Leading companies in highly regulated industries trust Lauren Kaplan to counsel and defend them in bet-the-company litigation and high-stakes investigations.
Lauren works with clients facing inquiries and enforcement actions by state attorneys general as well as complex civil litigation. She has represented companies and individuals at trial and appeal in both state and federal courts and in investigations by state and federal agencies. Lauren is also an active member of O’Melveny’s pro bono practice.
Representing companies across a range of industries—including consumer products, energy, and medical devices—Lauren has worked on every stage of litigation. She has developed case strategy, worked productively with local counsel, led briefing teams, and managed affirmative and defensive discovery.
Before joining O’Melveny, Lauren taught high school special education in Washington, DC, through Teach For America, and she remains a committed advocate for students and education rights. At UC Irvine School of Law, Lauren founded the school’s education rights pro bono clinic and the Street Law program, which provides legal training and education to middle and high school students in marginalized communities. Lauren also serves on the Young Professionals Advisory Board of Minds Matter of Southern California, a nonprofit that helps low-income students enroll and succeed in leading colleges and universities.
- Representing companies across a range of industries in consumer-protection and environmental investigations by state agencies, including the attorneys general of California and other states.
- Representing automotive companies in investigations by several attorneys general alleging the companies’ marketing and sales of vehicles violated consumer protection and nuisance laws.
- Representing a major international oil and gas company in multiple pending suits filed by states, cities, and counties across the country—including nine filed in California—seeking to hold oil and gas companies liable for the effects of climate change.
- Defended Sempra Energy and Southern California Gas Company against more than 36,000 plaintiffs alleging damages from the Aliso Canyon gas leak in Porter Ranch, California.
- Represented automotive company in litigation filed by the New Mexico, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands attorneys general related to the recall of Takata airbags.
- Served as trial counsel for a major medical-device company in litigation brought by the California Attorney General over alleged violations of consumer-protection laws. During the three-month trial, Lauren helped formulate trial strategy, prepared key expert and fact witnesses, and argued evidentiary issues.
- Resolved claims against a major medical-device company in consumer-protection actions brought by the Washington, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Oregon attorneys general.
- Member of the team that resolved a multistate attorney general investigation involving allegations that a major medical-device company had deceptively marketed transvaginal surgical mesh devices.
- Represented a major international oil and gas company in investigations by local, state, and federal agencies resulting from a refinery accident; defeated enforcement of federal subpoenas in related litigation.
- Won dismissal for a major international oil and gas company in a putative class action over refinery operations after defeating class certification and significantly narrowing claims.
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Education
- University of California at Irvine, School of Law, J.D.: summa cum laude
- George Mason University, Master in Education (M.E.D.)
- University of California at Berkeley, B.A., History: with Honors; Phi Beta Kappa
Professional Activities
Externships
- Justice Raymond J. Ikola, California Court of Appeal, Fourth District
Clerkships
- Honorable George H. King, US District Court, Central District of California