Thomas Bienert

Partner

Tom is the founding partner of Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP (BKLW) and a highly regarded trial attorney with extensive experience in both civil and criminal litigation. After a decade as a federal prosecutor—including roles as Chief of the Orange County Office of the United States Attorney, Chief of Criminal Complaints in the United States Attorney’s Los Angeles office, and as Associate Independent Counsel in Washington, D.C.—he established BKLW in 2000. Under his leadership, the firm has achieved numerous multi-million dollar verdicts, acquittals, and dismissals in complex cases involving fraud, healthcare crimes, securities, and whistleblower actions.

Representative matters:

• Secured a $280 million settlement for the client in a pharmaceutical whistleblower/qui tam action (False Claims Act) — the second largest ever in a non-intervened qui tam case

• Secured all-charge dismissal mid-trial against the owner/operator of a large farming operation.

• Obtained a $21 million jury verdict in a wrongful termination suit against a major corporation

• Secured a "walkaway" settlement in assault and battery case against a high-profile athlete (James Harden)

• Won a multi-million dollar jury verdict for an electrician injured on an offshore oil platform

• Achieved a favorable settlement after winning at trial on whether the client could collect a several-million-dollar judgment against debtor's retirement funds

• Obtained dismissal of contempt proceedings in Anna Nicole Smith–related cases seeking a sanction in excess of $40 million

• American Bar Association, Criminal Division

• American College of Trial Lawyers

• American Trial Lawyers Association

• Association of Business Trial Lawyers

• California Bar Association

• Federal Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section

• Orange County Bar Association (Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Judiciary Committee)

• Orange County Bar Association (Former Past President 2014-2015)

• Orange County Criminal Defense Bar Association (Board Member)

• Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court

• Society of Fellows Orange County Bar Foundation

• The Celtic Bar Association

• White Collar Crime Committee, Southern California Regional Subcommittee (Board of Directors)

• Tulane University School of Law, J.D., with honors

• Louisiana State University, B.A. in English