Ray Seilie's practice focuses on efficiently and effectively helping his clients resolve complex commercial litigation across a breadth of substantive areas including technology, the environment, securities, education, banking, and finance. Ray has appeared in both state and federal court and has been involved in several bench and jury trials.
Ray also has significant experience representing clients in criminal matters, including criminal trials and pre-indictment investigations, during which he has provided compliance-related legal advice, conducted factual investigations, and prepared presentations to the government. He also served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles, where he tried multiple cases to verdict as sole trial counsel.
Ray came to the firm after practicing for several years at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. Before entering private practice, Ray completed a clerkship with the Honorable Jay S. Bybee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Ray earned his J.D., cum laude, in 2010 from Harvard Law School, where he served as a Notes Editor on the Harvard Law Review and argued in the finals of the Ames Moot Court Competition. He received his B.A. with honors from Stanford University in 2007.
Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers®, 2022-present
Impact Case of the Year: People v. Plains All American Pipeline, Benchmark Litigation, 2020
Southern California Rising Stars, Los Angeles Magazine, 2019-present
Won copyright-infringement lawsuit on behalf of international K-pop sensation BTS and its label, HYBE Corporation. The plaintiff alleged that the idea for CJ E&M and HYBE’s reality show I-Land was stolen from a written treatment for his original television series idea. The district court granted the firm’s first motion to dismiss without giving the plaintiff leave to amend—concluding that plaintiff’s claims failed as a matter of law—and entered judgment in favor of the firm’s clients.
Successfully represented a Fortune 500 information technology services company as second chair in a four-week jury trial of an 18-plaintiff lawsuit alleging claims for wrongful termination and intentional interference with contract. Cross-examined multiple witnesses, successfully argued evidentiary motions, and ultimately secured a rare judgment of nonsuit in favor of the client.
Represented Plains All-American Pipeline, a Fortune 150 company, in a four-month jury trial defending against criminal charges arising from an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, during which he devised, briefed, and argued several critical legal motions. Obtained dismissal of 37 of the 46 initially charged counts.
Represented an oilfield services company in unfair competition litigation against a local competitor. Successfully opposed a motion for a preliminary injunction that would have required the client to cease operations and terminate all of its employees.
Defended a magazine publisher against a defamation lawsuit, securing a voluntary dismissal of all claims by the plaintiff in exchange for an agreement not to seek attorneys’ fees and costs.
Represented a for-profit educational institution and its executives in False Claims Act litigation related to its receipt of federal funds under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Secured dismissal of the lawsuit before any pretrial discovery.
Defended a financial services company in an adversary proceeding brought by a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee alleging claims for fraudulent transfer and breach of fiduciary duty, successfully obtaining a dismissal of all claims.
Represented the liquidating trust of a satellite programming distribution partner in a successful appeal from an order vacating a multi-million-dollar arbitration award against a major broadcast service provider.
Represented a major hotel company in federal civil litigation involving over 50 defendants arising from the unauthorized disposal of hazardous materials by a non-party contractor. Negotiated and obtained court approval of a favorable consent judgment.
Represented a major financial institution in litigation related to the origination and sale of mortgages by entities acquired by the client during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.
Represented a major financial institution in litigation related to a failed Las Vegas construction project involving alleged fraud by a third-party borrower.
Represented a drilling company in litigation arising from the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, including through a multi-phase trial in federal court.
Represented numerous publicly traded corporations and their executives in internal and government investigations.
Bird Marella is proud to announce the inclusion of 20 lawyers in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch by U.S. News. Benjamin Gluck was recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” for Health Care Law, and Ariel Neuman was recognized as “Lawyer of ...
Bird Marella attorneys Ekwan Rhow, Timothy Yoo, and Ray Seilie won a judgment in favor of their clients BTS and HYBE Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) in a copyright-infringement lawsuit brought against them (and their co-defendant CJ E&M) in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The ...
Bird Marella is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch by U.S. News. Nearly half of the firm’s entire roster of attorneys have been recognized and selected by their peers as outstanding attorneys in their respective areas of expertise. The Best Lawyers in America (2022 Edition) Terry W. Bird ...
Attorneys Julia Cherlow, Gopi Panchapakesan, Ray Seilie, and Fanxi Wang have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. All four attorneys have been recognized consecutively as a “Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney” in Southern California. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of ...
Bird Marella is proud to announce the elevations of Julia B. Cherlow to principal, Marc E. Masters to senior counsel, and Ray S. Seilie to counsel, effective January 1, 2021. Since joining the firm as an associate in 2018, Julia Cherlow has brought extensive litigation experience in a wide array ...
Bird Marella attorneys Gopi Panchapakesan, Naeun Rim, Julia Cherlow, Ray Seilie, and Fanxi Wang have been named to the Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list for 2020. This marks the fourth consecutive year of selection for Cherlow, third consecutive year for Panchapakesan and Wang, and the second consecutive year ...
Principal Jeremy Matz and associate Ray Seilie prevailed in a four-week jury trial on behalf of their client, a Fortune 500 information technology consulting services company, in a multi-million dollar wrongful termination lawsuit brought by 18 Plaintiffs. The Plaintiffs, former employees of a healthcare company that hired Bird Marella’s client ...
Bird Marella is proud to announce that six of the firm’s attorneys have been selected to the 2019 Southern California Rising Stars list. Those recognized include: Julia Cherlow: Business Litigation Tristan Favro: Securities Litigation* Gopi Panchapakesan: Business Litigation Naeun Rim: White Collar Criminal Defense* Ray Seilie: Business Litigation* Fanxi Wang: ...
Following the successful defense of Plains All American Pipeline in a four-month jury trial last summer involving an oil spill in Santa Barbara, Bird Marella prevailed at the sentencing hearing held on April 25th. The Plains defense team, led by principals Gary Lincenberg and Ariel Neuman along with principal Naeun Rim and ...
Bird Marella principals Gary Lincenberg and Ariel Neuman were victorious in defending Plains All American Pipeline, the largest pipeline company in North America, in one of the largest environmental crime trials in California history. After a four-month trial and a series of dismissals, acquittals, and deadlocks, Bird Marella obtained dismissal of ...
Ray Seilie's practice focuses on efficiently and effectively helping his clients resolve complex commercial litigation across a breadth of substantive areas including technology, the environment, securities, education, banking, and finance. Ray has appeared in both state and federal court and has been involved in several bench and jury trials.
Ray also has significant experience representing clients in criminal matters, including criminal trials and pre-indictment investigations, during which he has provided compliance-related legal advice, conducted factual investigations, and prepared presentations to the government. He also served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles, where he tried multiple cases to verdict as sole trial counsel.
Ray came to the firm after practicing for several years at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. Before entering private practice, Ray completed a clerkship with the Honorable Jay S. Bybee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Ray earned his J.D., cum laude, in 2010 from Harvard Law School, where he served as a Notes Editor on the Harvard Law Review and argued in the finals of the Ames Moot Court Competition. He received his B.A. with honors from Stanford University in 2007.
Won copyright-infringement lawsuit on behalf of international K-pop sensation BTS and its label, HYBE Corporation. The plaintiff alleged that the idea for CJ E&M and HYBE’s reality show I-Land was stolen from a written treatment for his original television series idea. The district court granted the firm’s first motion to dismiss without giving the plaintiff leave to amend—concluding that plaintiff’s claims failed as a matter of law—and entered judgment in favor of the firm’s clients.
Successfully represented a Fortune 500 information technology services company as second chair in a four-week jury trial of an 18-plaintiff lawsuit alleging claims for wrongful termination and intentional interference with contract. Cross-examined multiple witnesses, successfully argued evidentiary motions, and ultimately secured a rare judgment of nonsuit in favor of the client.
Represented Plains All-American Pipeline, a Fortune 150 company, in a four-month jury trial defending against criminal charges arising from an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, during which he devised, briefed, and argued several critical legal motions. Obtained dismissal of 37 of the 46 initially charged counts.
Represented an oilfield services company in unfair competition litigation against a local competitor. Successfully opposed a motion for a preliminary injunction that would have required the client to cease operations and terminate all of its employees.
Defended a magazine publisher against a defamation lawsuit, securing a voluntary dismissal of all claims by the plaintiff in exchange for an agreement not to seek attorneys’ fees and costs.
Represented a for-profit educational institution and its executives in False Claims Act litigation related to its receipt of federal funds under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Secured dismissal of the lawsuit before any pretrial discovery.
Defended a financial services company in an adversary proceeding brought by a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee alleging claims for fraudulent transfer and breach of fiduciary duty, successfully obtaining a dismissal of all claims.
Represented the liquidating trust of a satellite programming distribution partner in a successful appeal from an order vacating a multi-million-dollar arbitration award against a major broadcast service provider.
Represented a major hotel company in federal civil litigation involving over 50 defendants arising from the unauthorized disposal of hazardous materials by a non-party contractor. Negotiated and obtained court approval of a favorable consent judgment.
Represented a major financial institution in litigation related to the origination and sale of mortgages by entities acquired by the client during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.
Represented a major financial institution in litigation related to a failed Las Vegas construction project involving alleged fraud by a third-party borrower.
Represented a drilling company in litigation arising from the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, including through a multi-phase trial in federal court.
Represented numerous publicly traded corporations and their executives in internal and government investigations.
Bird Marella is proud to announce the inclusion of 20 lawyers in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch by U.S. News. Benjamin Gluck was recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” for Health Care Law, and Ariel Neuman was recognized as “Lawyer of ...
Bird Marella attorneys Ekwan Rhow, Timothy Yoo, and Ray Seilie won a judgment in favor of their clients BTS and HYBE Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) in a copyright-infringement lawsuit brought against them (and their co-defendant CJ E&M) in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The ...
Bird Marella is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch by U.S. News. Nearly half of the firm’s entire roster of attorneys have been recognized and selected by their peers as outstanding attorneys in their respective areas of expertise. The Best Lawyers in America (2022 Edition) Terry W. Bird ...
Attorneys Julia Cherlow, Gopi Panchapakesan, Ray Seilie, and Fanxi Wang have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. All four attorneys have been recognized consecutively as a “Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney” in Southern California. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of ...
Bird Marella is proud to announce the elevations of Julia B. Cherlow to principal, Marc E. Masters to senior counsel, and Ray S. Seilie to counsel, effective January 1, 2021. Since joining the firm as an associate in 2018, Julia Cherlow has brought extensive litigation experience in a wide array ...
Bird Marella attorneys Gopi Panchapakesan, Naeun Rim, Julia Cherlow, Ray Seilie, and Fanxi Wang have been named to the Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list for 2020. This marks the fourth consecutive year of selection for Cherlow, third consecutive year for Panchapakesan and Wang, and the second consecutive year ...
Principal Jeremy Matz and associate Ray Seilie prevailed in a four-week jury trial on behalf of their client, a Fortune 500 information technology consulting services company, in a multi-million dollar wrongful termination lawsuit brought by 18 Plaintiffs. The Plaintiffs, former employees of a healthcare company that hired Bird Marella’s client ...
Bird Marella is proud to announce that six of the firm’s attorneys have been selected to the 2019 Southern California Rising Stars list. Those recognized include: Julia Cherlow: Business Litigation Tristan Favro: Securities Litigation* Gopi Panchapakesan: Business Litigation Naeun Rim: White Collar Criminal Defense* Ray Seilie: Business Litigation* Fanxi Wang: ...
Following the successful defense of Plains All American Pipeline in a four-month jury trial last summer involving an oil spill in Santa Barbara, Bird Marella prevailed at the sentencing hearing held on April 25th. The Plains defense team, led by principals Gary Lincenberg and Ariel Neuman along with principal Naeun Rim and ...
Bird Marella principals Gary Lincenberg and Ariel Neuman were victorious in defending Plains All American Pipeline, the largest pipeline company in North America, in one of the largest environmental crime trials in California history. After a four-month trial and a series of dismissals, acquittals, and deadlocks, Bird Marella obtained dismissal of ...