Leslie Schwaebe Akins, Esq.

Represented multiple investors in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts and arbitration forums seeking rescission, restitution, and/or damages arising from the sale or management of securities, including syndicated public offerings; private placement offerings for limited partnerships; tenants-in-common investments; master limited partnerships and limited liability companies; 1031 exchanges; real estate investment trusts; unit investment trusts; promissory notes; private sales of publicly traded stocks; derivatives, including options, futures contracts, and reinsurance agreements; collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs); collateralized debt obligations (CDOs); municipal and corporate bonds; variable life insurance contracts; variable annuities; and initial public offerings of publicly traded stock.

Successfully litigated and recovered tens of millions of dollars for investors in cases against international, national, regional, and boutique securities broker-dealers, clearing firms, and investment banking firms.

Successfully arbitrated and obtained settlements during FINRA arbitration against a large regional securities clearing firm and broker-dealer for improper margin calculations, clearing-firm liability for the conduct of a registered investment adviser and carried securities broker-dealer, and other misconduct, resulting in six-figure and seven-figure settlements for investors.

Successfully represented a post-judgment creditor in a closed bankruptcy case seeking to reopen the bankruptcy and prosecute an adversary proceeding for a determination that a state-court judgment arising from an NASD arbitration award was non-dischargeable, resulting in a published Ninth Circuit decision and an unpublished state-court opinion in Fiero v. Perle.

Successfully represented creditors in bankruptcy adversary proceedings seeking determinations of non-dischargeability under Section 523(a) and equitable subordination, resulting in seven-figure settlements.

Successfully represented pre- and post-judgment creditors against the FDIC, as receiver for a defunct financial institution, in bankruptcy proceedings seeking to elevate claims under a theory of equitable subordination, resulting in a seven-figure recovery.

Successfully represented the City of Vista against its former chief investment officer and securities broker-dealers for self-dealing and selling illegal securities to the City in violation of state and municipal law.

Successfully represented an investor in the Diversified Lending Group Ponzi scheme action through appeal, resulting in a published decision recognizing the secondary liability of aiders and abettors for the offer or sale of securities in violation of California's Securities Act of 1968 and a favorable settlement.

Successfully litigated an insured's claims against an insurance company, insurance wholesaler, retail insurance agents, premium-finance lender, and premium-finance marketer, resulting in a six-figure settlement for the insured.

Successfully prosecuted, counseled, and/or resolved disputes concerning environmental contamination; employment, including wrongful termination; defamation; franchise act violations; intellectual property; cybersquatting involving Mattel; business litigation; financial elder abuse; family law; fiduciary fraud; insurance bad faith, including disability claims and first- and third-party bad faith; insurance premium financing; and probate and trust disputes.

Successfully represented the Diocese of San Diego against California Linen Supply in a three-week jury trial that resulted in a $15.9 million verdict, the tenth-largest jury verdict in California that year.