Mike Arias is the founding and managing partner of Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team LLP. He is a past president of both the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), two of the largest trial lawyer associations in the nation. Mr. Arias is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and over the course of his career he has resolved hundreds of matters resulting in well over a billion dollars in recovery in recoveries for clients.
Numerous publications and peer organizations have recognized Mr. Arias as one of the top trial attorneys in the country. He has been named California Lawyer of the Year by the Daily Journal and Trial Lawyer of the Year by CAOC. The Daily Journal has also honored him as one of the Top 30 Plaintiff Attorneys in California and one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California. The National Law Journal has honored him a Plaintiff Trailblazer, The Recorder honored him as a California Trailblazer, and Lawdragon has recognized him as a Top 500 Plaintiff Attorney in the nation. Mr. Arias has also been a Super Lawyer every year since 2009 and a Best Lawyer every year since 2019.
During his 40-year career, he has litigated and tried matters throughout the United States in both state and federal court. He has served as lead, co-lead, or liaison counsel in hundreds of class and mass plaintiff actions, including actions against some of the largest corporations and institutions in the nation.
He was co-liaison counsel for the plaintiffs in the University of Southern California/Dr. George Tyndall litigation on behalf of over 700 women who were sexually abused and assaulted by the disgraced USC gynecologist. Mr. Arias was instrumental in obtaining legislation to allow the survivors to pursue their claims and which ultimately led to a historic $852 million settlement, the largest known settlement in a sexual abuse case in U.S. history, as well as the largest-known personal injury settlement against a university.
His trial experience is as diverse as the firm’s practice. Mr. Arias’ last several trials have included serious personal injury, wrongful death, employment, consumer class actions and mass wage and hour claims. He has recently resolved several class actions and mass plaintiff matters involving antitrust, toxic torts, consumer, wage and hour, environmental issues, product liability, and sexual assault.
Mr. Arias is very involved in political fundraising and has been integral in helping bring greater representation and equity throughout the political arena through his political fundraising efforts on behalf of pro-civil justice and consumer-friendly political candidates at both the state and federal levels.
He is admitted to practice law in California, New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. He also is admitted before numerous federal courts throughout the country. Mr. Arias holds an “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell. The “AV” rating is the highest rating given and is awarded only upon reaching “heights” of professional excellence, both in terms of legal ability and ethical standards.
Mr. Arias has been certified as an agent with the National Basketball Players’ Association, Major League Baseball Players’ Association and National Football League Players’ Association and has negotiated millions of dollars in contracts for dozens of professional athletes.
James Barber Distinguished Alumni Award
The James Barber Distinguished Alumni Award is the Association’s most prestigious award. Since 1962, this honor has been conferred on alumni who have achieved professional recognition for exemplary performance and whose extraordinary achievements have enhanced the image of the University. In 2022, this award was proudly renamed the James Barber Distinguished Alumni Award, honoring the legacy of one of Southern’s most influential figures.
