Antonio K. Kizzie

 Senior Associate

EXPERIENCE

Antonio K. Kizzie focuses his practice on public entity defense, banking and commercial litigation, entertainment and intellectual property litigation and transactions, personal injury and § 1983 matters. Mr. Kizzie prides himself on providing the utmost client satisfaction, service and care with their legal matters. As a result, Mr. Kizzie possesses a superb “10.0” AVVO.com attorney rating with over twenty-five (25) five (5) -star client reviews and seventeen (17) attorney endorsements.

Versatile, skilled and experienced, Mr. Kizzie has had several notable successes including serving as lead counsel in over a dozen high-exposure civil and criminal trials, including as a former prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. Further, Mr. Kizzie has served as lead counsel in nearly one-hundred civil matters in both state and federal court, and five (5) United States Ninth Circuit appeals.

In 2015, Mr. Kizzie argued before the California Supreme Court, was selected as a National Bar Association Top 40 Attorney Under 40 at just 28 years-old, and was awarded a “Service Appreciation” certificate from the City of Compton for organizing the John M. Langston Bar Association Legal Clinic “Know Your Rights” panel discussion. In 2013 and 2015, Mr. Kizzie was awarded the John M. Langston Bar Association President’s Award for his community service.

Before joining Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell & Diggs, Mr. Kizzie served as a Deputy City Attorney DUI prosecutor in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Metropolitan Branch.

Mr. Kizzie received his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. During and after graduating from UCLA School of Law, Mr. Kizzie was a law clerk for the Occhipinti Entertainment Law Group. During law school, Mr. Kizzie was involved in a number of activities, including the Jones Day Moot Court competition, the UCLA Black Law Students Association, and the UCLA Entertainment Law Review. During law school, Mr. Kizzie also volunteered with the El Centro Legal Prisoner Re-entry Legal Clinic, served as a graduate professional mentor with the UCLA School of Law Outreach Office, worked as an intern with Creative Artists Agency, and worked as a law clerk for California Lawyers for the Arts, the Cochran Firm, and Viacom-BET Networks Business and Legal Affairs.

Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Kizzie enjoys golf, theater, sporting events, the beach and spending time with his family. Mr. Kizzie also continues to engage in community service, speak at various events, and mentor law, college and high school students.

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PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, Member

• Beverly Hills Bar Association, Member

• Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, Member

• Howard University Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles, Member

• John M. Langston Bar Association, Member

• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member

• Mexican American Bar Association, Member

• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Member

• Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Member

• UCLA Black Alumni Association, Member

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HONORS AND AWARDS

• Howard University Move Maker Award (2019)

• National Bar Association Top 40 Attorney Under 40 (2015)

• “Service Appreciation” certificate from the City of Compton (2015)

• Langston Bar Association President’s Award for Community Service (2013, 2015)

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NOTEWORTHY CASES

• Sheppard v. COLA, et.al. - Defense verdict.

• Sheppard v. COLA, et.al. Ninth Circuit Case -verdict Affirmed.

• Tekoh v. COLA, et.al. - Defense verdict.

• Tekoh v. COLA, et.al. (2nd Trial) - Defense verdict.

• Shay v. COLA, et.al. - Defense verdict.

• Estate v. COLA, et. al. - Defense Summary Judgment Granted.

• Judge vs. COLA, et.al. - Defense Summary Judgment Granted.

• Garcia v. COLA, et.al. - Defense Motion for Terminating Sanctions Granted.

• Robertson v. COLA, et. al. - Defense verdict on all but one (1) state claim.

• Gaines v. Tornberg, et.al. Supreme Court Case No. - Argued before the Supreme Court of the State of California.