Philip McLeod

Philip McLeod is a shareholder with Keesal, Young & Logan in its San Francisco office.  Mr. McLeod regularly practices before all state and federal courts in California.  Mr. McLeod’s practice is on the defense side of business and financial litigation, mortgage banking, securities arbitration, regulatory investigations, disciplinary actions and employment disputes.  With more than three decades as a litigator, Mr. McLeod has the depth and experience to successfully defend clients in these areas.  Mr. McLeod has an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as Northern California Super Lawyer for nine consecutive years.

Mortgage Banking

Mr. McLeod has defended more than two hundred mortgage cases for lenders and loan servicers.  These involve claims for wrongful foreclosure, breach of contract, negligence, fraud, violations of statutes such as RESPA, TILA and ECOA and lender and broker liability in general. These cases have been in every state and federal courts in Northern California.

Securities Arbitrations

Over the last 30 years Mr. McLeod has successfully arbitrated approximately one hundred securities cases to Awards.  These cases have involved claims of fraud, negligence, misrepresentation, unsuitable solicitations, unauthorized activity, forgery, registration deficiencies, improper restricted and penny stock transactions, improperly administered accounts, offshore accounts, churning, inadequate due diligence and inadequate supervision.

Regulatory Actions

Mr. McLeod has represented businesses and professionals at all stages of the regulatory process from informal inquiries, to examinations and investigations, to enforcement proceeding.  The cases have involved allegations of accounting irregularities, sales practice violations, insider trading, trading ahead, failing to supervise, unauthorized activities away from the firm, embezzlement, failing to maintain required books and records, self-dealing, conflicts of interest, issuing inaccurate research and trade reporting.

Employment Matters

Mr. McLeod has defended numerous employment cases and regularly counsels clients about hiring from the competition, non-compete agreements, compensation issues, upfront loans, commission programs, separation agreements, and terminations.

General Litigation

Mr. McLeod has led the defense of general litigations concerning contracts, trade secrets, estate planning and insurance coverage.  These cases have been in both court and private arbitrations.

Background

Hastings College of the Law, J.D., 1981

University of California at Santa Cruz, B.A. with honors, 1976

Mr. McLeod is the Co-Chair of the Parents Leadership Circle at UC Berkeley and has served on the Cal Parents Board from 2008 through the present.  Mr. McLeod has also been a member of Cal Men’s Lacrosse Boosters from 2012 to the present.

Practice Areas

• Securities
• Business Litigation
• Insurance
• Unfair Business Practices