Ekwan E. Rhow

High-Stakes Trials, General Commercial Litigation, Class Action Defense, Entertainment

Name partner Ekwan Rhow stands among the nation’s most accomplished and reputable trial lawyers. Mr. Rhow is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and one of only a select group of lawyers ranked by Chambers USA in the elite Band 1 tier in both its Litigation: Trial Lawyers (USA – Nationwide) and Litigation: General Commercial (California) categories.

Chambers describes him as “a top-notch trial lawyer for highly sophisticated and complex matters,” a litigator who “reliably wins jury trials,” and “indefatigable in terms of his work ethic.” The guide further commends him as “razor-sharp intellectually,” “brilliant in court” and a “trial expert” who is regularly called upon to “undertake high-profile work” and “bet-the-farm litigation.” His success also transcends globally, as reflected in his Chambers Asia-Pacific ranking in Dispute Resolution: International Firms (South Korea).

Mr. Rhow has first-chaired more than fifty trials to verdict or award in courts across the country. His clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies such as Samsung, SK hynix, Xerox, Hyundai Motors, Western Digital, and Aramark to major entertainment entities, global conglomerates, and influential individuals, turn to him for his strategic precision and unparalleled ability to persuade juries in complex business disputes. His work spans industries including technology, finance, entertainment, healthcare, fashion, and manufacturing, giving him a uniquely broad command of high-stakes business disputes.

One unique aspect of his practice is that Mr. Rhow splits his trials evenly between plaintiffs and defendants. This informs his overall trial approach and has resulted in trial victories that cover a broad span of cutting-edge legal issues. He recently won a landmark jury verdict awarding over $510 million (one of the largest verdicts in healthcare litigation history) to Saint Mary’s Health Network in pivotal healthcare trial. Mr. Rhow convinced the jury that Universal Health Services of Delaware, Inc. (UHS) and affiliated defendants committed intentional tortious misconduct in a coordinated scheme against Saint Mary’s Health Network during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the defense side, Mr. Rhow led a trial team to a defense verdict for healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand FIGS in a nine-figure false advertising trial. This win led to several accolades, including the Daily Journal‘s coveted Top Defense Verdict award. In another trial for corporate plaintiffs, he prevailed against multilevel marketing conglomerate LuLaRoe and related defendants in a fraud and breach of contract matter, which also earned Bird Marella the Daily Journal’s Top Plaintiff’s Verdict award. The resulting verdict awarded his client, Cresden, LLC, over $164 million in total damages, including attorney’s fees, following a two-month jury trial and ending six years of litigation.

A significant facet of Mr. Rhow’s practice involves class action lawsuits representing both plaintiffs and defendants. In this area, one of his most significant plaintiff-side matters was a data privacy class action against TikTok, where he obtained “one of the largest privacy settlements in history” (a $92 million settlement) as co-lead counsel for a federal class. On the defense side, he has defeated class actions focused on numerous industries, including the automotive, electronics, telecommunications, financial services, and apparel sectors, involving liabilities ranging from $100 million to over $1 billion. His reputation among the federal judges has proved invaluable in his presentations on behalf of his clients in these matters.

His practice also includes extraordinary, high‑profile representations that have drawn national and international attention. In an impactful and historic pro bono result, Mr. Rhow secured a significant victory for former U.S. Marine and human rights activist Christopher Ahn. Mr. Ahn previously provided support to high-profile defectors seeking to escape the oppressive North Korean regime, including Kim Han-Sol, the nephew of dictator Kim Jong-Un. The case drew widespread public attention, including a feature on CBS News’ 60 Minutes and coverage by CNN, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and BBC. On April 8, 2026, the Honorable Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha of the Central District of California granted Bird Marella’s habeas petition, enjoining Mr. Ahn’s extradition to Spain. The order marks the first time in U.S. history that a federal court has denied international extradition on humanitarian grounds. The court also found that extradition would violate Mr. Ahn’s constitutional rights given the credible threats to his life, and that the government had failed to establish probable cause and dual criminality.

In another notable matter, Mr. Rhow secured the release of a major U.S. electronics CEO detained in China after a three‑year negotiation involving both the Chinese and U.S. governments—a case later profiled in a Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times article. Another of Mr. Rhow’s cases involving the apparel industry became the subject of an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution, underscoring the cultural and legal significance of his work.

American College of Trial Lawyers, US-Korea Law Foundation, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, Network of Korean American Leaders (NETKAL)

Featured, "Hiring a Trial Lawyer Key to Persuading Juries - Ekwan Rhow of Bird Marella," Korea Law Times, November 2024

Featured in Cover Story Interview, Legal Times, July 2023

Mentioned, "Medical apparel brand defeats competitor's lawsuit," Daily Journal, November 2022

Featured, “Settlement of TikTok class action lawsuit led by a Korean lawyer,” Korea Daily, March 2021

Featured, “Lawsuit against ‘TikTok’ for unauthorized collection of user information, Korean lawyer obtained $90 million,” The Korea Times, March 2021

Interviewee, “Trial Pros: Bird Marella’s Ekwan Rhow,” Law360, March 2016

Interviewee, “Minority Powerbrokers Q&A: Bird Marella’s Ekwan Rhow,” Law360, February 2015

Landmark jury verdict awarding over $510 million to Saint Mary's Health Network in pivotal healthcare trial. Won one of the largest verdicts in healthcare litigation history in Nevada’s Second Judicial District Court after Ekwan convinced the jury that Universal Health Services of Delaware, Inc. (UHS) and affiliated defendants committed intentional tortious misconduct in a coordinated scheme against Saint Mary’s Health Network during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Complete defense verdict in $175 million trial for Global Fortune 500 semiconductor company. After a four week trial, Ekwan convinced a federal court jury in Seattle to find for SK Hynix against claims brought by Microsoft. Microsoft alleged that SK Hynix breached a semiconductor chip supply contract and jeopardized the launch of its Xbox One gaming console. The jury sided with Ekwan and determined that SK Hynix had not committed any wrongdoing and denied all of Microsoft’s damages claims.

Complete defense verdict for FIGS in false advertising case brought by industry leader. After four years of high-profile and hard-fought litigation, a four-week federal jury trial, and less than one day of deliberations, Ekwan secured a complete defense verdict for FIGS, a publicly traded DTC company that has revolutionized the medical apparel industry. FIGS had been sued by industry leader Strategic Partners, Inc. based on alleged claims for false advertising, violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and other related torts and claimed damages exceeding $200 million.

$92M Settlement for National Class of TikTok Users in Federal Class Action Involving Data Privacy. Appointed as co-lead counsel for the national class, Ekwan secured final approval of a $92 million settlement in one of the country’s largest and most high-profile data privacy class actions. The lawsuit involved novel application of various consumer and privacy protection laws against social media agent TikTok.

$164 Million Verdict in Two-Month Jury Trial Against LuLaRoe. After six years of litigation and a two-month jury trial, Ekwan prevailed against multilevel marketing conglomerate LuLaRoe and related defendants in a fraud and breach of contract matter. He convinced a jury the defendants breached written sourcing agreements relating to tens of millions of dollars of products, orchestrated a comprehensive fraud relating to their multi-billion dollar business model, and attempted to hide the resulting revenues. The verdict awarded his client over $164 million in total damages and its attorney's fees, earning recognition as Daily Journal's Top Verdict of 2024.

Won landmark habeas corpus ruling blocking the extradition of Christopher Ahn, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and human rights activist. Mr. Ahn was targeted for assassination by the North Korean regime for providing aid to high-profile North Korean defectors, including Kim Han-Sol, the nephew of Kim Jong-Un. The order marks the first time in U.S. history that a federal court has applied a humanitarian exception to international extradition — previously a purely theoretical doctrine.

Complete defense verdict in $50 million trial for Fortune 500 technology company. After a seven week trial, Ekwan convinced a jury to find for his client on all claims which included breach of contract, securities fraud and other tort claims. Client was facing an eight-figure damages claim as well as punitive damages. Client also received its attorney’s fees and costs as prevailing party.

Complete defense victory in $100 million arbitration for California bank. Ekwan represented a major California bank against claims for breach of fiduciary duty and alleged damages exceeding $100 million relating to an EB-5 investment fraud. After six weeks of arbitration and cross-examination of over 30 witnesses, Ekwan secured a complete defense award against all claims.

Harvard Law School J.D., 1994

Stanford University, B.A., 1991