Ms. Akins earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego in 1988 and holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego. She is a proud member of several prestigious legal organizations, including The California Bar, the American Bar Association, and the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA). Throughout her career, Ms. Akins has been consistently recognized for her legal ability and ethical standards, including honors such as the “Top Rated Lawyer in Litigation” and a “Distinguished Attorney” rating from Martindale Hubbell.

Sample Representations

• Represented multiple investors in a myriad of state, federal and bankruptcy courts and arbitration forums seeking rescission, restitution and/or damages arising from the sale or management of securities, including but not limited to 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, reinsurance agreements, etc.), collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), collateral debt obligations (“CDOs”), municipal and corporate bonds, variable life insurance contracts, variable annuities, initial public offerings of publicly traded stock.
• Successfully litigated and/or successful recovered millions of dollars on behalf of investors prosecuting cases against international, national, regional, and/or boutique securities broker-dealers, clearing firms and investment banking firms, recovering tens of millions of dollars for investors.
• Successfully arbitrated and obtained settlement during FINRA arbitration against large regional securities clearing firm and broker dealer for improper margin calculations, clearing firm liability for conduct of registered investment advisor and carried securities broker-dealer, and other misconduct resulting in six-figure and seven-figure settlements for investors.
• Successfully represented post-judgment creditor in closed bankruptcy case seeking to reopen bankruptcy, file and prosecute adversary proceeding for determination of non-dischargeability of state court judgment arising from NASD arbitration award, resulting published 9th Circuit decision and unpublished state court opinion (Fiero v. Perle).
• Successfully represented creditors in bankruptcy matters re: adversary proceedings seeking determination of non-dischargeability under Section 523(a) and equitable subordination resulting in seven-figure settlements.
• Successfully represented pre- and post-judgment creditors against FDIC as receiver for defunct financial institution in bankruptcy seeking to elevate claim under theory of equitable subordination, resulting in 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 investor in Diversified Lending Group Ponzi scheme action, taken up on appeal, resulting in published decision recognizing secondary liability of aiders and abetters for offer or sale of securities in violation of California’s Securities Act of 1968, and favorable settlement.
• Successfully litigated insured’s claims against insurance company, insurance wholesaler, retail insurance agents, premium finance lender and premium finance marketer resulting in a six-figure settlement to insured.
• Successfully prosecuted, counseled and/or resolved disputes concerning environmental contamination, employment (wrongful termination), defamation, franchise act violations, intellectual property, “cyber-squatting” (Mattel), business litigation, financial elder abuse, family law, fiduciary fraud, insurance bad faith (including disability claims, first and third party bad faith), insurance premium financing, and probate/trust disputes.
• Successfully represented Diocese of San Diego against California Linen Supply which, after a three week jury trial, resulted in a jury verdict of $15.9 million dollars- which was the tenth largest jury verdict in California that year.