U.C. Davis School of Law has named alumnus and Girard Sharp LLP founding partner Daniel Girard as the March 2016 Alumni of the Month. In an interview for the law school’s website, Mr. Girard credits a King Hall professor and advisor as a driving force in his decision to found Girard Sharp LLP and recalls the courses on Civil Procedure that impacted his future career. Girard Sharp Wide-Ranging Litigation Experience Reflecting on his role as managing partner of the firm, Mr. Girard cites the diversity of cases and wide range of clientele he serves as one of the most challenging and enjoyable aspects of his career. Mr. Girard was recently appointed lead counsel in a case against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management concerning a June 2015 data breach affecting 18 million federal employees. He presently serves as lead counsel for the California Teachers’ Retirement System in an action arising out of alleged bribery at Wal-Mart’s Mexican operations and lead counsel in an action challenging the spin-off of 235 Sears properties to a real estate investment trust. He also represents Alaskan natives in a case concerning wireless services in the Yukon Delta. Serving as lead counsel In re: Peregrine Financial Group Customer Litigation, Mr. Girard recently obtained settlements worth more than $75 million for former customers of Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. in litigation against U.S. Bank and JPMorgan Chase Bank arising out of Peregrine’s July 2012 collapse. In the past, Mr. Girard successfully represented Chinese-American students in litigation concerning school integration in San Francisco, and residents of the territory of Guam who were illegally denied tax refunds by the Guamanian government. Leadership Recognized by the Federal Judiciary A strong foundation in Civil Procedure coursework at King Hall laid the groundwork for Mr. Girard’s career engagement with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. He was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to serve on the U.S. Judicial Conferences Advisory Committee on Civil Rules from 2004-2010, and was subsequently appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to serve on the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure beginning on October 1, 2015. Previously, the U.S. Judicial Conferences Advisory Committee and the American Bar Association have invited Mr. Girard to speak about proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 16, 23, 26, and 37. About Daniel Girard Mr. Girard has been included among The Best Lawyers in America for five consecutive years since 2012, and was named 2013 “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco for Mass Tort Litigation and Class Action for Plaintiffs. He has been honored as a Northern California Super Lawyer (2007-2015), Top 100 in Northern California, and earned an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, recognizing him in the highest class for professional ethics and legal skills.
