Zachary Young
Zachary is a partner of Patton Sullivan Brodehl LLP and an experienced trial and appellate attorney. His practice focuses on complex business and real estate litigation, often involving high stakes (a million dollars or more at issue). He represents individuals and business entities, and example cases include disputes among real estate investors, disputes among LLC managers/members or partners, and commercial lease disputes.
"Rising Star"
Zachary has been recognized by Super Lawyer Magazine as one of Northern California’s “Rising Stars” for 5 years running, from 2017-2021. He has also earned Martindale-Hubbell’s “AV Preeminent” designation, which is the highest peer rating standard available. According to Martindale-Hubbell, this designation is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. 1 Both the Super Lawyer “Rising Star” award and Martindale designations are based on anonymous reviews, anonymous nominations, and independent research by those companies. Attorneys cannot pay to obtain or influence these honors.
Zachary started his career handling insurance defense matters, where he was given ample opportunity to hone his skills at all stages of litigation, including negotiations, case development, discovery, mediation, and arbitration/trial, including for example over 100 depositions. Because of this, Zachary gained significant practical experience earlier in his career than many of his peers. Over time, he transitioned that litigation skill set to more complicated business and real estate disputes, and now has the luxury of applying his extensive practical experience and knowledge of litigation tactics and strategies to those more complicated disputes. He represents individuals, LLCs, corporations, and other business entities to help solve their complicated business and real estate problems. At his core, Zachary considers himself a problem solver for his clients. He has enjoyed success in both federal and state courts, and the trial and appellate levels on behalf of his clients.
Giving Back
In addition to his practice, Zachary makes it a priority to give back to his community, particularly to the next generation of attorneys. Since 2014, Zachary has served part-time at UC Hastings, College of the Law, in a variety of roles, including as an adjunct professor teaching first year Legal Writing & Analysis and Moot Court, and also as a coach of the school's very successful moot court teams. During that time, none of Zachary's moot court teams has ever finished lower than quarterfinalists in any national competition.
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| 1 | AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM and Martindale-Hubbell NotableSM are Certification Marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards. |
- Assist trial team to obtain jury verdict exonerating real property owner from $55 million fraud and breach of contract claim by CalSTRS SPE arising from "No Wall on the Waterfront" development rejected by San Francisco voters
- Obtained favorable verdict as lead trial attorney in arbitration before Judicate West in Los Angeles involving significant injuries and policy limits claim stemming from motor vehicle accident
- Defended Fortune 500 company specializing in electricity, natural gas, and geothermal resources in breach of contract dispute, defeating majority of the plaintiff's alleged claims leading to favorable settlement
- Represented LLC Members and Managers, and assisted trial team, to prevail at trial and successfully defend attempt to oust clients from multi-hundred million dollar real estate project and instead helped them recover tens of millions of dollars in damages and equitable relief
- Represented international manufacturer of computer peripherals and software in wrongful termination action leading to favorable settlement after motion for summary judgment was filed
- Defended former corporate officers against trade secret misappropriation claims
- Assist trial team to obtain arbitration award in favor of tenant department store against shopping center owner, prohibiting owner from charging its for-profit parking garage expenses to tenant as NNN charges
- Successfully defended mortgage servicers, banks, and financial services companies in multiple cases involving claims of mortgage fraud, Homeowners' Bill of Rights, debt collection and other statutory, tort, and contracts claims
- Represented food producer as part of trial team that obtained favorable jury verdict in Arizona District Court involving catastrophic brain injury claims
- Assisted with appellate briefing in California Court of Appeal representing insured who was denied coverage based on various policy exclusions
- Successfully convinced appellee to agree to remand in Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals after filing opening brief on behalf of client
- Defended claims of fraud, breach of contract, and elder abuse related to business purchase agreement and obtained favorable settlement for clients
- Hastings Business Law Journal, Senior Articles Editor, 2010-2011
- Individual Representation Civil Justice Clinic
- Witkin Awards (highest grade in class):
- Appellate Advocacy (Civil)
- Professional Responsibility
- Negotiation & Settlement
- National Moot Court Teams:
- Pace, Quarterfinalists, Spring 2011;
- Pace, Student Coach, Spring 2012;
- Fed Bar, Quarterfinalists, Spring 2012 (2nd Best Overall Individual Advocate Award)
- Outstanding Achievement in Pro Bono
Santa Clara University
- magna cum laude in both degrees
- Minor in Religious Studies (National Honor Society for Religious Studies)
- Zachary Young, Note, California License To Be Sued: A Critique of Strict Liability Imposed on Business Owner Licensees From the Perspective of the Smog Check Industry, 8 HASTINGS BUS. L.J. 473 (2012)
- "PSB Update" blog author, since 2020
- "Money and Dirt” blog author, since 2020
- California Legal Ethics: Advance Conflict of Waivers, MCLE, January 9, 2013
- Revisiting Order of Operations Through the MICRA Lens, MCLE, February 13, 2013
- Warning: Don't Assume You Know Everything There Is to Know About Assumption of Risk, MCLE, March 13, 2013
- "We Won! Now What?": Enforcing/Collecting Your Judgment, MCLE, June 12, 2013
- LinkedIn to the Rules Regarding Endorsements and Recommendations, MCLE, September 11, 2013
- Knowing When to Zip Your Lip: Prohibited Communications With Represented Parties, MCLE, November 13, 2013
- Joint Representation: An Efficient, United Front? Or Tangled Web of Ethical Traps?, MCLE, November 26, 2013
- "Show Me the Money!": Ethically Resolving Fee Disputes, MCLE, December 11, 2013
- Slaying the Three-Headed Dragon of Traditional Medicare: Three Compliance Obligations Under the Medicare Secondary Payer Statute, MCLE, March 13, 2014
- Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court
- Adjunct Professor and Moot Court Coach at UC Hastings, College of the Law
- ProVisors (San Ramon 3; Bay Area Real Estate Affinity Group; East Bay Lawyers Affinity Group)
- California
- United States District Court for the Central District of California
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
- United States District Court for the Northern District of California
- United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Contact:
12647 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 430
San Ramon, CA 94583
Phone: (925) 600-1800
Fax: (925) 600-1802
Email: zyoung@psblegal.com
