Drew A. Harbur

Drew A. Harbur

Senior Trial Attorney
Location:
Santa Ana, California
Phone:
714-241-4444
888-284-0809 (Toll Free)
Fax:
714-241-4445
Email:

Mr. Harbur's unique background combines representation of clients on some of the most complex civil and white collar matters with his extensive trial and courtroom experience. This combination enables him to expertly handle every stage of litigation, from early strategic decisions through closing argument in front of a jury. Mr. Harbur believes that in order to most effectively represent clients in litigation, even in cases that ultimately settle, the attorney must have a deep understanding of every stage of the case - especially the pressures and unpredictability of trial. Mr. Harbur has tried more than 25 cases to jury verdict and achieved exceptional results in each case.

Mr. Harbur began his career at one of the nation's preeminent law firms-Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. At Gibson Dunn, he represented clients in both civil and criminal matters. For example, Mr. Harbur represented a major bank in multiple global regulatory and antitrust investigations, requiring him to help manage teams in the U.S., Zurich, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. At the same time, he also represented local Orange County clients in financial, property, contract, and trade secret disputes.

As Mr. Harbur's career progressed, he discovered that few litigation attorneys have meaningful trial experience, which limits their ability to effectively strategize cases in the early stages of litigation. As a result, and in order to develop this critical skill set, he joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, one of the largest prosecutorial agencies in the world. As a Deputy District Attorney, Mr. Harbur prosecuted numerous fast-paced and high-stakes cases, including business fraud, gang, and murder cases.

In one of Mr. Harbur's most significant cases while at the District Attorney's Office, he prosecuted a man for first-degree murder after he viciously killed the mother of two young children and left her body in an abandoned lot near Long Beach. After a contentious trial involving testimony from eyewitnesses, DNA/forensic experts, LAPD detectives and others, Mr. Harbur delivered closing arguments to the 12-member jury. The jury took just 3 hours to convict the defendant of first-degree murder and a Los Angeles judge sentenced him to life in prison. News coverage of Mr. Harbur's opening statement is available here. A court transcript of Mr. Harbur's closing argument is available here.

In 2018, Mr. Harbur left the District Attorney's Office to join Callahan & Blaine, California's premier litigation firm.

Areas of Expertise

  • Trials, Arbitrations and Mediations
  • Business Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Complex Civil Actions
  • Contract Law
  • Trade Secrets
  • Internal Investigations
  • Labor and Employment Litigation
  • Defamation and Unfair Competition

Results

  • Obtained “declination to prosecute” from government agency following complex negotiations, resulting in a lawsuit never being filed against prominent business client;
  • Obtained complete dismissal with prejudice for business client at pleading stage following civil enforcement action by government agency alleging fraud, extortion and false advertising;
  • Obtained complete defense outcome for real estate client in litigation involving allegations of trade secret misappropriation, defamation, unfair competition and false advertising;
  • Obtained complete dismissal of class action following alleged massive data privacy breach.

In the News

Bar Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California

Education

  • University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles, California
    • J.D.
    • Honors: Most Outstanding Oral Advocate in UCLA’s Annual Moot Court Competition
  • Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
    • B.A.
    • Honors: Captain, Varsity Track & Field Team
    • Honors: All-conference Performer, Javelin and Hammer Throw
    • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Orange County Bar Association, Member
  • Board of Directors – Waymakers. Waymakers is one of Orange County’s largest and most important nonprofit organizations and is dedicated to supporting crime victims, sheltering children and resolving conflicts.

Business and Government Experience

  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Litigation Associate
  • Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Deputy District Attorney
  • United States Attorney’s Office (Central District), Intern