Kasey J. Curtis

Kasey is a member of Reed Smith’s Global Commercial Disputes and Appellate Groups. He represents clients in high-stakes, high-profile, and complex matters at both the trial court and appellate levels.

At the trial level, Kasey’s practice focuses on commercial litigation and class action defense. In his commercial litigation work, Kasey represents businesses as both plaintiffs and defendants in contract, licensing, acquisition, partnership, and leasing disputes. Kasey has also handled more than a dozen class actions and has the distinction to be one of the few class action defense attorneys to have successfully tried a class action before a jury. As a direct result of his efforts, Kasey’s clients have recovered tens of millions of dollars and successfully extinguished well in excess of a billion dollars in claimed liability.

At the appellate level, Kasey has authored more than 100 appellate briefs, argued over 40 appeals, and secured more than 20 reported decisions. He has won appeals in the California Supreme Court, Nevada Supreme Court, New Mexico Supreme Court, Florida District Courts of Appeal, Washington Court of Appeals, Minnesota Court of Appeals, all six appellate districts of the California Courts of Appeal, and four different circuits of the United States Court of Appeals. He is also routinely tapped to advise trial counsel on issue preservation during trial and post-trial motions.

Kasey has won numerous awards and accolades during his career. The Legal 500, the world’s largest legal referral guide (which provides independent and unbiased commentary on lawyers), reports that clients have called Kasey “very reliable” and commented that he “possesses ‘excellent legal and negotiation skills’ and is ‘very clear in his legal analysis.’” In 2019, the California Daily Journal named Kasey in its annual “Top 40 Under 40”. Kasey is also listed in the 2026 Best Lawyers in America – Appellate Practice.

Prior to joining Reed Smith, Kasey spent a year working for the Ninth Circuit, where he served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Johnnie B. Rawlinson. As a former Ninth Circuit clerk, Kasey understands how judges approach cases and has tailored his approach to brief writing and advocacy accordingly.

Experience

Representative matters

Represented ownership group in multiple related cases arising from acquisition of Las Vegas hotel and casino and failed construction of a 750-seat venue at the resort.

Represented affiliate of Lippo China Resources in connection with dispute with its investment partners regarding ownership and operation of a U.S.-based copper mine.

Acted as second chair in bench trial of declaratory relief claims seeking to enforce development contract concerning distribution of propane in Master Plan development. After trial, the court issued a 45-page statement of decision in client’s favor and awarded $1.97 million in prevailing party attorney’s fees.

Commercial disputes

Represented ownership group in multiple related cases arising from acquisition of Las Vegas hotel and casino and failed construction of a 750-seat venue at the resort.

Represented affiliate of Lippo China Resources in connection with dispute with its investment partners regarding ownership and operation of a U.S.-based copper mine.

Represented developer in dispute with its prime contractor related to development of mixed-use retail and condominium building located at 2300 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica.

Represented Bahamian hedge fund in connection with dispute with majority shareholder of Chinese iron ore conglomerate related to ownership of disputed shares pledged as collateral for stock loan.

Represented hedge fund in connection with dispute with director of Chinese film distribution company related to loan agreement and securities pledged as collateral for the loan.

Represented owners of Fresh Brothers Pizza in litigation with investor regarding claimed ownership interest in venture.

Represented Austrian conglomerate in long-running dispute with business partner arising from unsuccessful venture to market and license financial forecasting software to U.S.-based clients.

Obtained judgment of dismissal in favor of bank client in multimillion-dollar action brought by Native American tribe alleging that bank defendant aided and abetted misappropriation of funds the tribe had on deposit with the bank.

Successfully represented Fluor Corporation in contract dispute arising from government contract to provide security services as part of troop surge in Afghanistan.

Appellate matters

Powers v. McConough, 163 F.4th 1162 (9th Cir. 2025). Successfully represented UCLA in appeal from judgment and injunction invalidating its baseball stadium lease.

Gibson v. Cendyn Grp., LLC, 148 F.4th 1069 (9th Cir. 2025). Reported decision establishing that use of algorithm pricing software does not violate the Sherman Act.

Barrera v. Apple American Group, LLC, 95 Cal. App. 5th 63 (2023). Successfully reversed order denying petition to compel arbitration of claims brought under California’s Private Attorney General Act (PAGA).

Billesbach v. Specialized Loan Servicing LLC, 63 Cal. App. 5th 830 (2021). Reported decision on the use of cure provisions under California’s Homeowner Bill of Rights (HBOR).

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Electronic Funds Transfer Corp., 326 So. 2d 753 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2021). Secured reversal of $5 million punitive damages award against bank following two-week jury trial.

In re Bard IVC Filters, 969 F.3d 1067 (9th Cir. 2020). Represented client in appeal of trial court district in multi-district litigation involving preemption of Class II medical devices.

McClain v. Sav-On Drugs, 6 Cal. 5th 951 (2019). Secured opinion from California Supreme Court on inability of consumers to sue retailers over disputes concerning taxability of retail products.

Kaura v. Stabilis Fund II, LLC, 24 Cal. App. 5th 420 (2018). Secured reversal of order holding lender liable for city’s enforcement fees and costs in Health and Safety Code receivership.

Brown v. Ralphs Grocery Co., 28 Cal. App. 5th 824 (2018). Secured published decision establishing exhaustion requirements for PAGA cases under California law.

Ho v. ReconTrust Co., 858 F.3d 658 (9th Cir. 2017). Obtained precedential opinion on important issue of whether trustees foreclosing pursuant to a power of sale in a California deed of trust are debt collectors under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

People v. ConAgra Grocery Prods. Co., 17 Cal. App. 5th 51 (2017). Successfully reduced scope of nuance abatement judgment following landmark lead paint trial.

Dalton v. Santander Consumer Credit USA, Inc., No. S-1-SC-35101, 2016-NMSC-035 (2016). Secured decision from New Mexico Supreme Court in case involving question of whether arbitration provision in vehicle finance contract is unconscionable under New Mexico law because it allows parties to pursue small claims actions outside of arbitration.

Yhudai v. Impac Funding Corporation, 1 Cal. App. 5th 1252 (2016). Obtained published opinion holding that borrowers lack standing to pursue wrongful foreclosure claims predicated upon allegations of invalid assignment of borrower’s note and deed of trust.

David v. Medtronic, Inc., 237 Cal. App. 4th 734 (2015). Secured published opinion addressing whether trial court has discretion to sever and dismiss claims of out-of-state plaintiffs who joined their claims with in-state plaintiffs to sue in California.

Class actions

Successfully represented bank in a rare class action jury trial in Northern District of California. Following a deadlocked jury, secured favorable settlement that extinguished over $300 million in claimed liability.

Obtained summary judgment of investor claims alleging that bank aided and abetted Ponzi scheme.

Obtained order from Northern District of California granting partial judgment on the pleadings in favor of bank client in putative class action on the grounds that many of the claims at issue were preempted by the Riegel-Neal amendments to Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

Represented banking clients in class action brought by customers alleging that bank illegally charged overdraft fees.

Represented merchant cash advance company in class action brought by its customers alleging that company’s merchant cash advances violated state lending and usury laws.

Obtained summary judgment for employer on wage statement claims.