Practice Areas

Business Litigation, Insurance Defense, Insurance coverage / Bad Faith, Mortgage Banking, Labor / Employment

Mr. Song joined Ardent as a Principal in March of 2009 after having spent the bulk of his legal career at several of the largest renown international law firms in the world. Since graduating from Southwestern Law School in 1999, Mr. Song has focused his extensive State and Federal litigation practice on business, employment, and construction law matters. Additionally, Mr. Song has represented many regional and national clients (including Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation, CitiMortgage, and New Century Mortgage) on mortgage banking and real estate matters, complex commercial litigation, and insurance coverage/bad faith litigation (which also included advising most, if not all, of the largest insurance carriers in the U.S. with regard to coverage issues under directors and officers, fidelity, and general liability policies).

The invaluable “mega law firm” experiences helped Mr. Song build upon his established reputation dedicated to the prosecution and defense of both large companies and small businesses involving claims for breach of contract, intentional and negligent misrepresentation, theft of trade secrets, false advertising, trade dress infringement, and statutory unfair competition. Further, after starting his legal career with the California Attorney General’s Office and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Mr. Song regularly defends and minimizes potential liability for companies and public entities in employment law related matters arising from allegations of wrongful termination, sexual and gender harassment, retaliation, disability, race and gender discrimination, and wage and hour claims. Mr. Song’s diverse experience also includes having sole responsibility over investigating, litigating and resolving more than one hundred admiralty and transportation law matters against carriers, vessel owners, shippers, stevedores, air and rail carriers, trucking companies, storage yards, and terminal operators in Federal and State courts throughout the United States.

Long hours of hard work, commitment to clients and mature leadership have been the vital components to Mr. Song’s practice and reputation. He understands that clients may require assistance or have pressing queries at nights or on weekends, which is why Mr. Song makes himself readily available to clients outside of normal business hours. In addition, Mr. Song’s strong work ethic and client dedication have been the cornerstone to routinely achieving successful results on behalf of his clients. Respect, teamwork and utmost professionalism are also equally important to Mr. Song as he manages complex litigation matters that require significant staffing. Even early in his career - as an associate - Mr. Song managed teams of a dozen or more attorneys in delegating responsibilities and supervising all aspects of the discovery and investigation stages of large scale litigation matters.  Mr. Song’s most important key to success, however, is his sincere appreciation of all clients, which is why he has so many longstanding friendships with them.

Mr. Song's professional legal experience includes, but is not limited to:

• Troutman Sanders LLP (formerly Ross, Dixon & Bell, LLP)
• Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, LLP
• Haight, Brown & Bonesteel, LLP
• Morrison Foerster   

Mr. Song's litigation success includes, but is not limited to:

• Obtaining summary judgment and dismissal of a coverage/bad faith lawsuit when the court found that the insurer’s policy language imposed a valid reporting requirement that could be enforced.

• Obtaining summary judgment and dismissal of a coverage/bad faith lawsuit when the court found that insured improperly repaired and remodeled rental property for damage unrelated to a "auto v. real property" collision.

• Obtaining dismissal of lawsuit by large international law firm on behalf of leading Japanese wellness product company when the court found that law firm failed to comply with statutory requirements.

• Obtaining multiple dismissals of lawsuits via demurrers and summary judgment motions for alleged wrongful foreclosure and statutory unfair competition.

• Obtaining summary judgment in a D&O coverage/bad faith lawsuit when the court found that subsequent lawsuits tendered by insured were unrelated to original action.

• Obtaining summary judgment and dismissal of lawsuit on behalf of NVOCC when the court found that express language in the shipping contract did not guarantee "air ride" freight forwarding.

• Obtaining dismissal of lawsuit on behalf of NVOCC when the court enforced forum selection clause.

• Obtaining 85% + recovery on cargo loss claims on behalf of numerous marine insurance companies.

• Obtaining summary judgment and dismissals of numerous wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment lawsuits on behalf of governmental entities, businesses and large companies.

Mr. Song’s legal experience also includes, but is not limited to:

• Draft (and counsel clients regarding) employment agreements on behalf of employers and employees.

• Draft (and counsel clients regarding) commercial lease agreements on behalf of business owners.

• Draft (and counsel clients regarding) license agreements on behalf of business owners.

• Draft (and counsel clients regarding) partnership and joint venture agreements on behalf of business owners.

  

Education	University of California, Irvine (B.A., Social Ecology; Specialization in Criminal Justice, 1995), Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1999).
Admissions	Mr. Song is admitted to practice before all California Courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and all United States District Courts for California.
Memberships	Mr. Song is a member of the Los Angeles and Orange County Bar Assocations.