professionals
Arthur I. Willner | Principal
awillner@gladstonemichel.com
(310) 821-9000
Arthur Willner's practice emphasizes defense of high exposure, complex litigation arising from aviation, products liability, civil rights and commercial disputes. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected three times by his peers as a Southern California Super Lawyer in the area of Civil Litigation Defense, an honor that fewer than five percent of attorneys receive.
Art has successfully represented clients in state and federal courts in
business cases involving claims of violations of civil rights,
disability based discrimination, ethnic profiling, defamation, wrongful
termination, breach of contract, and officer and director liability.
He also has broad experience in products liability, wrongful death and
catastrophic injury cases arising out of major airline and general
aviation accidents. Art's aviation clients include major and regional
domestic and foreign air carriers, pilots and other crewmembers, general
aviation operations, and manufacturers.
Art has served as lead defense counsel in numerous jury and non-jury
trials, mediations and arbitrations, and also has substantial experience
in multidistrict and mass tort litigation, including class actions. Among these was the defense of six officers and directors of a major consumer electronics company in a shareholder class action alleging fraud, executive agreement fraudulent conveyance, and conspiracy. In addition, Art defended a national air carrier against indemnity claims asserted by a cruise line in a class action brought by the purchasers of air/sea packages involving claims of unfair business practices, breach of contract, and conversion.
Art's experience also includes the perspective of the client. He began
his career as an in-house attorney with United States Aviation
Underwriters, Inc., where he supervised outside counsel and directed the
defense of airlines in high exposure litigation, prepared witnesses to
testify at National Transportation Safety Board proceedings, and advised
senior airline management on litigation and disaster planning issues.
Education
J.D., St. John's University School of Law, 1981
B.A., Columbia University, 1976
Admissions
California
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth and Second Circuits
U.S. District Courts, Central, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of California
U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York