Abimael “AJ”
Bastida

• State Bar of California
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

• J.D., High Tech Law Certificate, Santa Clara University School of Law
• B.S., Santa Clara University

Spanish

Representative Matters

• Secured a reversal of a summary judgment order in a case involving a man who was shot in the back and killed by a police officer. After a hard-fought appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s summary judgement granting qualified immunity.
• Successfully secured a full dismissal in a case regarding a years-long intra-family dispute that included allegations of, among others, elder abuse, breach of fiduciary duty, undue influence. The allegations were thoroughly refuted, resulting in complete exoneration for the clients.
• Successfully negotiated a favorable severance package on behalf of a senior-level tech executive involving claims of age discrimination.
• Obtained a seven-figure settlement for a family after the tragic loss of their family member. The litigation involved a motorist who hit the decedent’s bicycle. Because AJ developed evidence the motorist was arguably doing company business at the time, he was able to trigger the employer’s insurance coverage. The settlement represented not only the conclusion of contentious litigation with multiple insurance carriers but also brought much needed closure for the family after years of uncertainty.
• Secured the dismissal of all charges against a hard-working immigrant pulled out of a vehicle at gunpoint by police, in front of her children, for committing a traffic violation.
• Successfully represented a trustee in a multi-million-dollar trust matter brought by beneficiaries alleging multiple wrongful acts on behalf of the trustee. The case settled without any finding of liability and before trial.
• Achieved dismissal of a multi-million-dollar trust claim whereby two adult children sued to disinherit their stepmother after their father’s passing, affirmed on appeal.
• Secured a $100,000 judgment against a company for violation of workers’ rights.
• Successfully negotiated an award of full medical (including future treatment), and loss of wages for an injured employee.

Awards

• 40 Under 40 Lawyer, Daily Journal, 2024
• 40 Under 40 Honoree, Silicon Valley Business Journal, 2024
• Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2023-2025
• Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2017-2024

Honors

• Associate Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (limited to top one-half of one (1) percent of trial lawyers)
• Microsoft/HNBA IP Law Institute National Scholar

Articles

• “Preserving the practice of oral argument”, Daily Journal
• “Your First Deposition: Advice From a Fellow Trial Lawyer”, Trial Lawyers Magazine

• “Return to Work Considerations for CA Employers” McManis Faulkner Employment Law Webinar, 2021
• “The ABCs of Worker Classification: California’s Legal Landscape Post-AB5”, McManis Faulkner Employment Law Webinar, 2020
• “Cannabis & Co: Addressing Cannabis in the Workplace”, McManis Faulkner Employment Law Seminar, 2019
• “Don’t Let #MeToo Become #YouToo, Effectively Handling Workplace Sexual Harassment Complaints”, McManis Faulkner Employment Law Seminar, 2018

• Santa Clara County Bar Association, Member
• American Inns of Court, the Honorable William A. Ingram Inn, Member
• Santa Clara County La Raza Lawyers Association, Member
• SOMOS Mayfair, Former Board Member
• Life Moves (formerly INNvision Shelter), Volunteer Cook