State Bar charges DTLA Law Group founders with multistate unauthorized law practice

LOS ANGELES -- 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 litigation attorney over allegations that the firm operated a personal injury practice in states where its lawyers were not authorized 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 not connected to news reports and investigations claiming DTLA Law Group may have induced plaintiffs to falsely make claims of childhood sex abuse in Los Angeles County facilities in a case that settled for $4 billion settlement with minimal discovery.

According to the Office of Chief Trial Counsel, the attorneys 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.

"The public depends on attorneys to follow the law and to be transparent about where they are authorized to practice," Cardona said in a statement. "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."

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 maintaining website listings for offices in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Laredo and San Antonio.

The State Bar further alleges that after Texas-licensed attorney Darren McBratney left the firm in January 2022, Azizi continued to permit the use of McBratney's name, image and credentials in firm marketing materials despite written demands that they be removed. Prosecutors contend the firm's actions created the false impression that a Texas-licensed attorney remained actively involved in overseeing Texas matters.

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 law in Texas and Maryland without authorization and assisting the firm's broader multistate operations. According to the charges, he acted as lead attorney in matters arising in those states, negotiated settlements, sent demand letters, appeared at a Maryland mediation and filed a lawsuit in Texas before obtaining pro hac vice admission and without meaningful participation by local counsel.

The Office of Chief Trial Counsel has informed the State Bar Court that it intends to seek consolidation of the cases against Azizi, Yaghoubtil, Fradkin and Hendizadeh.

The State Bar Court will determine whether the attorneys committed professional misconduct and may recommend sanctions ranging from reproval to suspension or disbarment. Any recommendation would ultimately be reviewed by the California Supreme Court.

The cases are expected to draw attention within the plaintiffs' bar because they test the limits of multijurisdictional personal injury practices that use centralized operations and marketing platforms to solicit and manage cases across state lines.