Gilda R. Turitz

Partner

Description of Practice

Gilda Turitz concentrates her practice on business litigation in federal and state courts and arbitration tribunals, involving commercial transactions; contractual, partnership, intra-corporate and securities disputes; unfair competition claims; legal malpractice and other professional liability; real estate; fraud and breach of fiduciary duty; and trusts and estates litigation. Ms. Turitz also represents clients in securities arbitrations before FINRA (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers) and in related regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, including by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ms. Turitz litigates matters involving municipal bond issuances and claims that arise when the tax-exempt status of such issuances is called into question. Her diverse practice extends to trademark and related intellectual property litigation, trade secret and employment termination matters, product liability claims, and construction litigation. Ms. Turitz also provides business counseling and advice to clients with an eye toward avoiding future disputes, including counseling on appropriate forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Ms. Turitz’s clientele includes businesses ranging from multi-national corporations to closely held corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, as well as individual directors, officers and executives in diverse industries such as telecommunications and high technology, professional service firms and other service industries, and real estate and investment concerns. She also represents individuals in the defense or prosecution of claims arising from their business, investment or employment.

In addition to representing clients as an advocate, Ms. Turitz is an arbitrator, mediator and early neutral evaluator. She serves on federal and state court panels, and since 1989 has served as a commercial arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. In SEC v. Prudential Securities (1994-1996), Ms. Turitz was arbitrator in more than 300 expedited arbitrations involving investor suitability and misrepresentation claims. She has a high rate of success in resolving commercial disputes as a mediator.

Ms. Turitz is the firm’s Litigation Practice Group Leader. Before joining Sideman & Bancroft LLP in January 1998, Ms. Turitz practiced as a commercial litigator for 17 years at the San Francisco office of Graham & James LLP, where she chaired the litigation group.

Professional & Community Involvement

Ms. Turitz is an active member of the American Bar Association and recipient of the ABA’s “Golden Hammer Award” in recognition of her efforts to shatter the glass ceiling. She served for several years as co-chair of the ABA’s Women Rainmakers Group and on its Executive Committee. She often speaks and writes on issues relating to arbitration and mediation, lawyers’ professional development, law firm management and practice development, and mentoring.

Currently, Ms. Turitz is an active member of Financial Women of America (San Francisco chapter), and serves on the Advisory Counsel of the American Arbitration Association (San Francisco office). Ms. Turitz previously served as Treasurer and on the Board of Directors of the Association for Dispute Resolution - Northern California (formerly Northern California Mediation Association) and as General Counsel and on the Board of Directors of Leadership California, a network of accomplished women, dedicated to advancing the leadership role women play in impacting business, social and public policy.

Ms. Turitz is a member of the board of directors of the civil rights organization, Anti-Defamation League (Central Pacific Region), and has served on ADL’s regional and national committees for Civil Rights and Legal Affairs. Since 2007, she has been actively involved in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program to support its mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Ms. Turitz also is a past board member of the Kentfield Schools Foundation and the Redwood High School Scholarship Fund.

Ms. Turitz served as an extern law clerk to U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick, Jr. Listed in Northern California Super Lawyers®: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. Listed in Best Lawyers in the Bay Area®, Bay Area Lawyer Magazine, 2005. AV® Peer Review Rated.¹

Education

B.A., University of Michigan, 1970, with Distinction
M.L.S., University of California, Berkeley, 1972
J.D., University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law, 1980, Order of the Coif, Member, U.C. Davis Law Review, The Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award

Decisions

Decker v. Yorkton Securities, Inc., 106 Cal.App.4th 1315 (2003)
Resolution Trust Corp. as Receiver for Occidental Nebraska Sav. Bank, F.S.B. v. Titan Financial Corp., 36 F.3d 891 (9th Cir. 1994)
Resolution Trust Cor p. v. Titan Financial Corp., 22 F.3d 923 (9th Cir. 1994)