Teresa Huggins

Teresa is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer. She specializes in complex civil litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts and arbitrations, with a focus on intellectual property, securities, fintech and digital assets, and general commercial litigation. She is frequently trusted to lead matters in evolving areas of law, where precedent is limited and success depends on judgment and innovative thinking.

Admitted to practice in both California and New York, Teresa regularly appears in state and federal courts on both coasts and has deep experience in cross-jurisdictional matters. Her clients have included large and small companies, startups, nonprofits, executives and founders.

Teresa has an impressive record in helping clients to reach swift, successful resolutions before trial. Recent examples include achieving dismissal of all federal and state securities claims for a Korean-based videogame developer and its U.S. subsidiary in California state court and winning summary judgment in New York federal court in a commercial dispute over an initial coin offering (ICO) investment. She also works extensively out of court to get the best, most efficient result for her clients, including mediation and informal settlement, where it makes sense.

Teresa has a significant appellate practice and has prosecuted and defended appeals in the Ninth Circuit, Second Circuit, California and New York State Courts of Appeal and the DC Court of Appeals.

Active in the community, Teresa serves on the Board of Governors of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) Los Angeles and on the Boards of Survivor’s Justice Center, which offers pro bono legal services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and Junior Achievement of Southern California, a non-profit that empowers young people to own their economic success and stay in school through financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work.

Teresa began her practice in Simpson Thacher’s New York office and clerked for the Honorable Dale S. Fischer in the Central District of California.

Notable Matters

Argued and won anti-SLAPP motion in which trial court held defamation allegations against client were protected under California’s Anti-SLAPP statute, struck the complaint in its entirety and granted client fees and costs.
Won motion to dismiss in Southern District of New York in which district court found allegations against cryptocurrency exchange were barred by the statute of limitations and declined to grant supplemental jurisdiction over remaining state law claims.
Won reversal of prejudgment attachment in Southern District of New York and obtained fees for wrongful attachment.
Obtained reversal of trial court’s determination that client’s arbitration agreement was unconscionable. California Court of Appeal found that the trial court’s refusal to permit an evidentiary hearing prior to finding unconscionability was reversible error.
Won Ninth Circuit affirmance of court’s determination that RICO statute’s predicate act was not satisfied by extortion allegations that intangible property was taken, where such property was not actually transferred, exercised or sold.
Argued and won demurrer with prejudice in California state court in which trial court found Home Solicitation Sales Act allegations were barred by the statute of limitations and fraud allegations failed to show the necessary scienter.
Argued and won multiple motions to compel arbitration in trial state court.
Argued and won demurrers in trial state court on breach of contract and fraud claims, and achieved early, favorable settlement for client.

Professional & Civic Activities

Member, Board of Governors, American Association of Business Trial Lawyers Los Angeles (2024)
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Member, California State Bar Association
Member, New York State Bar Association
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
Board of Directors, Junior Achievement of Southern California

Education

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions