Terry Bird has been litigating, trying and winning complicated civil and white collar criminal cases for more than 40 years. He started his trial experience as a federal prosecutor in the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Before that, he clerked for Justices Lynn “Buck” Compton and Robert Thompson at the California Court of Appeal. His extensive and successful trial experience in commercial business litigation and white collar criminal prosecutions has been recognized by his election to the American College of Trial Lawyers and his selection as one of the top 100 lawyers in Southern California.

As a civil litigator, Terry has represented some of the largest corporations in the country, as well as their top executives. He has litigated for and against some of the largest Fortune 500 corporations. He has represented municipalities like Santa Monica and Hermosa Beach in high stakes litigation with oil companies. His civil practice centers on the defense of all forms of commercial litigation and class actions including contract, fraud, RICO, employment, unfair competition, shareholder derivative suits, false claim act violations, and breach of warranty matters.

As a white collar defense attorney, Terry has concentrated in securities, mail fraud, tax, customs, and government fraud cases. His clients have included executives at internet, telecommunications and power and energy companies, as well as key participants in IPO securities investigations. Recently he successfully secured a dismissal of all charges brought against a former Executive of a large Chinese agri-business conglomerate by the Department of Justice in a major trade secret prosecution. Terry has headed several corporate internal investigations to aid prominent companies (Broadcom, Yahoo) and/or their boards of directors in the exercise of their fiduciary duties to their shareholders.

Throughout his career, Terry has maintained a close relationship with the courts and judiciary. He served on President George W. Bush’s Judicial Advisory Committee and as such was one of six lawyers responsible for selecting candidates for the Central District of California’s federal bench and its United States Attorney. He has twice served as Chairman of the Central District of California Lawyer Representatives to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and once as Chairman of the Lawyer Representatives Coordinating Committee for the entire Circuit. He served as one of 10 lawyers on the Ninth Circuit Advisory Board and then served as Chair of the Advisory Board.

Education

  • University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 1970
  • Stanford University, B.A., 1967

Honors & Awards

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, 1995-present

  • “Senior Statespeople” Trial Lawyer, Chambers and Partners USA, 2011-2021

  • “Senior Statesman” Trial Lawyer, Chambers and Partners USA – Nationwide, 2014-2019

  • Leaders of Influence: Litigators and Trial Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2022

  • Humanitarian Award, American Civil Liberties Union, 2021

  • Southern California Super Lawyers, Los Angeles Magazine, 2005-present

  • “Lily Award,” Voice for the Animals Foundation, 2017

  • Top 100 Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2009

  • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: General Practice; Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Best Lawyers®, 1995-present

  • Listed, The 25 Best White Collar Crime Attorneys in California, The Client’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Chambers and Partners USA

  • Top 100 Southern California Lawyers, Los Angeles Magazine

Representative Cases

  • Obtained preliminary injunction in a pro bono class action lawsuit against federal prison over the inefficient measures taken by prison officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Successfully convinced the court to require prison officials to consider all medically vulnerable, non-violent prisoners and those over the age of 50 for home confinement.

  • Represented the Special Litigation Committee of Broadcom Corporation’s Board of Directors for investigation and litigation of derivative claims related to allegations of back-dated stock options.

  • Represented Western Digital Corporation in successful trial defense of securities and contract claims.

  • Represented CFOs of Qwest International, Homestore, Inc. and New Century Financial Corp. in civil litigation, SEC, and U.S. Attorney’s Office investigations.

  • Represented the City of Hermosa Beach in a breach of lease and contract litigation involving claims for more than $700 million in damages.

  • Represented Canon USA and Nokia, Inc. in separate unrelated class actions, each of which involved claims of defective products.

  • Represented Purex Corporation at trial in coverage litigation involving environmental claims.

  • Represented the Alaska Public Utilities Commission in cost overrun hearings related to construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS)

  • Represented City of Santa Monica in a successful resolution of litigation with petroleum companies.

Affiliations

  • Chairman, Board of Directors of People Assisting the Homeless (P.A.T.H.)
  • Member, St. Matthews Episcopal Church Vestry

Recent News & Events

Other News & Events

  • Presenter, CalCPA Education Foundation 2017 Accounting & Auditing Update Conference, "Corporate Internal Investigations of Fraud Allegations" (April 2017)
  • Panelist, Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference, “Bending the Bars: Testing the Bounds of the Actual Innocence Requirement in Criminal Legal Malpractice” (February 2015)
  • Co-Presenter with Mitchell A. Kamin at the legal department of Southern California Edison on the topic “The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Recent Developments and the DOJ/SEC Resource Guide” (March 2013)
  • Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California School of Law, “Corporate Fraud” (2005-2015)
  • Panelist, CLE International Conference, “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act – Keeping Up with Anti-Bribery Enforcement Issues Around the World” (September 2012)
  • Panelist, CLE International Conference, “Internal Investigations” (2005-2007)
  • Panelist, CLE International Conference, “Stock Option Backdating” (January 2008)
  • Panelist, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, “Lessons From The Trenches: What Business Trial Lawyers Can Learn From Criminal Defense and Personal Injury Trial Practice” (December 2003)

Publications

  • Interviewee, “Trial Pros: Bird Marella’s Terry Bird,” Law360, March 2016

  • Author, “Budget Cuts, ADR Could Undermine State’s Judicial System,” Daily Journal, October 2004

  • Author: “Shooting Holes in the Shell Game with Expert Testimony,” Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report, Vol. 16, No. 2, February 1994

Terry Bird has been litigating, trying and winning complicated civil and white collar criminal cases for more than 40 years. He started his trial experience as a federal prosecutor in the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Before that, he clerked for Justices Lynn “Buck” Compton and Robert Thompson at the California Court of Appeal. His extensive and successful trial experience in commercial business litigation and white collar criminal prosecutions has been recognized by his election to the American College of Trial Lawyers and his selection as one of the top 100 lawyers in Southern California.

As a civil litigator, Terry has represented some of the largest corporations in the country, as well as their top executives. He has litigated for and against some of the largest Fortune 500 corporations. He has represented municipalities like Santa Monica and Hermosa Beach in high stakes litigation with oil companies. His civil practice centers on the defense of all forms of commercial litigation and class actions including contract, fraud, RICO, employment, unfair competition, shareholder derivative suits, false claim act violations, and breach of warranty matters.

As a white collar defense attorney, Terry has concentrated in securities, mail fraud, tax, customs, and government fraud cases. His clients have included executives at internet, telecommunications and power and energy companies, as well as key participants in IPO securities investigations. Recently he successfully secured a dismissal of all charges brought against a former Executive of a large Chinese agri-business conglomerate by the Department of Justice in a major trade secret prosecution. Terry has headed several corporate internal investigations to aid prominent companies (Broadcom, Yahoo) and/or their boards of directors in the exercise of their fiduciary duties to their shareholders.

Throughout his career, Terry has maintained a close relationship with the courts and judiciary. He served on President George W. Bush’s Judicial Advisory Committee and as such was one of six lawyers responsible for selecting candidates for the Central District of California’s federal bench and its United States Attorney. He has twice served as Chairman of the Central District of California Lawyer Representatives to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and once as Chairman of the Lawyer Representatives Coordinating Committee for the entire Circuit. He served as one of 10 lawyers on the Ninth Circuit Advisory Board and then served as Chair of the Advisory Board.

Representative Cases

  • Obtained preliminary injunction in a pro bono class action lawsuit against federal prison over the inefficient measures taken by prison officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Successfully convinced the court to require prison officials to consider all medically vulnerable, non-violent prisoners and those over the age of 50 for home confinement.

  • Represented the Special Litigation Committee of Broadcom Corporation’s Board of Directors for investigation and litigation of derivative claims related to allegations of back-dated stock options.

  • Represented Western Digital Corporation in successful trial defense of securities and contract claims.

  • Represented CFOs of Qwest International, Homestore, Inc. and New Century Financial Corp. in civil litigation, SEC, and U.S. Attorney’s Office investigations.

  • Represented the City of Hermosa Beach in a breach of lease and contract litigation involving claims for more than $700 million in damages.

  • Represented Canon USA and Nokia, Inc. in separate unrelated class actions, each of which involved claims of defective products.

  • Represented Purex Corporation at trial in coverage litigation involving environmental claims.

  • Represented the Alaska Public Utilities Commission in cost overrun hearings related to construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS)

  • Represented City of Santa Monica in a successful resolution of litigation with petroleum companies.

Affiliations

  • Chairman, Board of Directors of People Assisting the Homeless (P.A.T.H.)
  • Member, St. Matthews Episcopal Church Vestry

News & Events

15 Bird Marella Principals Recognized as Southern California Super Lawyers in 2022

For the past twenty years, Bird Marella attorneys have been consecutively recognized as top rated attorneys among the Southern California Super Lawyers list. The firm is proud of its reputation for providing distinguished lawyers that are not only well-respected by the bench, but also its peers.   Congratulations to the principals selected for ...

Bird Marella Showcases Top-Tier Legal Talent with 19 Attorneys Named Among the 2022 Best Lawyers in America®

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  ...

Chambers USA Names Bird Marella “One of the Best Litigation Firms in the State of California” and Recognizes Eight Principals in its 2021 Rankings

Recognized as one of the leading boutique law firms in both California and the country, Bird Marella’s complex civil and white-collar criminal litigation practices received top marks in Chambers’ 2021 rankings. With a number of the firm principals individually ranked for legal excellence, Bird Marella outperforms in the courtroom, and ...

ACLU of Southern California Honors Bird Marella with 2021 Humanitarian Award

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California has awarded Bird Marella with the 2021 Humanitarian Award, in recognition of its pro bono partnership on two COVID-19 class action lawsuits against the administrators at Terminal Island and Lompoc federal prisons. Filed on behalf of several prisoners, the lawsuits detailed how insufficient measures ...

15 Bird Marella Attorneys Recognized as 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers

Bird Marella is honored to recognize the attorneys who have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers list:  Sharon Ben-Shahar Mayer Terry W. Bird Joel E. Boxer Paul S. Chan Mark T. Drooks Thomas R. Freeman Benjamin N. Gluck  (Top 100) Gary S. Lincenberg Vincent J. Marella Ronald ...

18 Bird Marella Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers in America®

Bird Marella is proud to announce that 18 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized and selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Sharon Ben-Shahar Mayer – Criminal Defense: White-Collar Terry W. Bird – Commercial Litigation, ...

Bird Marella and ACLU Obtain Preliminary Injunction on Behalf of Federal Prisoners in COVID-19 Class Action Suits

Bird Marella and co-counsel the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) partnered with the Prison Law Office (PLO) to achieve victories in two class action lawsuits filed against Terminal Island and Lompoc federal prisons over the inefficient measures taken by prison officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the Lompoc class action, the Court issued a preliminary injunction and ordered the Bureau of ...

Other News & Events

  • Presenter, CalCPA Education Foundation 2017 Accounting & Auditing Update Conference, "Corporate Internal Investigations of Fraud Allegations" (April 2017)
  • Panelist, Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference, “Bending the Bars: Testing the Bounds of the Actual Innocence Requirement in Criminal Legal Malpractice” (February 2015)
  • Co-Presenter with Mitchell A. Kamin at the legal department of Southern California Edison on the topic “The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Recent Developments and the DOJ/SEC Resource Guide” (March 2013)
  • Guest Lecturer, University of Southern California School of Law, “Corporate Fraud” (2005-2015)
  • Panelist, CLE International Conference, “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act – Keeping Up with Anti-Bribery Enforcement Issues Around the World” (September 2012)
  • Panelist, CLE International Conference, “Internal Investigations” (2005-2007)
  • Panelist, CLE International Conference, “Stock Option Backdating” (January 2008)
  • Panelist, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, “Lessons From The Trenches: What Business Trial Lawyers Can Learn From Criminal Defense and Personal Injury Trial Practice” (December 2003)

Publications

  • Interviewee, “Trial Pros: Bird Marella’s Terry Bird,” Law360, March 2016

  • Author, “Budget Cuts, ADR Could Undermine State’s Judicial System,” Daily Journal, October 2004

  • Author: “Shooting Holes in the Shell Game with Expert Testimony,” Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report, Vol. 16, No. 2, February 1994