Edward Davis Baker

Ed Baker is a dynamic litigator in the firm’s award-winning commercial litigation practice. Prior to joining MWM, Ed spent several years at a top AmLaw 100 firm where he was mentored by ABOTA trial lawyers in pre-trial/trial practice. He has experience litigating complex civil matters in state and federal courts and has successfully resolved numerous high stakes matters for clients ranging from small businesses and entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies.

Ed takes a practical, common-sense approach to practicing law and believes building deep relationships with his clients is the bedrock of achieving success in any dispute. Not every dispute should see a courtroom, but when litigation is inevitable Ed draws on his extensive courtroom experience to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients.

Ed received his J.D. from Southwestern Law School, where he was an editor for the Southwestern Law Review and competed nationally with Southwestern’s Moot Court Honors Program. In law school, Ed interned with the United States Department Justice in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, and the U.S. Trustee Program for Region 16 in Los Angeles. Ed also externed for the Honorable Judge Barry Russell in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.

Prior to law school, Ed received his M.A. from New York University and worked in the music business in New York City, where he ran his own record label. Ed is passionate about helping artists and creators protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property.

Ed received his B.A. from Whittier College in Whittier, California, where he studied philosophy and was a dual NCAA athlete on Whittier’s soccer and golf teams.

Representative Matters

• Drafted appellate briefs in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Litigation, In Re Deepwater Horizon (Case No. 17-30233, 5^th);
• Defended major Southern California utility company in high stakes transmission line wrongful death dispute involving corollary regulatory matters;
• Represented petroleum franchisees in numerous franchise disputes against big oil companies;
• Represented clients through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, including reorganizations and §363 sales;
• Prepared numerous “parachute” cases for trial, where retention occurs on the eve of trial;
• Managed discovery and litigation workflow in cases designated “complex”, including mass tort and class actions.

Education

Bar Admissions

State Bar of California

United States District Court, Central District of California

United States District Court, Northern District of California

United States District Court, Southern District of California

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Edward D. Baker, Trustless Property Systems and Anarchy: How Trustless Transfer Technology Will Shape the Future of Property Exchange, 45 SW L.Rev., 351 (2015)