Polly
Towill

Partner
LINKEDIN
Towill Polly

Overview

Polly Towill litigates complex business disputes in state and federal courts and administrative hearings. Skilled in preventing litigation when warranted, she is also a fierce advocate in trial and motions practice and at the negotiating table.

Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a California Litigation Star, she has represented clients in bet-the-company and other disputes arising from commercial transactions, corporate compliance matters, regulatory matters, toxic tort and product liability litigation, product recalls and real estate disputes.

Clients turn to Polly for counsel in whistleblower retaliation lawsuits brought under federal and state statutes, including the Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank Acts. She leads the firm’s federal whistleblower retaliation defense team and also advises on litigation risk management and internal investigations.

Her class action defense work spans a range of issues in state and federal courts, including securities violations, business torts, false advertising, telephone recording statute violations and other claims.

Polly represents clients in industries such as aerospace and defense, technology, financial services, real estate, manufacturing, oil and gas and healthcare.

As a former secondee to Northrop Grumman Corporation, Polly has firsthand understanding of aerospace priorities and operations. Her pragmatic approach and media savvy help her deliver legal solutions from discreet to high-exposure matters. Clients value her passion for understanding their business and goals.

Outside of work, Polly’s passion for hiking has taken her to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and peaks in the Peruvian Andes.

Experience

Obtained dismissal with prejudice of multiple securities class action and shareholder derivative suits brought against major financial institution and its top executives.

Successfully defeated in arbitration on behalf of a major publicly traded company a whistleblower retaliation action under federal and state law.

Represented real estate developer in several actions for fraud and breach of contract involving 100,000 acre ranch located in Central California.

Achieved complete victory for federal savings bank in state court action filed against it seeking over $400 million in damages for alleged breaches of acquisition, technology and consulting contracts; fraud; violations of banking regulations, security, and labor laws. After over three years of litigation, all causes of action were dismissed and client made no monetary payment and no modifications of business practices was required.

Handled investigation brought by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) based on consumer allegations of undercapitalization, faulty mortgage loans, and other alleged violations. 

Investigated alleged bank employee theft, resulting in discovery of hundreds of thousands of dollars in false reimbursements.

Conduct investigations for Board of Directors concerning company’s compliance with applicable regulations.

Represented client in International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) arbitration against major United Kingdom defense contractor.

Primary role in successfully arbitrating the first False Claims Act action decided by two federal judges in a unique baseball arbitration brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice.

Defeated on the eve of trial a headline-making mass toxic tort action spearheaded by Erin Brockovich alleging that client’s oil facility caused cancer in Beverly Hills High School students.

Successfully terminated product recall by Consumer Product Safety Commission against international manufacturer of electronic products.

Represented major toy manufacturer in numerous complaints alleging injuries from exposure to chemicals.

Represented numerous clients in actions for alleged exposure to chemicals used in manufacturing facilities.

Representation of auto dealership in product liability action alleging catastrophic personal injuries of multiple plaintiffs.

Represented Parsons in disputes with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority and subcontractors for negligence and indemnity claims arising out of the Metrolink and Caltrans positive train control project.

Obtained dismissal of federal class action alleging violations of the California telephone recording statutes.

Obtained dismissal of three product recall actions brought by the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (“NHSTA”) acquitting client bus window manufacturer of all claims.

Represented owner of a valuable Picasso painting in Nazi stolen art case in action simultaneously pursued in state and federal courts in California and Illinois by private parties and the United States government. After successfully defeating personal jurisdiction in California trial and appellate courts, matter settled after review granted by California Supreme Court.

Achieved a jury verdict on behalf of one of the state’s largest commercial printers in a case against another commercial printer, its president and one of its sales people. Client was awarded damages for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition. A jury also found in favor of client on cross-complaints for slander, libel and interference with prospective business advantage.

Representative Clients

Ms. Towill has represented such clients as: Northrop Grumman Corporation; Axos Financial, Inc.; Silvergate Capital Corporation; Nexstar Media Group, Inc.; Dale Poe Development Company; Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; Scott Robinson Honda; FAT Brands Inc.; Venoco, Inc.; MassMutual; Discount Tires; Parsons Corporation (and affiliates); Herbalife International of America, Inc.; The Inception Companies, LLC; Einstök Beer Company; H.C. Duke & Son LLC; Hehr International; Avalon Glass and Mirror Co.; GlassWerks LA, Inc.; PR Glass; Consolidated Graphics, Inc.; Mattel, Inc.; Raytheon Systems Company; and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Credentials
Education

J.D., Georgetown University, 1985, The American Criminal Law Review

B.A., The University of Connecticut, 1981, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

California

Supreme Court of the United States

U.S. District Court, Central District of California

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit 

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit 

Honors

Women of Influence: Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2025

Named one of the Daily Journal's Top Women Lawyers, 2024, 2007

Named a California Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, 2020-2026

Southern California Super Lawyer

Leaders of Influence: Top Litigators and Trial Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2023

Named one of the Los Angeles Times’ Banking and Finance Visionaries, 2022

Named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal's Most Influential Women Lawyers, 2017 and 2018

Named one of the Los Angeles Business Journal's Leading Environmental Lawyers in Los Angeles

Finalist, Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers In America, Lawdragon Magazine

Received an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, highest rating an attorney can receive for legal quality and ethics

Memberships

Chair, Los Angeles Growth Committee

Los Angeles Bar Association

United States Law Firm Group, Litigation Committee

Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee, Defense Research Institute (DRI)

American Bar Association

Thought Leadership
  • Ten Tips For Defeating SOX and Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Claims, Corporate Counsel, January 7, 2020.
Pro Bono

Dedicated to public service, she devotes substantial time to pro bono work and mentoring young attorneys. Polly currently leads a class action on behalf of foster care children in California and successfully obtained asylum for an LGBTQ woman from Uganda.