About David Thomas
David Thomas Bartels is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 2000. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Bartels is a senior partner at Lawrence Bartels LLP, a litigation and transactional boutique law firm specializing in high-end business litigation. The firm is located at 7700 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 800, Irvine, California 92618. He has been practicing law for over 25 years, serving clients throughout California, including Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.
Mr. Bartels earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where he graduated in 2000. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at California State University, Long Beach, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994. During his time at McGeorge School of Law, he was involved in various legal clinics and externships, gaining practical experience in different areas of law.
Mr. Bartels concentrates his practice in the areas of securities litigation, complex business litigation, professional liability litigation, banking law, corporate law, election law, campaign and political law, litigation, professional liability, securities, white-collar crime, civil and commercial litigation, government enforcement actions, securities fraud, securities enforcement actions, transactional and regulatory issues, intellectual property, lobbying, and regulatory law. He represents individuals and businesses in matters involving shareholder class action and derivative lawsuits, merger and acquisition disputes, and proceedings before the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Bartels has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of Orange, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. He has also appeared before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Prior to founding his own firm, he worked as an associate at a mid-size litigation firm in Irvine for five years.
Mr. Bartels is an active member of the California State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He holds membership in the American Bar Association Section of Litigation. He is also a certified mediator through the California State Bar's Alternative Dispute Resolution program. Mr. Bartels is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing him to serve the diverse communities of California effectively.
