State Bar targets DTLA Law Group leaders in expanding multistate practice case

The State Bar of California has expanded its disciplinary case against attorneys affiliated with Downtown LA Law Group LLP, filing charges against two founding partners and a second litigation attorney accused of operating a personal injury practice in states where the firm's lawyers lacked authorization to practice.

The latest Notices of Disciplinary Charges name founding partners Daniel Azizi and Farid Yaghoubtil, along with litigation attorney Igor Fradkin. The allegations largely track charges filed in March against former DTLA partner Salar Hendizadeh.

The charges are unrelated to allegations that DTLA attorneys may have induced the filing of fraudulent childhood sexual abuse claims against Los Angeles County under AB 218. The litigation resulted in a $4 billion settlement with minimal discovery.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Wednesday that his office is investigating potentially fraudulent conduct involving claimants, attorneys, cappers and medical professionals connected to the AB 218 litigation. The county Auditor-Controller's office is also seeking information about fraud connected to the lawsuits, with a hotline, 844-901-0001.

"We are deeply committed to ensuring that genuine victims of child abuse receive the compensation they deserve. At the same time, we will aggressively pursue anyone who is fraudulently exploiting this settlement, stealing from true victims and from the hardworking Los Angeles County taxpayers who will bear the cost of these crimes for years to come," Hochman said.

"We look forward to working with the court and all counsel involved to protect the integrity of this process," Hochman added.

The State Bar has not confirmed whether it is examining any attorney for conduct related to the AB 218 litigation.

According to the bar's Office of Chief Trial Counsel, the DTLA attorneys it has charged participated in a business model that accepted and handled personal injury matters in states including Texas, Florida, Maryland, Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia despite lacking licensed attorneys in those jurisdictions or failing to secure local counsel in a timely manner.

Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona said the case raises concerns about attorney transparency and compliance with licensing requirements. "When attorneys extend their practice into jurisdictions where they are not licensed or allow staff to engage in unauthorized legal work in those jurisdictions, they put clients at risk," Cardona said.

The State Bar alleges DTLA and affiliated brands--including Union Injury Law Firm, Normandie Law Firm and Lone Star Injury Law Firm--marketed themselves as capable of handling personal injury matters in multiple states while much of the legal work was performed from California.

Azizi, who headed the firm's litigation department and served as a signatory on client trust accounts, is accused of supervising litigation conducted by attorneys who lacked authorization to practice in the relevant jurisdictions. Prosecutors allege he approved settlements and authorized fee disbursements in cases where legal services had been performed without proper licensing authority.

The charges devote particular attention to the firm's Texas operations. According to the State Bar, DTLA handled approximately 40 to 45 Texas matters and advertised itself as "Texas's #1 Injury Law Firm" while advertising multiple Texas office locations.

The State Bar also alleges Azizi continued using former Texas attorney Darren McBratney's name and credentials in firm marketing after McBratney left the firm in 2022, creating the impression that a Texas-licensed attorney remained involved in firm operations.

Yaghoubtil faces similar allegations concerning unauthorized practice, fee collection, supervision failures, and misleading advertising. He also faces separate charges alleging that he continued representing a client after being discharged and later submitted an attorney certification connected to a litigation funding transaction under allegedly false pretenses.

Fradkin is accused of practicing in Texas and Maryland without authorization by handling matters, negotiating settlements, participating in a Maryland mediation and filing a Texas lawsuit before obtaining pro hac vice admission.

The Office of Chief Trial Counsel intends to seek consolidation of the cases against Azizi, Yaghoubtil, Fradkin and Hendizadeh.