JUAN CASTAÑEDA

juan@ch-llp.com | LinkedIn | 858.431.9205

Education

  • Notre Dame Law School, JD

    • Editor in Chief of the Journal of Legislation

  • University of California Santa Barbara, BA, Business Economics

Publications and Speaking

  • "Critical decision points when conducting an internal investigation." Upcoming Missio Nexus Presentation, Orlando, Florida

  • “Protecting Internal Investigations Conducted Before Litigation Ensues.”

  • “Virtual Workplace Investigations: A 3 Part Series”

  • "The Top 4 Issues To Be Aware of When Doing an Internal Investigation"

  • Notre Dame Law School's Intensive Trial Advocacy Program, Adjunct Faculty

  • Never Let Them See You Coming—Keys to Setting Up Witnesses Interviews In An

    Internal Investigation, Sheppard Mullin Blog

  • The Secret To Starting a Cross-Border Investigation, Sheppard Mullin Blog

  • The Jury's Dilemma--Playing God in the Search for Justice, Defense Counsel Journal

Bar/Court Admissions

  • California State Bar

  • United States District Courts for all Districts of California

Professional Affiliations

  • Notre Dame Law School Association Board, Board Member

  • Unite North County, Board Member

  • Coastal Sage Montessori, Board Member

  • Christian Surfer USA, Former Board Member

  • Pathways to Citizenship, Former Board Member

  • Animal Wonders, Former Board Member

 
 

Juan Castañeda is an expert in complex corporate internal investigations, an experienced trial attorney and serves as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for companies and nonprofits throughout the United States.

Juan gained his investigation and litigation experience while serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California as well as through top-tier national firms, Sheppard Mullin and Mintz Levin.

His expertise in internal investigations is extensive and includes conducting over 15 years of corporate internal investigations. Such investigations have ranged from whistleblower complaints, harassment/discrimination claims, ethical and policy violations, fraud and corporate embezzlement related to current and former employees, executives, board members and in house legal department team members. In the investigations Juan has led, he has represented banks, health care providers, life science and consumer companies, universities, insurance companies, multinational NGOs, faith-based organizations and boards of directors.

Juan‘s litigation experience includes successfully prosecuting and defending clients in litigation through trial in state and federal courts along with arbitration tribunals. The focus of Juan‘s litigation practice includes business and fraud disputes, employment litigation defense, extensive trade secrets litigation, white collar and health care litigation, along with real estate and cross border litigation that utilizes his bilingual capabilities.

Juan brings his experience in seeing the intricacies of internal business operations along with the impact employment, IP and corporate related disputes have on businesses and organizations, into a proactive and practical General Counsel practice. As a legal strategist and advisor, Juan guides companies in proactively addressing compliance and regulatory challenges while resolving issues before they reach litigation in order to help companies thrive.

Juan received his Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame Law School where he served as the Editor- in-Chief of the Journal of Legislation and obtained his B.A. in Business Economics from U.C. Santa Barbara. Juan is proud to serve as a member of Notre Dame’s Law Association Board.

Prior to attending law school at Notre Dame, Juan was an Associate Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Dispute Analysis and Investigation Unit. As a forensic consultant, he assisted U.S. based and international companies in commercial litigation disputes.

On a personal side, Juan is a first-generation immigrant from Peru. As a Latino and an immigrant, Juan has taken his father’s advice to “never forget where you came from” and given back to those in need through various pro-bono civil rights and immigration matters as well as community development initiatives aimed at building community for the common good. Juan has been happily married to his wife, Signe, for over 20 years and is most proud of the family environment they have created in raising their six children.

  • Obtained complete defense verdict on behalf of insurer in breach of contract and bad faith claim in state jury trial.

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    Defended venture fund in conspiracy and fiduciary duty claims brought by majority shareholder investor in closely held company.

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    Successfully defended Spanish speaking employee of government defense contractor in sexual harassment lawsuit brought by former employee.

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    Fought off non-compete intimidation efforts against departing CEO and executive team of entertainment company by former company in Michigan.

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    Preemptively quashed employment claims threatened by plaintiff’s counsel against international human rights NGO.

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    Advocated on behalf of engineering firm in breach of contract matter brought by vendor related to complex construction project.

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    Defended mortgage company and CEO in sexual harassment and employment matter brought by former employee.

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    Represented aviation company in wage and hour employment claims.

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    Aggressively defended sellers of health care company in fraud lawsuit brought by purchaser.

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    Protected former CFO of food company in employment matter.

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    Quickly defended and resolved breach of contract and intentional interference lawsuit brought against professional service firm.

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    Served as local counsel in federal court in patent litigation matter.

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    Successfully defended and aggressively pursued counterclaims in trade secrets and fraud case brought by former employee seeking ownership in valuable closely held company.

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    Obtained complete dismissal on behalf of software company client in federal lawsuit for fraud, false advertising and civil extortion.

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    Efficiently resolved real estate concealment matter for property owner.

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    Successfully defended insurance broker in federal fraud lawsuit.

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    Litigated and resolved fraud and breach of fiduciary duty litigation matter on behalf of former CEO and board member of software/media company.

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    Litigated international real estate dispute in Mexico and San Diego for international company obtaining satisfactory result for client.

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    Served as expert witness and part of legal team representing Taiwanese television manufacturer in fraud and Civil Rico litigation in federal court.

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    Represented Japanese corporation in third party litigation and quashing of subpoena in California state court.

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    Defended property owners in real estate litigation and fraud matters in California state court.

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    Pursued breach of fiduciary duty and professional negligence claims against investment advisor for mismanagement of millions of dollars in investments in federal court.

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    Successfully sought workplace harassment restraining order for corporate client.

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    Represented former CEO in defeating preliminary injunction seeking seizure of funds by foreign investor in closely held company dispute.

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    Successfully defended real estate investor in fraud claims brought by property purchaser.

  • Investigated racial and gender discrimination and harassment for a consumer products company with interviews in Chicago, San Diego, and Los Angeles.

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    Conducted investigation of racial harassment for a large restaurant chain in California.

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    Led and investigated sexual misconduct investigation related to a faith based international NGO with interviews throughout the United States and abroad.

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    Guided investigation related to international sexual and criminal misconduct by executive level employee of international real estate company.

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    Worked on international FCPA investigation for a hotel in Thailand.

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    Conducted internal investigation of racial and gender harassment and investigation for a large humanitarian organization with interviews throughout the western United States.

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    Worked on investigation of executive level misconduct for a mega church in the southern United States.

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    Investigated gender, age, race and disability discrimination by supervisor of amusement park.

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    On behalf of event and technology products company, conducted investigation of sexual harassment by contract employee toward employees.

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    Guided investigation of employee related to federal food safety violations by wholesale food service distributor.

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    Performed sensitive investigation of sexual harassment by senior level executive in New York against female employees for national media communications company.

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    Conducted investigation of fair housing violations alleged against real property management company.

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    Worked with chain of retail music schools in California on claims of harassment and discrimination brought against founder by employee.

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    Represented medical group board of directors in investigation of breaches of fiduciary duties and health self-dealing care violations by physician.

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    Investigated claims of self-dealing by city manager in federal criminal probe.

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    Engaged in sensitive investigation of harassment by senior level executive toward employees of therapy and childhood development company.

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    Performed investigation of legal department for large consumer company based on allegations of impropriety by former employee.

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    Guided investigation of potential federal securities violations for cryptocurrency company.

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    Conducted investigation on behalf of construction company in relation to allegations of potential violations of the Clean Water Act by the federal government.

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    Completed an internal corporate investigation of suspected embezzlement by an employee of a medical device company. The investigation led to the opening of an official criminal investigation by law enforcement.

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    Managed several complex investigations related to false and fraudulent claims made by medical providers in violation of California’s Insurance Fraud Prevention Act.

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    Conducted investigation on behalf of a university related to a complaint of racial discrimination and harassment made by a professor against the President of the University.

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    Represented international faith-based organization in conducting investigation of age and racial discrimination in human resources department.

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    Led investigation of potential FCPA bribery and U.S. Travel Act violations by company executive leading to termination of executive and risk management by company.

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    Conducted an investigation of potentially improper use of lender funds by bank executives leading to a determination of various breaches of fiduciary duties.

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    On behalf of insurance carrier, interviewed key insurance personnel and investigated allegations of extortion brought against claims specialist by insured and judgment creditor.

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    Conducted internal investigation for life science company related to whistleblower claims of violations of federal law by former employee.

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    Investigated claims of physical assault and misconduct by pastor of church.

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    Guided health care company in investigation by federal government related to false claims.

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    Performed sensitive investigation for California municipality related to leak of highly classified information including interviewing Mayor, City Council members and City Attorney.

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    Investigated fraud and embezzlement by former CEO of investment company.

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    Conducted internal investigation of executive harassment by shareholders.

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    Led and handled bilingual internal investigations for companies dealing with the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act.

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    Represented a waste collection and recycling company in a regulatory investigation by CAL-OSHA.

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    Successfully guided clients in investigations conducted by various federal and California government agencies.

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    Conducted internal investigation related to employment allegations against defense contractor before the Department of Fair Employment & Housing.

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    Conducted internal investigation for defense contractor related to $500,000 embezzlement leading to prosecution by San Diego D.A.

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    Represented construction company in investigation by Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

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    Conducted internal investigation into allegations of discrimination brought before the EEOC.

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    Conducted FCPA due diligence investigation.