Atty. Erwin J. Shustak

Atty. Erwin J. Shustak

Erwin Shustak is the founder and Managing Partner of the Firm. He heads the Litigation and Arbitration Department, with over 40 years of extensive experience in a wide variety of complex disputes and transactions, across the country and overseas.

San Diego San Diego 50 yrs experience 50 year
Call (619) 696-9500 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Erwin J. Shustak at a glance

Erwin J. Shustak is a business and litigation attorney based in San Diego, California, practicing at Shustak Reynolds & Partners PC. They have 50+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1976. Admitted to practice in New Jersey (1976), New York (1977), and California (1985). Educated at New York University (J.D., 1985). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Financial Services Regulation Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in San Diego, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Erwin Shustak is the founder and Managing Partner of the Firm
  • He heads the Litigation and Arbitration Department, with over 40 years of extensive experience in a wide variety of complex disputes and transactions, across the country and overseas
  • Mr. Shustak specializes in litigations, trials, arbitrations and appeals of complex securities, financial and business disputes, with a particular emphasis in the areas of securities and financial services and regulation law
  • Few attorneys have the depth and range of his legal experience and judgment
  • He has handled and overseen several hundred litigations and arbitrations, in Federal and State Courts and arbitration forums across the country
  • He has represented public and private companies of all kinds, including financial institutions
  • broker-dealers
  • registered investment advisors, advisory firms and securities brokers
  • governmental agencies, including the FDIC and the Resolution Trust Corporation
  • manufacturing firms in many industries
  • hedge funds and investment partnerships
  • and defrauded investors
  • His vast trial and arbitration experience includes business, securities and financial fraud
  • breach of contract
  • real estate transactions and disputes
  • employment disputes
  • unfair competition, non-compete and restrictive covenant cases
  • and intellectual property disputes including copyright and trademark infringement
  • He is a highly experienced and respected litigator as well as an ardent and effective negotiator
  • Mr. Shustak began his career at the premier national law firm of Kaye Scholer Fierman Hays & Handler, in New York City
  • He is admitted to the State and Federal Courts of California, New York and New Jersey
  • the Second, Third, Fifth and Ninth Circuit Federal Courts of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court
  • For over 25 years he has served as an arbitrator for FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers) and the National Futures Association
  • He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
  • the Association of Business Trial Lawyers of San Diego
  • the New York, California State and San Diego County Bar Associations
  • Erwin also is a member of the Legal and Compliance Society of SIFMA, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
  • Erwin resides in Del Mar, California and travels extensively serving the Firm’s clients
  • He is active in a number of community organizations and generously gives his time and experience to various pro bono projects
  • Erwin is an active member of IR Global, a leading international association of legal and accounting professionals, based in London, which provides our Firm with access to top professionals across the globe
  • Erwin is a member of the Disputes Committee of that organization
  • During his career, Erwin has received numerous awards and recognitions for his professional expertise, including: ?• Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 23rd Edition (2017) of Woodward White’s “The Best Lawyers in America©" for his work in Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Best Lawyers© is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession; • Named a SuperLawyer© seven times by SuperLawyer Magazine, published by Thompson Reuters, for his peer recognition and professional achievements in securities and business litigation; • Named one of the “Top Lawyers in San Diego” and “One of the Top Lawyers and Law Firms You Need to Know” in the 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 annual Attorneys editions of San Diego Magazine; • Honored as a “Top Litigator” of 2014” and a “Top Rated Lawyer of 2013″ in the field of Commercial Litigation by Corporate Counsel and The American Lawyer; • Voted one of San Diego’s “Best of the Bar” in 2015 and 2014; • Selected for Lifetime Membership in Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America©; • Named “One of the Top 100 Litigation Lawyers in California” in 2014 and 2015 by The American Society of Legal Advocates, a recognition awarded to less than 1.5% of lawyers nationally; • Received the highest rating- AV- from Martindale Hubbell since 1985, a testament to the fact that his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence; • Lifetime Member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, based on a number of multi-million-dollar jury and arbitration awards he has obtained for clients over the years
  • Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members; • Selected by The San Diego Daily Transcript as one of the Transcript’s “Top Ten Attorneys in 2005″, and named as one of the “Top Influentials in 2012″; • Selected by the readers of Fine Magazine as the Top Commercial/Corporate Attorney of 2016; • Featured on the cover of the 2012 edition of “Top Rated Lawyers in New York” published by The National Law Journal and The American Lawyer; • Named a “Top Rated Lawyer in Securities Law” in 2013 by American Lawyer and Martindale Hubbell

Practice Areas Explained

Erwin J. Shustak's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Erwin J. Shustak handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Erwin J. Shustak is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Erwin J. Shustak is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in California

Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Diego are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Diego or all attorneys in California.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Erwin J. Shustak

Where is Erwin J. Shustak's law office located?
Erwin J. Shustak's law practice is located in San Diego, California. The firm is Shustak Reynolds & Partners PC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Erwin J. Shustak handle?
Erwin J. Shustak focuses on business, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in California.
How long has Erwin J. Shustak practiced law?
Erwin J. Shustak has 50+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1976.
Where did Erwin J. Shustak go to law school?
Erwin J. Shustak earned their education at (J.D., 1985).
How can I contact Erwin J. Shustak for a consultation?
You can contact Erwin J. Shustak directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Erwin J. Shustak received?
Erwin J. Shustak's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Financial Services Regulation Law; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Arbitration; Best Lawyers in America — Banking and Finance Law.

Education

J.D.
New York University
- 1985

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Financial Services Regulation Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Arbitration
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Banking and Finance Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Securities
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Securities / Capital Markets Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Securities Regulation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Business
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — named a SuperLawyer 6 times, securities and business litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — named "One of the Top Lawyers in San Diego" in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — voted one of San Diego's "Best of the Bar" in 2014 and 2015
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — lifetime member in Rue Ratings "Best Attorneys in America"
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — named "One of the Top 100 Litigation Lawyers in California" in 2014 and 2015 by the American Society of Legal Advocates
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — rated AV- the highest rating- by Martindale Hubbell since 1985
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — selected as one of the "Top Ten Attorneys in San Diego" by the San Diego Daily Transcript in 2005
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — named the Top Commercial/Corporate Attorney of 2016 by Fine Magazine
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — named a "Top Rated Lawyer in Securities Law" in 2013 by the American Lawyer
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — named to "Best Lawyers in America" 2018 and 2017, published by Woodward White
- 2026

Bar Admissions

New Jersey
Admitted: 1976
New York
Admitted: 1977
California
Admitted: 1985

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