Enter legal issue and location
Alton G. Burkhalter - Irvine, CA
2020 Main StreetSuite 600 Irvine, CA 92614
Burkhalter Kessler Clement & George LLP
Irvine Business Litigation Lawyer
Overview
Mr. Burkhalter is the founding partner of BKCG. He is an AV Preeminent rated lawyer, the top ranking in ability and ethics by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Burkhalter has been selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer for Business Litigation every year since 2006, has been selected as one of Orange County's Top 50 Super Lawyers every year since 2018, and has been selected as one of Southern California's Top 100 Super Lawyers every year since 2022. Mr. Burkhalter has also been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2021. In addition, Mr. Burkhalter has been recognized by America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators every year since 2017. In 2023, Mr. Burkhalter was selected as California's Attorney of the Year by Top 100 Lawyers in its business litigation category. Mr. Burkhalter is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Mr. Burkhalter is a seasoned business trial lawyer who has successfully prosecuted and defended a wide array of cases. He has received multiple “8 figure” jury trial awards, including a $70 million win against Universal in a Hollywood accounting case and a $30.4 million dollar verdict in a contentious eminent domain case in Nashville Tennessee. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Burkhalter advises and represents clients in a wide variety of business settings, such as purchases and sales of businesses, partner buy-in and buy-outs, restructuring business relationships, and terminating partners and business units.
Mr. Burkhalter obtained his Bachelor of Science in Accounting, cum laude, from Northwestern State University in his home state of Louisiana. After becoming a Certified Public Accountant with one of the big four international accounting firms, Mr. Burkhalter earned his law degree at Pepperdine University, graduating magna cum laude. He is admitted to practice law in California and Arizona.
About Alton G. Burkhalter
Current Employment Position(s)
- Founding Partner
Languages
- English
Practice Areas
- Business Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Corporate Disputes
- Business and Real Estate Transactions
- Auto Dealer Representation
Litigation
- 90%
Representative Cases
- Foxcroft Productions, Inc., et al. v. Universal Studios, LLC, et al., ($70 million jury verdict- Hollywood accounting)
- Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency v. Tower Music City ll, LLC, ($30.4 million jury verdict - eminent domain)
- Flowers, et al. v. Hillyer, et al., ($12.8 million verdict - breach of fiduciary duty)
- Las Palmas Associates v. Las Palmas Center Associates, ($11.2 million verdict - fraud)
- Tower Action Holdings, LLC v. Los Angeles County Waterworks, ($10.1 million verdict - breach of contract)
- Huntington Beach Chrysler Jeep, Inc. v. AM General, ($5.4 million verdict - breach of dealer agreement)
- HWB Automotive Group, inc. v. Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A., ($3.1 million verdict - fraud)
- Rancho Vista Development Company v. Richards, Watson & Gershon, ($2.5 million verdict - breach of fiduciary duty)
- EFC v McAllister: Defense of $3 million claim for alleged breach of development contract for proposed reality television show
- Fairchild Industries v Taylor: Defense of multi-million dollar malicious prosecutor claim for law school classmate
- Thrifty Playless, Inc. v. Mariners Mile Gateway, LLC, 185 Cal.App4th 1050 (2010)
- Kumar v. Yu, 201 Cal.App.4th 1463 (2011)
- NCAA v. Tarkanian, 10 F.3d 633 (9th Cir 1993) and 795 F. Supp 1476 (D. Nev. 1992)
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- California, 1985
- Arizona, 1995
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. District Court District of Arizona
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
Other Affiliations
- Member of ABOTA (the American Board of Trial Advocates)
Education
- Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California
J.D.
Honors: magna cum laude
Honors: Ranked Fifth in his Law School Class - Northwestern State University, Natchitoche, Louisiana
B.S.
Honors: cum laude
Major: Accounting
Office Information
Address
2020 Main StreetSuite 600 Irvine, CA 92614
Phone
Fax
- 949-975-7501
Websites
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Alton G. Burkhalter
Included on the 2025 Southern California Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Southern California Super Lawyers list
Honors
- AV Rated Lawyer, the Top Ranking in Ability and Ethics by Martindale-Hubbell
- Southern California Super Lawyer for Business Litigation, 2006-2018
- Top 50: 2020 Orange County Super Lawyers
- "8 Figure" Jury Trial Awards
- "7 Figure" Verdicts
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.
Write Your Review
Fields marked with an * are required
How do I choose a lawyer?
Consider the following:
- Comfort Level
- - Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
- Credentials
- - How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
- Cost
- - How are the lawyer's fees structured - hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
- City
- - Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?
Not sure what questions to ask a lawyer?
Here are a few to get you started:
- How long have you been in practice?
- How many cases like mine have you handled?
- How often do you settle cases out of court?
- What are your fees and costs?
- What are the next steps?
Want to check lawyer discipline?
It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:
- Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
- Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
- Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.