Robyn C. Crowther

Litigation

Los Angeles

After a federal clerkship in the mid-1990s, Robyn C. Crowther entered private practice and has since focused on civil litigation matters ranging from commercial matters to employment, trademark and copyright.

"I was always interested in courtroom advocacy and the strategy of litigating disputes, and I love the variety and dynamic nature of commercial litigation," she said.

Currently, Crowther serves as the regional managing partner for Steptoe's California office and has amassed considerable first-chair trial and arbitration experience.

In 2021, she took on a case involving the recognition of a judgment that a Russian bank obtained in Russia against a California resident. This case took a significant turn when the U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned the bank in 2022, leading to the exploration of complex issues of international law.

"We recently obtained summary judgment in the bank's favor and the next steps to collect on the judgment may present some complex issues as well," Crowther said.

She has also been representing a sheikh from the United Arab Emirates in judgment enforcement proceedings in California.

"I have experience with pre-judgment remedies like writs of attachment and possession and temporary restraining orders, but it has been interesting to litigate them in the post-judgment setting," Crowther said.

She continued: "These enforcement cases require a strong understanding of procedural rules and the interplay between them and international law. Understanding and explaining the systems of other countries in our briefing, especially when current events have significant and abrupt impacts, present intellectual and strategic challenges."

In February, her demurrers on behalf of consumer electronics companies affiliated with TCL Industrial Holdings, Co., Ltd. were sustained to a complaint filed by software company Cadence Design Systems, Inc., where Cadence alleged damages in excess of $100 million for alleged piracy of Cadence's software.

When asked about trends, Crowther said she is concerned by the post-COVID-19 backlog in the courts which is pushing hearing dates out by months, and the impact that a budget shortfall in California may have on the ability to get cases resolved.

"At the same time, the profession is still adjusting to the impact of the pandemic on how we work and shifting priorities which presents some opportunities for positive change along with the challenges," she said.