Frank L. Tobin

Frank devotes his practice to a wide range of labor and employment litigation matters including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, non-compete, ERISA breach of fiduciary duty, class actions, PAGA, wage and hour and trade secrets.

Frank has served as lead counsel in both jury and bench trials and arbitrations. Sample representative matters include:

• Solo counsel representing corporate defendant in 4 week jury trial in state court where Plaintiff alleged racial and sexual harassment and racial and sexual discrimination; resulted in defense verdict
• Co-counsel in six week misappropriation of trade secrets jury trial in Federal Court; trial resulted in favor of client
• Solo counsel representing defendants and cross-complainant in bench trial including breach of fiduciary duty and professional liability issues; trial took approximately four weeks and resulted in favor of clients
• Lead counsel representing estate in bench trial seeking to recover assets that were taken from the estate; decision in favor of client to include double damages in connection with finding of wrongful taking; also successfully argued matter on appeal
• Lead counsel representing shareholder in state court bench trial to contest corporate board of directors’ election; trial resulted in favor of client
• Lead counsel defending corporation in binding arbitration brought by shareholders of a corporation to rescind transaction whereby shareholders had converted promissory notes to stock; arbitration award resulted in favor of client and included attorney’s fees
• Lead counsel representing claimant in binding arbitration hearing involving international real estate. Resulted in award in favor of claimant
• Lead counsel representing corporation in age discrimination lawsuit. Resulted in summary judgment in favor of client
• Lead counsel representing individual and corporation in defamation lawsuit; resulted in summary judgment in favor of clients

Education

• J.D., cum laude, University of San Diego School of Law, 1993
• B.A., cum laude, Claremont McKenna College, 1988

Admission to Practice

• California

• Association of Business Trial Lawyers (Board of Governors, 2007-2009; Annual Seminar Committee, 2007; Mini-Annual Seminar Committee, 2006)
• San Diego County Bar Association (Legal Ethics Committee, 2008-2016 (Secretary 2010-2011; Vice Chair, 2013; Chair, 2014); Judicial Evaluation Committee (2006-2010; and 2022-present))
• American Inns of Court, William B. Enright Chapter, Master (Co-Team Leader multiple times)
• Association of Corporate Counsel – Healthcare Roundtable (2012)
• Rose Institute of State and Local Government Claremont McKenna College (Board of Governors, 2011-2014)

• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Whistleblowing Around the World: What Global Employers Need to Know” – San Diego – May 12, 2023
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Out With the Old and in With the New! Navigating the New California Privacy Rights Act and Expanding Employee Privacy Rights” – Napa – March 3, 2023
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Intersection of Ethics and L&E Law” – Phoenix – May 7, 2022
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Successfully Navigating California’s Challenges—A Group Endeavor” – Napa – March 4, 2022
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Conducting Virtual Investigations: A Guide for California Employers” – March 5, 2021
• California Employment Law & Cabernet – “Navigating Harassment Claims: The California Experience” – Napa – March 5, 2020
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Ethics Update: Who’s the Client?” – New Orleans – November 16, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Lawyer Meets World (Wide Web): Social Media and Ethics” – Las Vegas – May 4, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “Preparing to Be an Effective Deposition Witness in California—An Interactive Experience” – Napa – March 2, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “Avoid Losing the California Case Before It Is Even Filed” – Napa – March 2, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “Position Yourself Now in the Event You Get Sued Later” – Napa – March 2017
• California Society for Healthcare Attorneys Webinar – “Recent Developments in Legal Ethics for the California Practitioner” – September 14, 2016
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar – “Healthcare Employment Law” – San Diego – September 2015
• ACC-SD Healthcare Roundtable – “Social Media and Legal Ethics” – San Diego – February 23, 2012

• 2015 – Association of Business Trial Lawyers Report – “Tameny Claims May Provide Employees Relief Event Where the Applicable Statute Does Not”
• July 2, 2014 – SHRM.org – “Retiree Not Entitled to Equitable Relief Under ERISA”
• December 2012 – SDCBA Bar Report – “Can an Attorney Who Represents Herself in Propria Persona Recovery Attorney’s Fees When Simultaneously Representing Her Spouse”
• December 2011 – SDCBA Bar Report – “Is it Better to Seek Forgiveness or Ask for Permission?”
• December 2011 – SDCBA Bar Report – “Whether to Settle or Go to Trial – The Client’s Decision”

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Labor and Employment (2021-2025)
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers (2012 – 2014)
• San Diego’s Top Rated Lawyers (2014)
• San Diego Magazine’s Top Lawyers in San Diego (2013 – Present)
• Southern California Super Lawyer (2014 – 2022)