Scott K. Behrendt

Senior Attorney

Los Angeles Office, Orange County Office

310.788.3543
310.551.0283

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Scott K. Behrendt has been named a “Super Lawyer” from 2012 - 2025 by Los Angeles Magazine – a distinction recognizing the top 5% of attorneys for excellence in the practice of law.  For the three years prior, he was named a “Super Lawyer Rising Star.” 

Scott achieved those accolades through his dedication as a results-oriented attorney and passionate advocate specializing in Business Fraud, Complex Commercial Litigation, Construction, and Judgment Enforcement and Debt Collection disputes, with an emphasis on providing excellent client service in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

Scott graduated Top 15 in his class at the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a B.A. in Business Economics, and #3 in the day student class at Loyola Law School, where he founded the Criminal Law Society, clerked for the Hon. Harvey A. Schneider (Ret.) of the Los Angeles Superior Court, and, as a certified law student, prosecuted numerous criminal jury and bench trials, and more than 500 felony preliminary hearings and related criminal proceedings, under the supervision of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and the Orange County District Attorney's Office.  

Since then, Scott has built a solid reputation assisting clients in favorably resolving complicated and highly contentious business and legal disputes informally, when possible, and successfully litigating them, when necessary.

Scott’s recent litigation successes include leading a trial team to victory against two of the largest law firms in the world – who launched a scorched-earth series of interrelated lawsuits against Scott's clients – by winning a groundbreaking judgment invalidating the opposing party’s industry-wide late payment penalty provision.

Scott also recently prevailed in high-stakes litigation against a multibillion-dollar publicly traded construction materials company in a case of first impression involving unique issues of California mechanic's lien law. 

Over his 20-plus year career, Scott has accumulated a depth of expertise in a wide-range of complex legal matters in both state and federal courts involving multi-party contract, business financing, equity, and accounting disputes, inter- and intra-state judgment enforcement and debt collection, fraud and unfair business practices, employment, class actions, commercial leases, private and public sector construction, professional liability, intellectual property, entertainment, licensing and franchise agreements, white-collar crime and inspector general investigations, and consumer credit reporting and reseller services.

Scott’s ability to rapidly understand and assist his clients in achieving their core legal and business objectives is the result of his extensive exposure to, and representation of, a diverse cross-section of both large and small private and public entity and individual clients in industries such as healthcare, engineering and construction, entertainment, biomedical research and treatment, education, commercial and residential real estate, medical device manufacturing, telecommunications, national credit reporting, water and power utilities, textiles, meteorological sensors and aviation weather systems, law enforcement, specialized laser application products, notebook computer manufacturing, and many others.

Prior to joining Theodora Oringher PC, Scott was an associate attorney with the international mega law firm of Jones Day.  

Scott resides, and is available for in person initial client consultations, in the firm's Los Angeles and Orange County Offices, or by phone.

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  • Represented several businesses and individuals in all aspects of judgment enforcement and debt collection disputes, including successfully prosecuting a $38.8 million interstate judgment enforcement matter on behalf of a global telecommunications company against a California-based private equity firm, defending companies and individuals against various judgment enforcement proceedings involving both domestic and out-of-state judgments, levying and seizing assets of corporate and individual debtors, among other matters.
  • Represented engineering, construction, and management services company against a major U.S. industrial corporation in arbitration of a $600 million stock purchase price adjustment contract and fraud dispute
  • Represented customer experience and call center in litigation involving international contract disputes and business torts against one of the world's largest electronics manufacturers that culminated in a jury finding of fraud and $1.4 million award in favor of the client
  • Represented client in a multimillion dollar earn-out accounting dispute related to the acquisition of a company via a stock purchase agreement
  • Represented investment group in a complex commercial lease dispute with their publicly-traded corporate tenant
  • Represented private operator of health care facilities in a broad range of matters, including contract disputes, subpoena compliance and indemnity, eminent domain and construction, Hospital Lien Act, account satisfaction, and interpleader, and patient-initiated disputes
  • Represented investors and physician in litigation with a publicly traded hospital management company involving alleged breach of fiduciary duties and complex financing and equity issues
  • Represented large public school district in approximately 100 complex construction litigation and advisory matters in connection with all aspects of construction, including false claims, competitive bidding requirements, design-build projects, lease/lease-back projects, bonding and surety issues, and stop notice procedures, and involving general contractors, subcontractors, architects, construction managers, sureties, unions and insurers
  • Represented a major transit authority and commuter rail system in matters involving complex lease transactions for public transportation facilities and assets
  • Represented a large public entity in a complex multimillion dollar putative class action brought on behalf of approximately 600 Sheriff's Deputies alleging systematic race and gender based discrimination in recruitment, hiring, salaries, bonuses and promotions in violation of state and federal law
  • Obtained favorable settlement of claims on behalf of a medical device manufacturer for misappropriation of trade secrets, violation of noncompete clause, and breach of contract arising out of an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement concerning brachytherapy seeds and a computer-based workstation and automated cartridge-based needle loading system for prostate cancer treatment
  • Represented developer and supplier of specialized laser application products in a significant intellectual property dispute
  • Obtained case dismissal on behalf of investment holding company and internationally known actress in a complex entertainment litigation matter involving breach of contract, fraud, and investment related claims brought by a Taiwanese production company arising out of the financing and distribution of an award winning motion picture
  • Represented national credit reporting agency in numerous state and federal court cases throughout the US brought by consumers under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and related statutes, as well as cases involving disputes with resellers of credit information
  • Represented world renowned restaurant in litigation concerning the design, engineering, fabrication, and installation of a state-of-the-art kitchen
  • Represented county and flood control district as plaintiffs in a $100 million lawsuit against other governmental entities for indemnity and breach of contract arising from the construction of a storm drain built to protect a freeway that resulted in the flooding of and damages to a private developer's adjacent property
  • Represented flood control district as plaintiff in litigation against other governmental entities for inverse condemnation, nuisance, dangerous condition and indemnity to recover for the damage to, and taking of, the flood control district's property caused by a freeway-related flood control channel
  • Represented construction authority on an intercity light rail transit project involving a design-build contract and Dispute Review Board proceedings concerning delays, schedule recovery, and change orders
  • Represented water district against claims by a private developer for nuisance, negligent interference with economic relationships, and inverse condemnation purportedly attributable to the construction of a multi-mile pipeline project
  • Represented water district in a pipeline construction matter involving complex disputes with the contractor concerning untimely project completion, alleged differing site conditions as to the strength and quantities of rock and existence of groundwater throughout the project, and various claims for changes and alleged disruption and acceleration of performance
  • Represented large U.S.-based personal and commercial property and casualty insurance company in complex bad faith litigation and defeated plaintiff's claims for punitive damages, fraud, and attorneys' fees, which lead to a favorable settlement for the client

  • Southern California Super Lawyers (2012-2025)
  • Southern California Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" (2009-2011)

  • California Council of School Attorneys/County Counsels' 2008 Joint Annual Workship, Panelist, "Facilities Issues: Financing, Bonds, Construction and Terminations" (San Diego, December 2008)
  • County Counsels' Association of California Public Works and Contracts Study Session Conference, Panelist, "Enforcing Claims Procedures in Public Contracts" (San Diego, May 2008)
  • County Counsels' Association of California Public Works and Contracts Study Session Conference, Panelist, "Drafting Public Works Construction Contracts - Important Considerations for Public Owners" (San Diego, May 2008)

  • Theodora Oringher Attorneys Named to 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers List Read more >
  • Theodora Oringher Attorneys Named to 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers List Read more >
  • Theodora Oringher Attorneys Named To 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers List Read more >

  • Association of Business Trial Lawyers
  • American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry and Litigation Section
  • California Council of School Attorneys
  • Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
  • Orange County Bar Association's Construction Law Section
  • Public Counsel in Los Angeles