Ryan C. Squire

Ryan Squire represents businesses and individuals in all aspects of business, real estate, and complex commercial litigation from inception through resolution, counseling in myriad substantive areas of the law. He has significant trial experience, trying cases with both juries and judges.

Mr. Squire is the Chair of the Firm’s Title Insurance & Real Estate Title Litigation Practice. He primarily focuses on real property, title insurance claims/coverage, insurance bad faith lawsuits and appeals, and is also regularly engaged by title insurers to represent their insureds (lenders and owners) in real estate title disputes. He further serves as outside title insurance coverage counsel and has handled more than 250 title coverage claims, including individual claims involving policy limits of more than $100 million.

In addition to trying cases, Mr. Squire is a Certified Specialist in Appellate Law (State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). He has handled dozens of appeals, including significant appeals involving insurance coverage, real property, title insurance, escrow, title defects, copyright infringement, property damage, business claims, and claims of accountant and attorney malpractice, among others. Mr. Squire provides appellate advice and assistance to trial counsel, including advice on post-trial motions.

Mr. Squire has also successfully represented clients in commercial business disputes, general and professional liability litigation, trademark and intellectual property rights enforcement, products liability, and property and casualty insurance and CGL insurance.

In addition to the numerous jurisdictions in which he is admitted, Mr. Squire is often engaged in handling cases and appeals in other jurisdictions on a pro hac vice basis, including cases in Nevada, Texas, and Idaho.

Mr. Squire has represented the title insurance industry as amicus curiae in several significant published appellate decisions.

Honors & Recognitions

Pepperdine University School of Law

• Magna Cum Laude, 1998
• Pepperdine Law Review, Literary Editor (1997 - 1998)
• Pepperdine Law Review, Staff Member (1996 - 1997)

Three recent trials since December 2024 include:

• Represented a major title insurer as lead trial counsel in a multi-week trial in successfully establishing the validity and priority of the $150 million construction deed of trust of the title insurer’s insured construction lender, over the general contractor’s asserted priority of lien claims of over $215 million in connection with the downtown Los Angeles real estate project known commonly as the “Graffiti Towers.” As part of that trial, successfully obtained decision that the general contractor breached a subordination agreement, and determination that title insurer was entitled to its attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses as a result of the breach, totaling in the tens of millions of dollars.
• Represented, as lead trial counsel, a major title insurer in prosecuting a complaint seeking a judicial determination it could terminate the title insurance policy for the insured’s claim due to the insured’s failure to cooperate. Also defended the insurer against the insured’s cross-complaint for breach of the policy and bad faith seeking over $50 million. This case was significant in that: (1) the insured argued the title insurer was obligated to prosecute claims not covered by the title policy; (2) the insured challenged the relationship between in-house litigation counsel and the title insurer’s claims department raising important ethical issues; and (3) the insured sought to completely change how losses are valued under title insurance policies. After a three-week jury trial, the jury returned a 12-0 verdict in favor of Mr. Squire’s client.
• Represented, as lead trial counsel, a major title insurer’s escrow division in a hotly contested multi-party lawsuit alleging fraud, elder abuse, negligence, and related claims in which the plaintiff sought over $230 million as the result of an alleged real estate fraud scam involving multiple players. This case tested the limits of an escrowholder’s duties and responsibilities. After a six-week trial, the jury returned a verdict for Mr. Squire’s client.

Some of Mr. Squire’s dozens of appellate decisions include:

• Sheehy v. Chicago Title Ins. Co. (2025) 108 Cal.App.5th 178.
• The Comedy Store v. Moss Adams LLP (2024) 106 Cal.App.5th 784.
• Tait v. Commonwealth Land Title Ins. Co. (2024) 103 Cal.App.5th 271.
• Blanco v. Cargasacchi, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 6, California. January 12, 2024. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr.

• Colaco v. Marcum LLP, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 2, California. July 30, 2024. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2024 WL 3578901.

• Kay v. Lesches, Court of Appeal, Second District, California, Division 8. December 06, 2024. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2024 WL 5036891.Colaco v. Marcum LLP, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 2, California. July 30, 2024. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2024 WL 3579094.

• Decuir v. West Coast Escrow, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 4, California. May 02, 2024. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2024 WL 1925933.
• Johnson v. First American Title Insurance Company, Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division 3, California. July 30, 2024. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2024 WL 357625.
• Irwin L. Green and Dorothy L. Green Revocable 1998 Trust, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 5, California. April 27, 2023. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2023 WL 3106944.

• Litchfield Capital, LLC v. County of Los Angeles, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 3, California. July 13, 2023. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2023 WL 4515546.

• Moore v. Old Republic Title Company, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 2, California. April 07, 2023. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2023 WL 2821074.

• Canyon Vineyard Estates I, LLC v. DeJoria (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th 995.
• Shah v. Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Court of Appeal, First District, Division 1, California. November 30, 2022. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2022 WL 17333295.
• Hudson v. Foster (2021) 68 Cal.App.5th 640.
• Weeden v. Hoffman (2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 269.
• Green v. Cohen, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 5, California. February 11, 2021. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2021 WL 568325.
• HSBC Bank USA, National Association v. Goldstein, Court of Appeal, First District, Division 4, California. October 29, 2021. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr.
• Tsasu LLC v. U.S. Bank Trust, N.A. (2021) 62 Cal.App.5th 704.

• People v. Astorga-Lider (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 646.

• Ranch at the Falls LLC v. O’Neal (2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 155.

• Daaus Funding, LLC v. Mironer, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 2, California. April 25, 2019. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2019 WL 1855160.

• Zhong Lin Wei v. Stewart Title Guaranty Co., Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 8, California. April 19, 2018. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2018 WL 1870400.

• Clayton v. Hawk, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 1, California. April 13, 2018. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2018 WL 1773094.

• Bank of New York Mellon v. Citibank, N.A. (2017) 8 Cal.App.5th 935.

• Hovannisian v. First American Title Ins. Co. (2017) 14 Cal.App.5th 420 221.

• Federal National Mortgage Association v. Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 5, California. August 09, 2017. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2017 WL 3405180.

• Versailles Investments, LLC v. First California Escrow Corporation, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 2, California. May 24, 2017. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2017 WL 2264490.

• Scher v. Burke (2017) 3 Cal.5th 136.

• Habibi v. Soofer, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 6, California. March 15, 2016. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2016 WL 1020044.

• Schwarcz v. Rashididoust, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 7, California. April 26, 2016. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2016 WL 1707113.

• Scher v. Burke, Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 3, California. September 11, 2015. 192 Cal.Rptr.3d 704. Not reported in Cal.App.

• First–Citizens Bank & Trust Company v. North County Church of Christ, Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division 1, California. December 29, 2015. Not Reported in Cal.Rptr. 2015 WL 9487715.

• Ash v. North American Title Co. (2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 1258.

• Stockton Mortgage, Inc. v. Tope (2014) 233 Cal.App.4th 437.

• Willimsen v. Mitrosilis (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 622.

• Zhang v. Superior Court (2013) 57 Cal.4th 364.

• Liberty National v. Chicago Title Ins. Co. (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 62.

• Czajkowski v. Haskell & White, LLP (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 166.

• Security Service Federal Credit Union v. First American Title Co., 2012 WL 5954815 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 27, 2012)

• Dollinger Deanza Assoc. v. Chicago Title Insurance Company (2011) 199 Cal.App.4th 1562.

• Park v. First American Title Company (2011) 201 Cal.App.4th 1218.

• Shalant v. Girardi (2011) 51 Cal.App.4th 1164.

• Plaza Home Mortgage, Inc. v. North American Title Company, Inc. (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 130.

• Kwok v. Transnation Title Insurance Co. (2009) 170 Cal App.4th 1562.

Practice Areas

Community & Professional

• American Bar Association, TIPS Title Insurance Litigation Committee, Past Chair
• American Bar Association, TIPS Title Insurance Litigation Committee Newsletter, Past Editor
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• American Land Title Association, Member
• California Land Title Association, Member
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
• Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child Jesus, Board of Trustees, Chair
• Pasadena Bar Association, Member