Overview
Recognized as one of the best litigators in the country, Julia Strickland leads a broad national practice that focuses on the defense of class actions and other complex actions. Julia is regularly called by world-renowned financial services companies and others when they are confronted with issues that put them at substantial economic and reputational risk.
In addition to her vast experience successfully representing clients through developing strategy and handling dispositive motion practice, trial and/or appeals in litigation, arbitration and regulatory matters, Julia has a deserved reputation for negotiating and structuring settlements of complex and class actions. She is versatile and creative in addressing settlement considerations, both legal and business, and in developing settlement structure options tailored to the client's unique needs. She also routinely represents companies in compliance counseling, and responding to claims by the many federal and state regulators and enforcement authorities with whom she has constructive longstanding relationships. Julia's client list is a "Who's Who" of financial services companies, including American Express, JPMorgan Chase, Early Warning Services/Zelle, Discover, Citigroup, and Synchrony Bank, among others.
Julia repeatedly has been recognized as a leader in the field. She once again received top honors in Chambers USA 2024 with a Band 1 ranking in the Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance Litigation–Nationwide category. She is one of only five attorneys across the country to receive this recognition. According to Chambers, "She is one of the pioneers in this space.” A source reported to Chambers, "Julia Strickland is a skilled litigator and is very responsive. She's also very practical-minded when it comes to litigation, which is a huge value to have."
In addition, for decades, the Los Angeles Daily Journal continuously recognized Julia as one of California's "Top Women Lawyers." She also was selected by Law360 as a Banking MVP, joining an elite slate of only six lawyers nationally who distinguished themselves from their peers. The Los Angeles Business Journal has honored Julia for many years in many different ways, including as one of its "Leaders of Influence: Top Litigators & Trial Lawyers," one of the "Top Women Attorneys in Los Angeles," one of the "Most Influential People," one of the "Women of Influence," one of its "Leaders in Law," and named her to the "LA500" more than five times. Julia also was recognized by leading corporate counsel as a member of the BTI Consulting Group's "Client Services All-Stars" for her "uncanny ability to anticipate opposing counsel," as well as being "very customer focused and practical." She additionally has been repeatedly recognized by Super Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, the Los Angeles Times, and The Best Lawyers in America.
In addition to her professional achievements, Julia is actively involved in arts organizations, notably serving as a board member of Center Dance Arts of the Los Angeles Music Center, Abraham.in.Motion, USC Kaufman School of Dance and US Friends of Studio Wayne McGregor.
- California
- Supreme Court of California
- Supreme Court of the United States
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, Eastern District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- J.D., University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, 1978
- B.A., University of California, San Diego, 1975
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
Recent Notable Representations:
- EFTA: Julia and the Financial Services Group regularly represent leading national banks, including Citibank and JP Morgan Chase, in both litigation and arbitrations arising from the alleged victimization by fraudsters of consumers in elaborate wire frauds or other scams. These cases allege various cutting-edge liability theories including, among others, violations of EFTA, UCC Article 4A, negligence, breach of contract, and state unfair practices violations. These claims have proliferated in the past several years and present unique legal and factual challenges.
Of particular note is Julia's representation of Citibank in an extremely visible case brought by the New York Attorney General in the Southern District of New York, challenging Citibank's handling of alleged fraudulent wire transfers initiated online. The Complaint alleges a wide range of theories including under EFTA, UCC Article 4A and New York consumer protection laws. The case is critically important to the banking industry and has garnered headlines nationwide. Emphasizing the importance of the issues, multiple financial services trade groups joined as amici in support of Citibank's position. People v. Citibank, N.A. (S.D.N.Y. No.1:24-cv-00659-JPO). - Early Warning Services/Zelle: Julia successfully defended Early Warning Services, a leader in the financial services industry in payment processing, in multiple putative class actions and individual actions pending in federal district courts and state courts across the country. Plaintiffs in these cases alleged they were victims of scams and/or fraud and that funds were transferred from their deposit accounts held at third-party banks using Zelle®, a digital payments network used by 80% of the US population. These actions were highly visible and provide important precedent, as stories about scams and fraud related to money transfer services have garnered significant attention from local and national media.
Julia succeeded in defeating all of these cases, including in important decisions dismissing the claims on the merits. Of particular note is the complete victory achieved in Tristan v. Bank of America, which was dismissed in its entirety as to EWS/Zelle®. The court ruled (among other things) that EWS was not subject to the EFTA for purposes of the challenged transactions because it did not issue the accounts or access devices to the plaintiffs and that advertising of the Zelle® service was not actionable as misleading. Natalie Tristan v. Bank of America, N.A. (C.D. Cal. No. 8:22-cv-01183). - JPMorgan Chase: Julia achieved a significant victory on behalf of Chase before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Milgram v. Chase Bank, which is important not just for our client but for the wider consumer finance industry. The lower court dismissed claims asserting an "unreasonable" investigation of identity theft under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal. The opinion provides relief to furnishers faced with FCRA claims based not on the actual investigation of a consumer's dispute, but on an outcome with which the consumer disagrees. Where the furnisher conducts a reasonable investigation of the consumer's dispute, an outcome adverse to the consumer will not support FCRA liability. Highlighting the importance of the issues, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce filed briefs and argued as amici before the Eleventh Circuit. Milgram v. Chase Bank USA, N.A., 72 F.4th 1212 (11th Cir. 2023).
- Debt Collection Actions: Julia and the Group routinely represent clients in response to complaints brought both by private plaintiffs and regulators, alleging violations of federal and state debt collection laws. Among the Group's notable matters is its representation of Synchrony Bank in its negotiated settlement with multiple California District Attorneys of Rosenthal Act claims based on allegedly excessive call volume. Julia and the Group routinely defend similar claims against other financial services companies.
- Elder Abuse Litigation: In July 2023, Julia obtained a groundbreaking decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Bortz v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, involving an alleged wire fraud scam perpetrated by third-party fraudsters. A motion to dismiss was granted dismissing the action in its entirety. The Ninth Circuit affirmed, ruling that a claim under California's elder abuse law could not be pursued absent a plausible showing that the bank had actual knowledge of the fraud. A similar outcome was obtained before the Ninth Circuit in March 2024 in Gray v. Chase. These two decisions are the only federal appellate decisions addressing the standard of liability for banks in California financial elder abuse cases and are important victories for the industry. Bortz v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (9th Cir. No. 22-cv-5558); Gray v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (9th Cir. No. 23-55318).
- Synchrony Bank: Julia recently prevailed in a complex breach of contract action against Synchrony's merchant, a large home supply company on whose behalf Synchrony issued credit cards, brought in federal court in Florida. The court found that the merchant breached the parties' contract providing that Synchrony would be the exclusive provider of a credit program to customers through August 2023 by beginning to offer a competing credit program in January 2021. Synchrony succeeded in obtaining summary judgment on liability and substantial damages following trial. Synchrony v. Cabinets To Go (S.D. Fla. No. 1:21-cv-21828-KMM).
- Discover Financial: Julia represented Discover in defending a putative class action, raising cutting-edge discrimination issues. In Perez, plaintiffs assert that Discover violated California and federal law by improperly considering immigration status during its underwriting process. Among the laws which plaintiffs alleged were violated is California's anti-discrimination statute, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civil Code §51. Discover recently settled this case on a class action basis, and the settlement was approved without objection. Perez, et al. v. Discover Bank, No. 20-cv-6896-SI (N.D.Cal.)
- Arbitration Issues: Julia continues to be at the forefront of counseling financial services clients regarding the drafting and implementation of consumer arbitration agreements, including litigating the enforceability of those agreements before both federal and state trial and appellate courts. Most recently, she and the Financial Services Group have been actively engaged in responding to the wave of "mass arbitrations" brought on behalf of thousands of individual consumers by plaintiffs' class action law firms. Julia and the Group routinely advise clients as to how to defend these matters as well as how to proactively change their agreements and practices to minimize the risk of mass arbitrations.
Speaking Engagements
- Co-Chair, Practising Law Institute's Annual Consumer Financial Services Institute, 29 years, most recently in 2025
- Speaker, "Annual Overview of California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act," multiple years, including in 2025
- Speaker, "Consumer Financial Services: Post-Election Update 2021," Practising Law Institute, March 23, 2021
- Speaker, "California - Year in Review and a Look Ahead," December 16, 2020
- Speaker, "Driving Successful Outcomes From Class Action Litigation," ALM's General Counsel Conference, September 16, 2020
- Speaker, "Understanding the Changes to California's Unfair Competition Law," June 17, 2020
- Moderator, "Public Protection in the Wake of COVID-19: States' Attorneys General Address Their Initiatives," May 15, 2020
- Speaker, "The CARES Act: Emerging Litigation Risks for the Financial Services Industry," May 6, 2020
- Moderator, "COVID-19's Impact on Consumer Financial Services Litigation," April 29, 2020
- Moderator, "Charging Into the New Decade - A Look at California's Expansive Regulatory Moves," January 23, 2020
- Moderator, "Tales from the Frontline: Sharing Stories on Success, Failures and What Keeps Them Up at Night," Women Leaders in Financial Services Law and Compliance, September 18, 2019
- CSUN Professor for a Day; Business Law, 2017-2019
News & Publications
Client Alerts
State Oversight: The Next Frontier for Consumer Protection
April 9, 2025
By: Julia B. Strickland, Benjamin M. Saul, Stephen J. Newman, Andrew Owens, Juliana Gerrick, Tarrian L. Ellis, Nathaniel Sans
Client Alerts
California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act - 2024 Annual Overview
March 6, 2025
By: Julia B. Strickland, Stephen J. Newman, Christopher R. Fredrich, Raymond A. Garcia, David W. Moon, Julieta Stepanyan
Media Mentions
Media Quotes Julia Strickland in Articles About Citibank Case in the Southern District of New York
October 11, 2024
Client Alerts
California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act - 2023 Overview
March 25, 2024
By: Julia B. Strickland, Stephen J. Newman, Christopher R. Fredrich, Andrew Owens
Publications
California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act 2022 Annual Overview
September 19, 2023
By: Julia B. Strickland, Stephen J. Newman, Christopher R. Fredrich, Andrew Owens
Media Mentions
Julia Strickland Discusses Move to Steptoe with the Los Angeles Business Journal
August 22, 2023
Media Mentions
Media Coverage of Steptoe's Expansion of Financial Services, and Insurance and Reinsurance Teams
July 28, 2023
Events
Webinars
California Latest Developments: The Unfair Competition Law and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act
March 25, 2025
Speakers: Stephen J. Newman, Julia B. Strickland, David W. Moon
Seminars & Events
Advertising and Consumer Protection Legal Forum
May 9, 2024
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Eric Berman, Daniel Blynn, Ruxandra Cana, Christopher R. Fredrich, Surya Kundu, Joseph McClure, Stephen J. Newman, Jeff Potts, Jennifer Quinn-Barabanov, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Julia B. Strickland
Noteworthy
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Litigation) Band 1 (2020-2024)
- Best Lawyers in America, Attorney of the Year, Litigation - Banking and Finance (2023)
- Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Banking & Finance (2010-2023)
- Law360, 2017 Banking MVP
- Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star, California (2015-2019)
- Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star, National
- Benchmark Litigation, Top California Litigator
- Benchmark Litigation, Top 250 Women in Litigation, National
- The Los Angeles Business Journal, Top 100 Lawyers (2022-2024)
- The Los Angeles Business Journal, LA500 (2020-2024)
- The Los Angeles Business Journal Women of Influence (2021-2022)
- The Los Angeles Business Journal, The Most Influential People in L.A. (2020-2022)
- The Los Angeles Business Journal, Top Litigators and Trial Lawyers (2019-2022)
- The Los Angeles Business Journal, Most Influential Women Attorneys (2018-2022)
- The Los Angeles Daily Journal, California's "Top Women Lawyers" 16 times, most recently in 2023
- The Los Angeles Business Journal, Lawyers of the Year (2016-2017)
Professional Affiliations
- Board of Councilors, USC Kaufman School of Dance
- Board Member, Abraham.In.Motion
- Board of Directors, Center Dance Arts of the Los Angeles Music Center
- Board Member, US Friends of Studio Wayne McGregor