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Alexander Giraldo

Alexander Giraldo

Associate
Los Angeles
About

Alex’s practice focuses on toxic tort, product liability and commercial litigation. 

Alex has defended petroleum and chemical companies in high-stakes premises and product liability cases throughout the State of California.  Alex has co-chaired jury trials in Los Angeles, Ventura, San Francisco, and Alameda.  As a law clerk, he began his trial training at the United States Attorney’s Office, Civil Division, where he assisted in the defense of Federal Tort Claims Act cases filed against government employees and government-owned property.  After law school, Alex was selected as an American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Fellow for the Los Angeles Chapter, where he honed his trial skills with instruction from the top trial lawyers in Los Angeles. Alex is a graduate of the Los Angeles ABOTA Masters in Trial program.

Alex has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Southern California "Rising Star" since 2020.  He has been ranked by the Legal 500 among the top lawyers in the United States in the practice area of Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Toxic Tort – Defense.  Currently, Alex is a member of the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC) Future Leaders group.

Alex also regularly represents California clients in commercial disputes involving real property, including breach of contract and commercial lease litigation.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Bar admissionsCaliforniaFloridaTexas
CourtsUnited States District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

EXPERIENCE

  • Lead counsel in coordinated toxic tort litigation defending Fortune 10 energy company and gas station franchisor, resulting in summary judgment. Los Angeles, CA. 2024.
  • Lead litigation counsel in tort action against renewable energy company, resulting in favorable settlement. Orange County, CA. 2024.
  • Defended hotel franchisor against tort claims, resulting in judgment at demurrer stage. San Diego, CA. 2024.
  • Trial lawyer in wrongful death case against refinery owner for toxic exposure, resulting in defense verdict by non-suit. Santa Monica, CA. 2023.
  • Trial lawyer in premises and product liability case against oil well operator for exposure to cancer-causing toxins, resulting in dismissal during jury selection. Ventura, CA. 2023.
  • Lead litigation counsel defending petroleum company in cross-border litigation involving toxic exposures in the United States and Egypt. Los Angeles, CA. 2023.
  • Lead litigation counsel defending petrochemical company against allegations that client’s chemical solvent caused kidney disease. Los Angeles, CA. 2023.
  • Trial lawyer representing petrochemical companies in land-based refinery action and federal maritime action. Alameda, CA. 2022.
  • Trial lawyer defending elevator company against catastrophic injury claims. Los Angeles, CA. 2022.
  • Trial lawyer defending Fortune 500 company in product liability action involving allegedly defective dental products. San Francisco, CA. 2021.
  • Lead litigation counsel in common law tort and maritime action proceeding in state and federal court on behalf of petroleum company and charterer of allegedly unseaworthy vessel, resulting in dismissal after filing motion for judgment on the pleadings. U.S. District Court, Central District; Orange County, CA. 2021.
  • Defended petroleum company in cross-border litigation brought by former Iranian refinery workers, resulting in summary judgment in client's favor after a bench trial and recovery of significant costs (upheld on appeal). Los Angeles, CA. 2018, 2019.
  • Trial lawyer in traumatic brain injury case defending truck rental company. Los Angeles, CA. 2016.
  • Litigated tenant improvement dispute alleging promissory estoppel, resulting in termination of lease obligation and significant mitigation of rent liability.
  • Represented cannabis company in multi-year lease dispute resulting in successful mitigation of rent liability. 
  • Represented franchisor in dispute over assignment of commercial lease.

Appeals

  • Sabetian, Second Appellate District Case No. B297107 (affirmed in client's favor in published decision)
  • Irani, Fifth Appellate District (affirmed in client's favor)
  • Khosravan, Second Appellate District (affirmed in client's favor)
  • Viale, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (affirmed in client's favor)
Education

  • J.D., Southwestern Law School, Magna Cum Laude
    Editor, Southwestern Law Review
    Oralist, Moot Court Honors Program

  • B.A., University of San Diego

Awards

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Toxic Tort – Defense (2022, 2024)
Additional Awards
  • "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers (2020-2023)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, "Masters in Trial Program," Graduate
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Los Angeles Chapter, 2016 Fellow

Publications

  • SB 652 signed into law: Product manufacturers face new challenge in California, 3 August 2023
  • Berroteran v. Superior Court is good news for corporate defendants in California, 28 March 2022

Prior Experience

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Alexander was an Associate in the Mass Torts and Product Liability Group at a global law firm.  During law school, Alexander externed as a law clerk for the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Future Leader, Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)
  • Member, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC)
  • Board Member and Mentor, Mexican American Bar Association (MABA)
  • Mentor, Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity (LCLD)

My latest insights

Publication
Bridge_S_0512

SB 652 signed into law: Product manufacturers face new challenges in California

3 August 2023 .4 minute read

Publication
Abstract view of building

Berroteran v. Superior Court is good news for corporate defendants in California

28 March 2022 .6 minute read

Connect

Phone

+1 310 595 3049
(Work, Los Angeles (Century City))
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