono practice, focusing on animal welfare/rights. She provides legal assistance to California animal shelters and helps combat the exploitation of wild and endangered animals living in captivity.
Laura graduated with honors from New York University School of Law, where she served as a Student Fellow in the Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement and on the Executive Board of the Journal of International Law and Politics. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Oxford and graduated with highest distinction from the University of California, Berkeley. Before law school, Laura worked in public policy at the European Commission and completed an internship at the US State Department in Vienna, Austria. Laura is proficient in German and French.
- Achieved an early summary judgment victory for a major financial institution in a consumer dispute alleging breach of contract and various tort claims
- Representing a major technology company in a putative class action alleging breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and violation of various state consumer protection laws
- Representing a technology company and individual directors in a putative securities class action alleging breach of fiduciary duty in a going private transaction
- Representing a biotechnology company and individual directors in a corporate governance and employment dispute
- Secured a favorable settlement for a major financial institution in a putative consumer class action alleging breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, and violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law
- Representing a major financial institution in a putative consumer class action involving consumer financial services products
- Achieved a favorable settlement of a consumer dispute alleging breach of contract and various tort claims against a major financial institution
- Achieved a favorable pre-litigation settlement for a financial institution in a contract dispute following mediation
- Secured the early voluntary dismissal of a putative consumer class action that alleged violations of the California False Advertising Act and Unfair Competition Law against a major financial institution
- Defended a major technology company in several antitrust cases brought by private plaintiffs, including putative classes, and state attorneys general
- Defended a major trading platform in a putative securities and antitrust class action alleging market manipulation of crypto-assets
- Representing a real estate developer in disputes in California state court over the construction of a residential project
- Represented a real estate investor in a bench trial concerning disputes with landlord over assignment and termination of shopping center ground lease
- Representing a security company in a Section 301 proceeding in the US Court of International Trade
- Defended a major insurer in ERISA litigation regarding offsetting overpayments of certain health plans
- Represented a major pharmaceutical company in a products liability action
- Advised an investment fund on a potential acquisition of a technology company
- Advised a major financial institution on artificial intelligence-based risk mitigation relating to the implementation of AI-based tools
- Advised a digital asset lending platform on the application of securities regulations to certain products
- Advised a nonprofit on mitigating antitrust risk based on employment practices
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US Court of Appeals, Second and Ninth Circuits
Education
- New York University, J.D.; Executive Board, Journal of International Law and Politics; Student Fellow, Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement
- University of Oxford, M.A.; Modern History
- University of California at Berkeley, B.A.: highest distinction, History
Professional Activities
Internships
- The Honorable Jane A. Restani, US Court of International Trade
- Political and Economic Affairs, US Department of State
Author
- “No-Poach Agreements: Increasingly Risky,” Competition (Spring 2022)
Co-Author
- “Using the Horizontal Merger Guidelines to Evaluate Labor Market Effects of Mergers,” Competition Policy International (May 11, 2022)
- “Buyer Cartel Doctrine: Lessons from Labor Antitrust,” Competition Policy International (June 29, 2021)