Gabe P. Wright focuses his litigation and trial practice on complex business, commercial and insurance issues, real estate matters, professional liability issues, and class action litigation involving consumer and commercial high stakes matters. Gabe’s extensive experience involves representation of clients in both state and federal court throughout California and across the United States.
A compelling and spirited litigator, Gabe is the “go-to” attorney for his varied clientele. In addition to providing day-to-day counseling, Gabe dedicates his litigation practice to serving clients in a wide variety of class action, commercial litigation, and real estate litigation matters and is looked to by clients to serve as coordinating counsel with respect to a wide variety of legal disputes.
Gabe’s class action practice encompasses the defense of products liability and consumer class actions. Gabe represents clients from various industry sectors including assisted living communities, financial institutions, hoteliers, product manufacturers, and the collections industry. His clients often face lawsuits involving the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Business Practices, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, among other regulatory laws.
In his commercial litigation practice, Gabe represents clients in a broad array of business disputes, including consumer claims, contract disputes, corporate governance issues, shareholder and director disputes, business interference, trade secret, conversion, elder abuse, and professional liability litigation.
Gabe also has a diverse and in-depth real estate litigation practice representing clients in all areas of litigation, including construction disputes, disputes over the purchase of real property, homeowners’ association disputes, and real property disputes involving easements and encroachments. In addition, Gabe represents clients in connection with commercial properties including issues related to commercial lease disputes and property management. Gabe’s real estate clients include owners of residential and commercial properties, homeowners’ associations, contractors, appraisers, surveyors and real estate brokers.
Cradle to grave service is what Gabe is known for, advising clients on pre-litigation strategy and representing them throughout the litigation process, from law and motion, TRO/injunction hearings and class certification through trial and arbitration. Gabe keenly develops effective strategies to meet clients’ litigation and business objectives.
Gabe excels in litigation and trial, specifically real estate, class-action and business/commercial litigation, arising from complex and high-stakes issues. He is a zealous advocate for his clients and has an unyielding desire to see them succeed and flourish, treating their business interests as if they were his own.
Gabe’s clients find him down to earth and relatable because he helps make the law understandable and accessible to them. They also value and appreciate his ability to carefully explain the reasoning behind his strategies. His clients know they are not just engaging an attorney; they are hiring someone who is a trusted part of their team and who is looking out for their best interests.
Gabe’s practice always involves something new, which keeps work interesting for him. He enjoys the new challenges and the element of problem-solving that comes with his cases. Gabe also stays current professionally and in the community by actively serving as a member of the Alliott Global Alliance, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and serving as the Co-Chair of Hahn Loeser’s San Diego Litigation Practice Group and Hahn Loeser’s National Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Experience
• Defeated class certification of a California statewide class action brought on behalf of California consumers alleging violations of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Business & Professions Code section 17200, et seq. against his client, a collections company.
• Successfully defeated certification of a California statewide class action brought on behalf of 500,000 class members seeking $100 million in damages against client, a manufacturer of shower pans.
• Prevailed in arbitration on behalf of a homeowners' association for a private, gated community in the Hidden Hills area of Los Angeles against a land developer seeking $9 million in damages related to real property, easement rights and business interference claims. His client obtained an injunction against the land developer and full recovery of their attorneys’ fees and costs.
• Obtained judgment in favor of a homeowners association and its property management company against a plaintiff who brought a civil rights/housing discrimination and personal injury lawsuit seeking $4 million for allegedly failing to accommodate her disabilities.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
"Enforcement of International Judgments in the United States of America"
January 21, 2021
"Negotiation Skills" Presentation to 2020 Alliott Global Alliance North American Leadership Conference
January 10, 2020
"The Evolution of Easements in California and the Rise of the Equitable Easement"
October 10, 2015
"The New Commercial & Residential Common Interest Development Act & The New Davis-Stirling Act"
May 04, 2014
Legal Update: Prevailing Party in an HOA Enforcement Action May Recover Pre-Litigation Attorneys’ Fees Under the Davis-Stirling Act
March 01, 2013
"THE BIG CHILL: Special Motions to Strike. California’s Anti-SLAPP Statute"
February 20, 2003
Awards & Distinctions
SD Metro, San Diego's Top Attorneys, 2021
“Top Lawyer,” Business Litigation, San Diego Magazine, 2017-21
"San Diego County's 2019 Men of Influence," SD Metro Magazine, 2019
Leaders in Law Finalist, San Diego Business Journal, 2019
AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships & Affiliations
Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Member
Alliott Global Alliance, Member, Litigation/Dispute Resolution Specialty Practice Group
California Bar Association, Member
San Diego County Bar Association, Member
Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Chapter, Alumnus
Promises2Kids, Voluntee
