Kay Anderle
PRACTICE AREAS
- Trials
- Commercial Litigation
- Bet-the-Company Trials
- Class Actions
- White Collar Criminal Defense
EXPERIENCE
Kay is a seasoned trial attorney, having tried over 100 jury trials to verdict. She represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of high-stakes commercial litigation and white collar cases. Chambers USA ranks her among the top commercial litigators in California, quoting sources who describe Kay as “having great instincts and clients listen breathlessly when she speaks.” “She is exceptionally smart and hard-working.” Kay is a Senior Fellow of the invitation-only Litigation Counsel of America. She is also listed in the Law Dragon Leading Lawyers, among the most prestigious international legal directories.
Kay began her legal career over 32 years ago in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, where she spent 12 years prosecuting criminal cases. In 2004, she entered private practice, focusing on white collar criminal cases. Her negotiation and trial skills made her one of the most effective defense lawyers in Southern California.
In 2005, she and Jennifer Keller formed Keller/Anderle and expanded their practice to include high-stakes business litigation and trials. In 2009, Kay worked with Jennifer on a business fraud trial in which the jury awarded $350 million, the largest jury verdict in California that year. In 2011, she joined Jennifer in the retrial of the epic doll battle Mattel v. MGA, in which MGA was defending against copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation claims and prosecuting its own trade secret misappropriation action against Mattel. The jury rejected all of Mattel’s claims of copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation and awarded $85 million in damages to MGA Entertainment; the judge added another $85 million in punitive damages and $139 million in attorneys’ fees. In 2013, Kay was co-lead plaintiff counsel on a business fraud trial which resulted in a multi-million-dollar jury award.
Since that time Kay has handled cases involving shareholder oppression (settled favorably to her client), allegations of human trafficking against a Saudi princess (all eventually dismissed), successful defense of a claim her client breached a $1 billion oral partnership for real estate investment, and a white collar criminal case alleging bribery of public officials by a developer that then-Attorney Jerry Brown called “the largest corruption case in the history of San Bernardino County, and possibly California.” After a nine-month jury trial the defendant was acquitted of all charges.
Kay is also managing partner of the firm.
- Chambers USA -- Commercial Litigation (2022)
- The Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2023)
- The Law Dragon Leading 500 Lawyers in America (2020-2023)
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (by invitation only, limited to top 1/2 of 1 percent of lawyers nationally)
- Litigation Counsel of America, Mesereau Cup for Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer, 2015-2016
- Los Angeles Magazine, “Southern California Superlawyers, Business Litigation; White Collar Criminal Defense” (2015-2022)
- The Best Lawyers In America®, S. Naifeh & G. Smith (2011-22), Commercial Litigation; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Legal Malpractice--Plaintiffs; White Collar Criminal Defense; Orange County Lawyer of the Year 2014 (Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar)
- Life Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- California Lawyer Magazine, 2012 Lawyers of the Year, Honorable Mention (Litigation)
- OC Metro Magazine, Orange County’s Top Lawyers for 2013 (Criminal Defense)
- Martindale-Hubbell “AV” rated, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Irvine, California 92612-1057
