Kirk D. Dillman

Kirk D. Dillman is a principal at the Los Angeles office of McKool Smith and initially joined the firm in 1998. With the realms of complex commercial litigation and trials, his specialties include finance, securities, energy, real estate, trade secrets and health care fraud.

He played a pivotal role in resolving complex ERISA claims against one of the world’s largest investment managers.

The case involved a fraudulent scheme that masked the significant risks associated with an intricate options trading strategy, resulting in more than $11 billion in investor losses. Dillman’s task involved unraveling this sophisticated scheme, which posed a considerable challenge due to its complexity and the substantial financial implications.

“Unraveling the scheme that resulted in more than $11 billion of losses to investors was exceedingly complex,” he said.

This case highlights not only the intricate nature of investment fraud schemes but also the critical role of skilled attorneys in uncovering and addressing such deceptions.

Dillman’s success in this matter underscores his expertise in dealing with high-stakes financial litigation, particularly in cases involving pension funds and complex investment strategies.

In addition, Dillman is known for his longtime representation of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Recently, he helped secure a preliminary injunction and motion for summary adjudication on behalf of the Archdiocese against a local businesswoman who wanted to turn the Villa San Giuseppe into a boutique hotel. Instead, with Dillman’s help, the Archdiocese was able to sell the former convent site to pop star Katy Perry.

“Before the sale closed, Dana Hollister, a local businesswoman who wanted to turn the site into a boutique hotel, convinced two elderly nuns who formerly resided at the convent to transfer the property to her, despite the fact that they had no power or authority to do so,” Dillman said. “After years of protracted litigation, the Archdiocese received clear title and a $10 million award of fees and punitive damages. Ms. Hollister filed for bankruptcy protection.”

Dillman also points out a significant trend in the legal field, “Training the next generation of trial lawyers will be increasingly difficult as courts hold fewer hearings, as work from home becomes more prevalent, and as the growth of AI potentially retards the development of critical thinking and advocacy skills,” he said.