Gabriela S. Pérez

Gabriela Pérez represents clients in an array of complex commercial disputes in both federal and state courts. In this role, she has been involved in drafting pre-trial motions, pleadings, and discovery requests and responses, including litigation discovery disputes. She has experience in general business litigation and real estate issues, and has represented both private and public sector clients, including public transportation agencies, in matters involving business disputes, the California Public Records Act and disputes involving complex infrastructure projects. Gabriela also has experience in anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (anti-SLAPP) law.

Gabriela is experienced in all aspects of e-discovery, including developing ESI protocols and search term queries and managing large-scale electronic document review, productions and privilege screens.

Gabriela began her legal career as a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Catherine E. Bauer of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California. In this role, she drafted objective legal memoranda and recommended rulings covering a wide range of bankruptcy issues; researched topics including due process, fraud, and procedural issues; and reviewed motions and case law. Shortly thereafter, Gabriela served the Orange County District Attorney’s Office as a Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit Law Clerk. In this capacity, she reviewed case files, conducted legal research, and prepared summaries of legal arguments related to a variety of civil and criminal consumer and environmental law issues.

Prior to law school, Gabriela spent three years as a Special Projects Program Manager for EXP (formerly International Trade Education Programs, Inc.) where she cultivated relationships between government entities at the local, state, and federal level, businesses, and educators to serve students in diverse communities in the Los Angeles County area. She specifically focused on creating and maintaining successful partnerships with the building trades, container ports, shipping lines, commercial real estate developers, and the transportation and logistics industry.

Gabriela is a contributing author for Construction & Claims, Nossaman's periodic digest of the headlines, statutory and regulatory changes and court cases involving construction news, claims, bid protests, contract administration and payment-related disputes.

Experience

Harbor Performance Enhancement Center, LLC v. City of Los Angeles, et al. Lead associate in the legal team representing the City of Los Angeles and the Port of Los Angeles in a dispute arising from termination of negotiations relating to a proposed project wherein the parties had entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement.

City of Los Angeles Harbor Department (Port of Los Angeles). Member of the litigation team for the Port of Los Angeles relating to real estate matters.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Lead associate in the litigation team that represented the FDIC in a real estate and commercial litigation matter involving a contractual dispute that resulted in a settlement in our client’s benefit wherein it was able to recover all sums due under the contract.

Los Angeles World Airports. Assisted in advising LAWA regarding COVID-19 business interruption insurance claims.

Republic Metropolitan, LLC v. City of Santa Clara. Lead associate defending municipality against breach of contract and other claims, including a Housing Accountability Act claim, by a developer seeking damages of $57 million for terminated mixed-use development. After successes in defense motion practice challenging the pleadings, the case was ultimately dismissed by the Court with prejudice.

California High-Speed Rail Authority. Member of the legal team providing counseling in contract administration relating to the third Design-Built construction contract (CP 4) on the California High-Speed Rail Project. The CP 4 construction area is a 22-mile stretch and will include construction of at-grade embankments, retained fill overcrossings and viaducts, aerial sections of the high-speed rail alignment and the relocation of four miles of existing train tracks.

Arizona Department of Transportation – Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway Project. Member of the legal team advising on a dispute relating to the first Public-Private Partnership (P3) project in Arizona. The dispute focused on purported cost overruns associated with utility relocations. The legal team advised on determination of risk allocations with respect to the cost of utility relocation costs, loss of productivity, and delay claims. The dispute settled without the need for litigation.

Various Public Agencies. Assisted in advising various agencies, including the Port of Long Beach and the Transportation Corridor Agencies, in matters involving Public Records Act requests related to infrastructure projects and managed large-scale document review and productions.

Speaking Engagements

News

Community & Professional

St. Thomas More Law Honor Society, Member

Association of Business Trial Lawyers – Los Angeles Chapter, Member

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Diversity in the Profession Section

Mexican American Bar Association, Member

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) – Los Angeles Young Professionals, Council 3301, Executive Officer

Honors & Recognitions

Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition, 2018 Best Business Brief and Best Oralist for the 3rd Preliminary Round Recognition

Mexican American Bar Foundation Scholarship Recipient, 2017

Joanne L. Freilich Scholar, 31st Annual Land Use Law & Planning Conference