Ekwan E. Rhow

Landmark jury verdict awarding over $510 million to Saint Mary's Health Network in pivotal healthcare trial. Won one of the largest verdicts in healthcare litigation history in Nevada’s Second Judicial District Court after Ekwan convinced the jury that Universal Health Services of Delaware, Inc. (UHS) and affiliated defendants committed intentional tortious misconduct in a coordinated scheme against Saint Mary’s Health Network during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Complete defense verdict in $175 million trial for Global Fortune 500 semiconductor company. After a four week trial, Ekwan convinced a federal court jury in Seattle to find for SK Hynix against claims brought by Microsoft. Microsoft alleged that SK Hynix breached a semiconductor chip supply contract and jeopardized the launch of its Xbox One gaming console. The jury sided with Ekwan and determined that SK Hynix had not committed any wrongdoing and denied all of Microsoft’s damages claims.

Complete defense verdict for FIGS in false advertising case brought by industry leader. After four years of high-profile and hard-fought litigation, a four-week federal jury trial, and less than one day of deliberations, Ekwan secured a complete defense verdict for FIGS, a publicly traded DTC company that has revolutionized the medical apparel industry. FIGS had been sued by industry leader Strategic Partners, Inc. based on alleged claims for false advertising, violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and other related torts and claimed damages exceeding $200 million.

$92M Settlement for National Class of TikTok Users in Federal Class Action Involving Data Privacy. Appointed as co-lead counsel for the national class, Ekwan secured final approval of a $92 million settlement in one of the country’s largest and most high-profile data privacy class actions. The lawsuit involved novel application of various consumer and privacy protection laws against social media agent TikTok.

$164 Million Verdict in Two-Month Jury Trial Against LuLaRoe. After six years of litigation and a two-month jury trial, Ekwan prevailed against multilevel marketing conglomerate LuLaRoe and related defendants in a fraud and breach of contract matter. He convinced a jury the defendants breached written sourcing agreements relating to tens of millions of dollars of products, orchestrated a comprehensive fraud relating to their multi-billion dollar business model, and attempted to hide the resulting revenues. The verdict awarded his client over $164 million in total damages and its attorney's fees, earning recognition as Daily Journal's Top Verdict of 2024.

Won landmark habeas corpus ruling blocking the extradition of Christopher Ahn, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and human rights activist. Mr. Ahn was targeted for assassination by the North Korean regime for providing aid to high-profile North Korean defectors, including Kim Han-Sol, the nephew of Kim Jong-Un. The order marks the first time in U.S. history that a federal court has applied a humanitarian exception to international extradition — previously a purely theoretical doctrine.

Complete defense verdict in $50 million trial for Fortune 500 technology company. After a seven week trial, Ekwan convinced a jury to find for his client on all claims which included breach of contract, securities fraud and other tort claims. Client was facing an eight-figure damages claim as well as punitive damages. Client also received its attorney’s fees and costs as prevailing party.

Complete defense victory in $100 million arbitration for California bank. Ekwan represented a major California bank against claims for breach of fiduciary duty and alleged damages exceeding $100 million relating to an EB-5 investment fraud. After six weeks of arbitration and cross-examination of over 30 witnesses, Ekwan secured a complete defense award against all claims. 

Complete defense victory in $40 million trial for California bank. Ekwan represented a California financial institution against claims of securities fraud and alleged damages exceeding over $40 million. Plaintiff was the largest shareholder and the former Chairman of the Board for the institution. After Ekwan’s cross-examination of Plaintiff and certain rulings by the trial judge, Plaintiff agreed to have judgment entered in favor of Ekwan’s client ending five years of litigation.

Complete defense victory in $50 million ICC Arbitration for semiconductor company. Ekwan successfully defended a semiconductor company in a two-week ICC arbitration involving the sale of one of its divisions to one of the largest conglomerates in Japan. The arbitration involved allegations of fraud and breach of contract and damages in excess of $50 million. The award issued by the three-arbitrator ICC panel rejected all claims against Ekwan’s client and also granted all of its attorney’s fees. Based on the fee applications submitted, Bird Marella was able to win despite expending less than half of the $7 million in fees incurred by the conglomerate’s lawyers, a large international law firm.

Confidential settlement at the conclusion of a three week jury trial. Ekwan represented a software company in copyright and breach of contract claims against another software company. After three weeks of jury trial, defendant agreed to pay Ekwan’s client a confidential sum the day before closing arguments were to begin. The jurors were polled the next day and indicated that a verdict in the amount of $20 million to $40 million would have been awarded. Until the jury trial began, defendant had refused to engage in any meaningful settlement discussions.

Multimillion-dollar award for CEO of Major Bank. The arbitration involved litigation of change-in-control agreements and resulting amounts owed to the CEO. After heavily-contested litigation and a multi-day arbitration against a team of lawyers from a major New York law firm, Ekwan obtained full recovery of all amounts due plus interest and recovery of all attorney’s fees expended by the CEO.

Complete defense verdict for financial institution. After a four week jury trial, Ekwan obtained a defense verdict on lender liability and tort claims totaling $50 million brought by lenders against a Southern California bank. Client also received an award of attorney’s fees and costs as the prevailing party.

Complete defense verdict for Orange County real estate developer. Defending against tort and contract claims and alleged damages of $10 million relating to a $50 million development, Ekwan obtained a directed verdict after close of plaintiffs case-in-chief. Client also received an award of attorney’s fees and costs as the prevailing party.

Complete defense verdict for Orange County hospital. After a three week trial, Ekwan convinced a jury to find for his client, a hospital, on elder abuse claims in which plaintiff was seeking an eight-figures damages amount. Ekwan was brought in as trial counsel less than three weeks before the trial commenced.

Multimillion-dollar verdict for educational services company. Ekwan obtained a multimillion-dollar verdict on trade secret claims brought by an educational services company against a competitor. The Recorder (a California-wide legal publication) named it the 6th largest intellectual property verdict of 2013.

NASD Arbitration class action victory on behalf of a publicly traded online brokerage. Ekwan defended one of the largest online brokerage firms in a series of related class action cases alleging improper IPO allocations. Opposing parties did not recover any monies on their class action-related claims and recovered less than $25,000 on their individual claims.

Complete arbitration victory for California food company. Ekwan obtained a multimillion-dollar award, including a full recovery of attorneys’ fees, on behalf of a California company based on claims brought against a Korean conglomerate. The eleven-day arbitration involved a dispute over the sale of a $50 million business.

Walk-away settlement on behalf of a South Korean conglomerate. Client, one of the largest companies in South Korea, was facing contract and tort claims relating to a $100 million resort development in Guam and damages exceeding $100 million. Through litigation of various cross-claims, the walk-away settlement was achieved days before the trial was to commence.

• Featured, "Hiring a Trial Lawyer Key to Persuading Juries - Ekwan Rhow of Bird Marella," Korea Law Times, November 2024
• Featured in Cover Story Interview, Legal Times, July 2023
• Mentioned, "Medical apparel brand defeats competitor's lawsuit," Daily Journal, November 2022
• Featured, “Settlement of TikTok class action lawsuit led by a Korean lawyer,” Korea Daily, March 2021
• Featured, “Lawsuit against ‘TikTok’ for unauthorized collection of user information, Korean lawyer obtained $90 million,” The Korea Times, March 2021
• Interviewee, “Trial Pros: Bird Marella’s Ekwan Rhow,” Law360, March 2016
• Interviewee, “Minority Powerbrokers Q&A: Bird Marella’s Ekwan Rhow,” Law360, February 2015