BENTLEY P. STANSBURY III
Bentley Stansbury is a shareholder with Keesal, Young & Logan in its Long Beach office. He currently serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and its Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Bentley has tried cases on both the plaintiff and defense side, with the majority of his practice focused on following areas:
Securities Litigation
Bentley represents the firm’s clients in all aspects of securities litigation. He has represented broker-dealers, registered investment advisors, clearing firms, investment banks, and individual financial advisors. His recent experience includes the representation of the firm’s clients in disputes pertaining to retail investments, alternative investments, REITs, clearing firm liability, regulatory and SRO rule violations, trading away, and Ponzi schemes.
Employment Litigation
Bentley has represented the firm’s clients in employment disputes, which have involved claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, defamation, retaliation, and corporate raiding. Through his experience in this area, Bentley has represented the firm’s clients in arbitration, civil actions, and family law court.
Probate Litigation
Bentley represents the firm’s clients in adversary probate proceedings, having represented the firm’s clients in both California’s probate courts and civil courts vested with probate jurisdiction.
Appeals
Bentley has represented the firm’s clients in actions before the California Court of Appeals, the Ninth Circuit, the Second Circuit, the California Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. His recent practice has required the preparation of writ petitions, as well as briefs on behalf of both appellants and appellees.
Business Litigation
Bentley represents the firm’s clients on both the plaintiff and defense side in litigation surrounding commercial contracts, real estate transactions, professional liability, and business-to-business disputes. He also routinely represents third parties in dealing with sensitive discovery and trial subpoenas.
Education
- J.D., University of Southern California (2003)
- B.A. (cum laude) (political science), University of California (1999)
Bar Memberships/Admissions
- California (2003)
- Washington (2015)
- Central, Eastern, and Southern United States District Courts in California
- Southern United States District Court in New York
- United States District Court in Oregon
- Western United States District Court in Washington
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Published Cases
Examples of cases in which Bentley was lead counsel or played a significant role include:
- Defense award in securities litigation brought by customer of national broker-dealer, who alleged fraud and negligence in connection with management of his account. Hubert v. Bear Stearns & Co., Inc., Securities Awards Monthly, Vol. 2008, No. 3.
- Defense award in arbitration filed by investment banker against former employer regarding dispute over compensation, in which claimant brought causes of action for breach an express and implied contract, quantum meruit, unjust enrichment and violations of state labor law.
- Successfully argued to Ninth Circuit in a case involving recently-enacted California law pertaining to residential mortgages. Saber v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, 650 F. App’x 527 (2016).
- Motion to Dismiss granted in FINRA arbitration at close of claimant’s case-in-chief in a case involving a customer who brought claims of negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, infliction of emotional distress and financial abuse against broker-dealer based on allegations that her account was invested unsuitably. Successfully defended Motion to Vacate award up through Court of Appeals (certiorari denied by United States Supreme Court).
- Defense verdict issued by Burbank Superior Court in contested judicial foreclosure proceeding involving allegations of fraud and negligence implicating legal issues relating to statute of limitations.
- Motion to Dismiss granted against a $5 million claim filed with FINRA based on the claimant’s failure to comply with discovery orders. Successfully defended Motion to Vacate filed with Central District of California.
Publications
Articles
- “Is Your Deposition Subpoena Enforceable Under California Law” (linked here), Los Angeles Daily Journal (Sept. 16, 2016)
Recognitions
- Recognized as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” for 2021 and 2022.
- Appointed by Lawdragon as one of “500 Leading Litigators in America.”
- Selected to Southern California Rising Star List (Thomson Reuters) (2007–2015) (a designation limited to 2.5% of attorneys in a geographic region)
Community Engagement
Bentley is a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Outside of the office, he is active in raising awareness regarding mental health issues on behalf of the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI).
BENTLEY’S RELATED ARTICLES
KYL’s Bentley Stansbury Featured in Lawdragon Lawyer Limelight
34 KYL Attorneys Recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
