Kimberl A. Carasso
About
Published Works
Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
Education
Classes/Seminars
Honors and Awards
Professional Associations and Memberships
- About
- Published Works
- Areas of Practice
- Bar Admissions
- Education
- Classes/Seminars
- Honors and Awards
- Professional Associations and Memberships
- Senior Counsel
Location:
Newport Beach, CA
Phone:
Fax:
949-631-3703
Email:
With nearly three decades of experience, Kim has found success in litigating business, class action, employment, professional liability, real estate, insurance bad faith, and catastrophic personal injury matters in state and federal courts, arbitration, and mediation. Since joining Klein & Wilson, Kim focuses on business litigation and legal malpractice matters.
The recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV® Preeminent™ rating, Kim is skilled at crafting a solution-oriented approach based upon the client’s unique needs. She identifies the adversary’s weaknesses and designs a strategy based upon the client’s desired goals — whether it be settlement or full-blown litigation — to maximize the potential for success as quickly and efficiently as possible. Representative results of her proactive approach include:
- Pre-litigation, successfully resolved a trade secrets/defamation case for a well-respected local university professor.
- Co-chaired and obtained victory in long-standing and acrimonious dispute between homeowners’ associations.
- Obtained an injunction against client’s former employee who stole company equipment and trade secrets to open his own competing business.
- Successfully resolved commercial unlawful detainer action where client stood to lose lucrative medical spa business.
- Obtained arbitration award of less than $25,000.00 where demand against client was in excess of $1,000,000.00.
- Obtained injunction and outstanding settlement against competing luxury car dealership after former employee absconded with trade secrets, client lists, etc.
- Defeated commercial unlawful detainer action, saving client from losing thriving restaurant/night club.
- Mediated wage and hour action so that clients paid a fraction of liability faced at trial.
- Successfully resolved accounting malpractice case for 3% of demand.
- Co-chaired defense verdict in multi-million-dollar products liability action.
Kim is a proud graduate of the University of California – San Diego where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and two programs of concentrations (akin to minor degrees) in Japanese Studies and Scientific Perspectives. From there, she graduated from California Western School of Law where she was on the Dean’s List and received an award for oral advocacy and the American Jurisprudence Award in Evidence Advocacy.
When not practicing law, Kim enjoys volunteering in her community, cheering on her son in all his pursuits, cooking, traveling, and constantly learning.
Published Works
- Orange County Trial Lawyers Association “The Gavel,” “A Zoom with a View to Mandatory Settlement Conference Success” (Spring 2021)
- Defense Research Institute “The Voice,” Co-Author, “Recent Supreme Court Decisions: A Reminder to Draft Contracts and Arbitration Provisions with Care” (2013)
Areas of Practice
- Business Litigation
- Legal Malpractice
- Accounting Malpractice
- Partnership Disputes
- Shareholder Disputes
- LLC and LLP Disputes
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Trade Dress Infringement Litigation
- Trademark Infringement Litigation
- Copyright Infringement Litigation
- Real Estate Disputes
- Breach of Contract
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Fraud
- Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Litigation
- Commercial Unlawful Detainer
- Commercial Landlord Tenant Disputes
- Appellate Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
Bar Admissions
- California, 1996
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1998
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2009
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2009
Education
- California Western School of Law, San Diego, California
- J.D. – 1996
- Honors: Oral Advocacy Competition Award, California Western School of Law, 1995
- Honors: Dean’s List, California Western School of Law, 1996
- Honors: American Jurisprudence Award, Evidence Advocacy, American Jurisprudence Bancroft-Whitney, 1996
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
- B.A. – 1993
Classes/Seminars
- Association of Corporate Counsel of America – Southern California’s Double Header, “Wage and Hour: The Latest Trends and Strategies to Minimize the Negative Impact of These Costly Claims” (August 2006)
- Family Violence and Sexual Assault institute National Meeting, “Useful Tips to Minimize the Possibility of Malpractice Claims” and “HIPAA and What It Means to Health Care Providers” (September 2005)
- 7th Annual Klinedinst Employment Symposium, “Sexual Harassment Update: Important Developments in California Sexual Harassment Laws” (December 2004)
- 6th Annual Klinedinst Employment Symposium, “The Best and Worst Practices: Pre-Employment Discrimination” (March 2004)
- Lorman Education Services Seminar – Introduction to Employment and Labor Law in California, “Pre-Hiring Issues” and “How to Minimize Sexual Harassment” (February 2004)
- American Society of Women Accountants 63rd Annual Conference – The Pursuit of Personal and Professional Promise: Women Accountants as Catalysts for Change, Co-presenter, “Ethical Considerations for Accountants Post-Enron” (September 2003)
- Lorman Education Services Seminar, “The Down and Dirty on Sexual Harassment” (February 2003)
- 5th Annual Klinedinst Employment Symposium – Staying Ahead of the Curve: A Day of Interactive Processes, “Dual Employment Issues” and “Independent Contractors” (January 2003)
Honors and Awards
- Top Women Attorneys in Southern California, 2013-2022
- Super Lawyers®, 2012 – 2016
- Top 100 Attorneys in Orange County, 2014
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
- OC Metro – Top OC Attorney, Orange County Register, 2013
- Super Lawyers® Rising Star, 2009-2011
- Mover and Shaker Under 40, OC Metro Magazine 2009
- Avvo 10.0 Rating
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Orange County Bar Association, Member, 2005 – Present
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Member, 2024 – Present
- Orange County Women Lawyer Association, Member, 2020-Present
- California Women Lawyers – Member, 2020 – Present
- Orange County Trial Lawyers Association – Member, 2005-2012, 2020-Present
- State Bar of California, Member, 1996
Kimberly A. Carasso
- About
- Published Works
- Areas of Practice
- Bar Admissions
- Education
- Classes/Seminars
- Honors and Awards
- Professional Associations and Memberships
Senior Counsel
Location:
Newport Beach, CA
Phone:
Fax:
949-631-3703
Email:
With nearly three decades of experience, Kim has found success in litigating business, class action, employment, professional liability, real estate, insurance bad faith, and catastrophic personal injury matters in state and federal courts, arbitration, and mediation. Since joining Klein & Wilson, Kim focuses on business litigation and legal malpractice matters.
The recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV® Preeminent™ rating, Kim is skilled at crafting a solution-oriented approach based upon the client’s unique needs. She identifies the adversary’s weaknesses and designs a strategy based upon the client’s desired goals — whether it be settlement or full-blown litigation — to maximize the potential for success as quickly and efficiently as possible. Representative results of her proactive approach include:
- Pre-litigation, successfully resolved a trade secrets/defamation case for a well-respected local university professor.
- Co-chaired and obtained victory in long-standing and acrimonious dispute between homeowners’ associations.
- Obtained an injunction against client’s former employee who stole company equipment and trade secrets to open his own competing business.
- Successfully resolved commercial unlawful detainer action where client stood to lose lucrative medical spa business.
- Obtained arbitration award of less than $25,000.00 where demand against client was in excess of $1,000,000.00.
- Obtained injunction and outstanding settlement against competing luxury car dealership after former employee absconded with trade secrets, client lists, etc.
- Defeated commercial unlawful detainer action, saving client from losing thriving restaurant/night club.
- Mediated wage and hour action so that clients paid a fraction of liability faced at trial.
- Successfully resolved accounting malpractice case for 3% of demand.
- Co-chaired defense verdict in multi-million-dollar products liability action.
Kim is a proud graduate of the University of California – San Diego where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and two programs of concentrations (akin to minor degrees) in Japanese Studies and Scientific Perspectives. From there, she graduated from California Western School of Law where she was on the Dean’s List and received an award for oral advocacy and the American Jurisprudence Award in Evidence Advocacy.
When not practicing law, Kim enjoys volunteering in her community, cheering on her son in all his pursuits, cooking, traveling, and constantly learning.
Published Works
- Orange County Trial Lawyers Association “The Gavel,” “A Zoom with a View to Mandatory Settlement Conference Success” (Spring 2021)
- Defense Research Institute “The Voice,” Co-Author, “Recent Supreme Court Decisions: A Reminder to Draft Contracts and Arbitration Provisions with Care” (2013)
Areas of Practice
- Business Litigation
- Legal Malpractice
- Accounting Malpractice
- Partnership Disputes
- Shareholder Disputes
- LLC and LLP Disputes
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Trade Dress Infringement Litigation
- Trademark Infringement Litigation
- Copyright Infringement Litigation
- Real Estate Disputes
- Breach of Contract
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Fraud
- Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Litigation
- Commercial Unlawful Detainer
- Commercial Landlord Tenant Disputes
- Appellate Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
Bar Admissions
- California, 1996
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1998
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2009
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2009
Education
- California Western School of Law, San Diego, California
- J.D. – 1996
- Honors: Oral Advocacy Competition Award, California Western School of Law, 1995
- Honors: Dean’s List, California Western School of Law, 1996
- Honors: American Jurisprudence Award, Evidence Advocacy, American Jurisprudence Bancroft-Whitney, 1996
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
- B.A. – 1993
Classes/Seminars
- Association of Corporate Counsel of America – Southern California’s Double Header, “Wage and Hour: The Latest Trends and Strategies to Minimize the Negative Impact of These Costly Claims” (August 2006)
- Family Violence and Sexual Assault institute National Meeting, “Useful Tips to Minimize the Possibility of Malpractice Claims” and “HIPAA and What It Means to Health Care Providers” (September 2005)
- 7th Annual Klinedinst Employment Symposium, “Sexual Harassment Update: Important Developments in California Sexual Harassment Laws” (December 2004)
- 6th Annual Klinedinst Employment Symposium, “The Best and Worst Practices: Pre-Employment Discrimination” (March 2004)
- Lorman Education Services Seminar – Introduction to Employment and Labor Law in California, “Pre-Hiring Issues” and “How to Minimize Sexual Harassment” (February 2004)
- American Society of Women Accountants 63rd Annual Conference – The Pursuit of Personal and Professional Promise: Women Accountants as Catalysts for Change, Co-presenter, “Ethical Considerations for Accountants Post-Enron” (September 2003)
- Lorman Education Services Seminar, “The Down and Dirty on Sexual Harassment” (February 2003)
- 5th Annual Klinedinst Employment Symposium – Staying Ahead of the Curve: A Day of Interactive Processes, “Dual Employment Issues” and “Independent Contractors” (January 2003)
Honors and Awards
- Top Women Attorneys in Southern California, 2013-2022
- Super Lawyers®, 2012 – 2016
- Top 100 Attorneys in Orange County, 2014
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
- OC Metro – Top OC Attorney, Orange County Register, 2013
- Super Lawyers® Rising Star, 2009-2011
- Mover and Shaker Under 40, OC Metro Magazine 2009
- Avvo 10.0 Rating
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Orange County Bar Association, Member, 2005 – Present
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Member, 2024 – Present
- Orange County Women Lawyer Association, Member, 2020-Present
- California Women Lawyers – Member, 2020 – Present
- Orange County Trial Lawyers Association – Member, 2005-2012, 2020-Present
- State Bar of California, Member, 1996
- Senior Counsel
Location:
Newport Beach, CA
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
LinkedIn:
With nearly three decades of experience, Kim has found success in litigating business, class action, employment, professional liability, real estate, insurance bad faith, and catastrophic personal injury matters in state and federal courts, arbitration, and mediation. Since joining Klein & Wilson, Kim focuses on business litigation and legal malpractice matters.
The recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV® Preeminent™ rating, Kim is skilled at crafting a solution-oriented approach based upon the client’s unique needs. She identifies the adversary’s weaknesses and designs a strategy based upon the client’s desired goals -- whether it be settlement or full-blown litigation -- to maximize the potential for success as quickly and efficiently as possible. Representative results of her proactive approach include:
- Pre-litigation, successfully resolved a trade secrets/defamation case for a well-respected local university professor.
- Co-chaired and obtained victory in long-standing and acrimonious dispute between homeowners’ associations.
- Obtained an injunction against client’s former employee who stole company equipment and trade secrets to open his own competing business.
- Successfully resolved commercial unlawful detainer action where client stood to lose lucrative medical spa business.
- Obtained arbitration award of less than $25,000.00 where demand against client was in excess of $1,000,000.00.
- Obtained injunction and outstanding settlement against competing luxury car dealership after former employee absconded with trade secrets, client lists, etc.
- Defeated commercial unlawful detainer action, saving client from losing thriving restaurant/night club.
- Mediated wage and hour action so that clients paid a fraction of liability faced at trial.
- Successfully resolved accounting malpractice case for 3% of demand.
- Co-chaired defense verdict in multi-million-dollar products liability action.
Kim is a proud graduate of the University of California – San Diego where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and two programs of concentrations (akin to minor degrees) in Japanese Studies and Scientific Perspectives. From there, she graduated from California Western School of Law where she was on the Dean’s List and received an award for oral advocacy and the American Jurisprudence Award in Evidence Advocacy.
When not practicing law, Kim enjoys volunteering in her community, cheering on her son in all his pursuits, cooking, traveling, and constantly learning.
Published Works
- Lawyers Beware: The Masellis Court Put an End to the “Legal Certainty” Burden in Settle and Sue Legal Malpractice Cases, ABTL Report (Summer 2020)
- Cutting Litigation Costs in a Post-Covid World, Today’s General Counsel (Summer 2020)
- Problems When Transactional Counsel Act as Trial Counsel, Today’s General Counsel (Spring 2020)
- Why do Lawsuits Cost So Much Money?, Orange County Business Journal (February 2018)
- Hire An Attorney Before You Sign That Legal Document, Orange County Business Journal (December 2017)
- How to Interview an Attorney to Handle a Business Dispute on a Contingency Fee Basis, Orange County Business Journal (December 2017)
- Hold On… to Evidence Potentially Relevant to a Lawsuit, Orange County Business Journal (November 2017)
- Have You Reviewed Your Shareholders’/Operating Agreement?, Orange County Business Journal (October 2017)
- WARNING – Read Your Binding Arbitration Agreements Carefully, Orange County Business Journal (August 2017)
- WARNING – Protect Your Intellectual Property Before It’s Too Late!, Orange County Business Journal (July 2017)
- Treat the Family Business Like a Business, Orange County Business Journal (May 2017)
- Beware of Hidden Rent Increase Clauses, Orange County Business Journal (May 2017)
- Law Firm Divorces: Who Keeps the Cases?, ABTL Report (Spring 2017)
- The New (Old) Fraud Exception to the Parol Evidence Rule, OCTLA Gavel (Summer 2013)
- Traps For The Unwary In A Commercial Unlawful Detainer Case, OCTLA Gavel (Winter 2013)
- Witness Interviews: Who Is Off Limits and Who Is Fair Game?, OCTLA Gavel (Fall 2010)
- Legal Malpractice, Klein & Wilson Website (Summer 2010)
- How to Get Your Attorneys’ Fees Reimbursed, Klein & Wilson Website (2010)
- The Trial Lawyer’s Screenplay, OCTLA Gavel (Summer 2007)
- Multimedia: An Unforgettable Trial Presentation, OCTLA Gavel (Fall 2006)
- The Do’s and Don’ts of Closing Arguments, OCTLA Gavel (Spring 2006)
- The Parole Evidence Rule. The Gatekeeper of Evidence in Contract Cases, OCTLA Gavel (Fall 2005)
- Mock Trials – One of the Most Powerful Tools for Case Evaluation and Trial Preparation, ABTL Report (Summer 2004)
- Plaintiff’s Right to Recover Medical Costs: How to Introduce Evidence of Actual Bills, OCTLA Gavel (Fall 2003)
- What You need to Know About Choice of Law Issues, OCTLA Gavel (Spring 2003)
- Contributed to 1992 Supplement of California Defect Litigation, Thomas E. Miller (1992)
Areas of Practice
- Business Litigation
- Legal Malpractice
- Accounting Malpractice
- Partnership Disputes
- Shareholder Disputes
- LLC and LLP Disputes
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Trade Dress Infringement Litigation
- Trademark Infringement Litigation
- Copyright Infringement Litigation
- Real Estate Disputes
- Breach of Contract
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Fraud
- Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Litigation
- Commercial Unlawful Detainer
- Commercial Landlord Tenant Disputes
- Appellate Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
Bar Admissions
- California, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1989
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 1988
Education
- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
- J.D. – 1988
- Honors:
Scott Moot Court Honors Board, 1987-1988 - Jurisprudence Book Award, Legal Research and Writing, 1986
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
- B.S. – 1985
- Major:
Public Administration
Classes/Seminars
- Lecturer, How to Ruin Your Legal Career, Orange County Bar Association, Business and Litigation Section, February 2024
- Lecturer, How to Use Multimedia in Trial, Orange County College of Trial Advocacy, 2022
- Lecturer, How to Use Multimedia in Opening Statement, Orange County College of Trial Advocacy, 2019
- Lecturer, How to Prepare for and Take “C-Suite” Depositions, Orange County Bar Association, September 2019
- Lecturer, The New Rules of Professional Conduct Which Affect Small Firms and Solo Practitioners, Orange County Bar Association, Small/Solo Section, 2019
- Lecturer, The New Rules of Professional Conduct and the Sheppard Mullin Opinion: How They Impact Business Litigators, Orange County Bar Association, 2018
- Lecturer, The New Rules of Professional Conduct, Provisors, 2018
- Lecturer, The Ideal Motion to Compel Arbitration, ABTL Annual Seminar, 2018
- Lecturer, How to Avoid Legal Malpractice and Keep Your License, Ferguson Inn of Court, 2018
- Lecturer, Marriage and Divorce of Law Firms, Orange County Bar Association, 2018
- Lecturer, How Real Estate Attorneys Can Avoid Legal Malpractice Claims, Orange County Bar Association, 2017
- Lecturer, Winning Attorney-Client Fee Disputes, Orange County Bar Association, 2017
- Lecturer, Mistakes Lawyers Make Regarding Structured Settlements, Annual Convention of Society of Settlement Planners, 2016
- Lecturer, How to Use Multimedia to Make Closing Arguments More Convincing, Provisors’ Lawyers and Legal Professionals Affinity Group, 2015
- Lecturer, Using Multimedia to Maximize Impact, Orange County Bar Association, 2014
- Lecturer, Capturing the Audience’s Attention with Multimedia, Orange County Women Lawyers Association, 2014
- Lecturer, How to Avoid Legal Malpractice, AttorneyCredits.com, 2014
- Lecturer, Multi-Media Courtroom Presentations, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, 2014
- Lecturer, Ethics and Etiquette – Avoiding Malpractice Claims When Representing Financial Institutions & Building Stronger Client Ties, Orange County Bar Association, Banking and Lending Section, 2014
- Lecturer, How to Avoid Legal Malpractice Claims / Common Mistakes in Legal Malpractice Cases, Orange County Bar Association, Real Estate Section, 2013
- Lecturer, Effective Use of Multimedia for Mediation and Trial, Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court, 2013
- Lecturer, Cumis Counsel Issues for the Business Litigator, Orange County Bar Association, 2010
- Lecturer, Using Video Technology in Case Management, Deposition & Trial, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, 2009
- Lecturer, How to Present a Multimedia Closing Argument, Orange County College of Trial Advocacy, 2009
- Lecturer, Technology Weapons Every Business Lawyer Must Learn to Use at Trial, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, 2008
- Lecturer, How to Conduct Voir Dire, Orange County College of Trial Advocacy, 2007
- Lecturer, How to Take a Videotaped Deposition and Get it Into Evidence, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, 2006
- Lecturer, Modern Evidence Techniques and Technology, Lorman Seminar, 2005
- Lecturer, Damages in a Commercial Case, Lorman Seminar, 2003
- Lecturer, How to Conduct Voir Dire, Orange County Bar Association, 2003
- Lecturer, Latest Trends in Jury Selection, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, 2003
- Lecturer, Mock Trials – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, 2002
- Lecturer, Litigation in the 21st Century – How to Present a Multimedia Trial, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, 2001
- Lecturer, Trying the Business Case on a Contingency Fee Basis, State Bar of California, 2000
- Lecturer, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mock Trials and Focus Groups, Orange County Bar Association, Business Litigation Section, 2000
Honors and Awards
- America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators®
- America’s Top 100 Attorneys
- AVVO Rating 10.0 Superb
- Best Lawyers, 2015 – Present
- Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Orange County List, 2017 – 2020
- Super Lawyers®, 2005 – Present
- Super Lawyers®, Top 100 Southern California List, 2019 – 2020
- Trial Lawyer of the Year, Legal Malpractice, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, 2019
- Top Lawyer, Coast Magazine (January 2016)
- 2021 and 2023 Best Lawyers Trial Lawyer of the Year – Trade Secrets
- AV Rating, the Highest Rating for Skill and Ethics by Martindale-Hubbell
- OC’s Top Attorneys – Raising the Bar and Setting New Precedents, OC Metro (2013)
- OC’s Most Notable Lawyers, OC Metro (August 2012)
- The Dean’s List – OC’s Top Attorneys, OC Metro (August 2011)
- The Legal Eagles – OC’s Top Attorneys, OC Metro (August 2010)
- Super Lawyers®, Corporate Counsel Edition, 2008
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Orange County Bar Association Professionalism and Ethics Committee, 2020 to Present
- California certified specialist in Legal Malpractice Law, 2018 to Present
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Board of Governors, 2017 to Present
- Loyola Law School, Board of Directors, 2016 to Present
- Business Litigation Section of Orange County Bar Association, Chair, 2016
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Member, 2004 to Present
- Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Directors 2002 to 2008 Member, 1996 to Present
- Banyard Inn of Court, Master Bencher, 2000 to Present
- Orange County Bar Association, Member, 1994 to Present
About
Published Works
Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
Education
Classes/Seminars
Honors and Awards
Professional Associations and Memberships