Marc J. Schneider has built his career as a litigator and business advisor who finds creative and practical solutions to his clients’ most sensitive corporate governance challenges and business disputes. Colleagues and counsel from both sides of the bar recognize Marc is at his best when he’s defending Orange County companies, directors and officers, and private equity firms in federal and state courts in securities class actions, derivative suits, merger and acquisition litigation and government investigations. He has numerous trial wins under his belt, including in multiple matters with more than $100 million at issue. 

When he’s not litigating, Marc is a strategic partner to companies who rely on his advice on the pressing matters that impact their business. Whether responding to a crisis or advising on a critical business dispute, his end goal is the best possible business outcome for his client. He seeks to avoid litigation altogether whenever possible, but if trial is inevitable, he knows how to win. Marc’s early and practical advice during important transactions, corporate governance challenges and other sensitive matters ensures clients make sound and informed decisions for the long-term health of their business.

Marc is a member of Stradling’s executive committee and previously served as the firm’s general counsel. Before he joined Stradling, Marc practiced securities and business litigation at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and clerked for the Hon. Andrew J. Peck, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. His leadership in both the Orange County legal and philanthropic communities has been recognized with the Marcus J. Kaufman Jurisprudence Award and the Daniel R. Ginsberg Leadership Award. Marc has also been selected by his peers repeatedly for Best Lawyers and as one of the Top 50 “Super Lawyers” in Orange County. Among other community commitments, Marc has served as Co-Chair of the On Golden Wings Campaign for the Pegasus School, Chair of the Board for the Orange County Region of the Anti-Defamation League, on the Board of Trustees for Temple Bat Yahm, a board member of the Orange County Technology Alliance (since merged with OCTANe), and on the Advisory Council for the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. 

Some highlights of his career include:

When Ceradyne, Inc. and certain director defendants were confronted with four class action lawsuits relating to 3M’s $860 million acquisition of the company, Marc’s team persuaded the Delaware Court of Chancery to deny the plaintiff’s motion for expedited discovery which resulted in a favorable settlement for his clients and a successful closing of the transaction for the benefit of Ceradyne’s shareholders.

Marc’s team obtained a full defense verdict after a nearly two-month trial for an Orange County public company in a fraud case seeking damages of more than $130 million.

Marc’s team represented Forrest Binkley & Brown Capital Partners, LLC in litigation arising out of the $130 million acquisition of American Asphalt Holdings Corp. After Marc convinced the Illinois Court of Chancery to dismiss the action in Illinois and the plaintiff refiled in the District of Nevada, Marc’s team convinced the Nevada court to grant a motion to dismiss DTPI Holdings, Inc.’s fraud claims. After filing significant counterclaims against DTPI, Marc settled the matter on favorable terms.

Marc defended his client in the Orange County Superior court in a trial stemming from the contentious break-up of a 20-year business relationship. Marc’s team obtained a complete defense win on a $9 million claim made against the client after a three-week trial and protected it on appeal.  Marc’s team also obtained and collected on a $600,000 judgment in favor of their client in a related arbitration on his client’s counterclaims.

Marc obtained and collected on a $3.5 million judgment after a two-week arbitration in Texas in which Marc’s team proved that a Fortune 500 technology company had breached a licensing agreement.

Marc and his team secured a dismissal on summary judgment on behalf of Stephen Johnson and Sage Hill Partners LLC in a $15 million securities fraud case.

Marc and his team secured a dismissal on behalf of VisionMaker in litigation arising out of its $200 million acquisition of Palace Entertainment.

Credentials

Education
  • New York University, J.D., 1996
  • Johns Hopkins University, B.A., 1993
  • Board Member and member of claims committee, Attorneys Insurance Mutual Risk Retention Group
  • Executive Board Member, OCTANe, Co-Chair, Legal Roundtable, Committee Member, High Tech Awards
  • Advisory Council, The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
  • Sonenshine Pro Bono Reception, dinner committee
  • Former Chair, The Pegasus School, On Golden Wings Annual Fund Campaign
  • Former Chairman of the Board, Anti-Defamation League, Orange County/Long Beach region
  • Former Executive Committee Member and Co-Chair of Litigation Workshop, University of California, Irvine Law School
  • Former Board Member, Temple Bat Yahm
  • Former Board Member, Orange County Jewish Bar Association
  • California
  • New York
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • Southern District, NY
  • Central District, CA
  • Northern District, CA
  • Southern District, CA