Sklar Kirsh adds Thurman Legal to expand litigation bench

Sklar Kirsh LLP has acquired Thurman Legal and brought veteran trial attorney Michael Thurman into the firm, expanding its work in regulatory defense, consumer protection and complex disputes. The move deepens the Los Angeles firm's litigation platform as businesses face more enforcement and class-action risk.

Why it matters: - Sklar Kirsh is broadening its litigation platform in areas where businesses face rising regulatory and consumer litigation exposure. - The acquisition adds experience in FTC, CFPB and state attorney general matters, along with class actions and unfair competition disputes. - The move gives clients another option for integrated business counsel across commercial, employment and intellectual property disputes.

What happened: - Sklar Kirsh LLP announced the acquisition of Thurman Legal on November 5, 2026. - Michael Thurman is joining Sklar Kirsh as part of the transaction. - Sklar Kirsh is a Los Angeles-based law firm serving businesses, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. - The firm said the acquisition expands its litigation capabilities in regulatory defense, consumer protection, unfair competition and complex commercial disputes.

The details: - Thurman has decades of experience representing businesses and executives in high-stakes litigation, government investigations and regulatory enforcement proceedings. - His practice includes defending matters brought by the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, state attorneys general and other regulators. - His work also covers consumer class actions, Telephone Consumer Protection Act litigation and disputes involving trade secrets, intellectual property and unfair competition. - Thurman advises businesses on consumer protection compliance, advertising and marketing practices, and risk management strategies. - His competitor litigation practice includes trade secret disputes, unfair competition claims and unauthorized use of names, likenesses and advertising keywords. - Jeffrey Sklar, co-chairman of Sklar Kirsh, said Thurman's trial and regulatory defense background complements the firm's commercial, employment and intellectual property litigation work. - Sklar also said Thurman's experience as outside counsel and in-house general counsel gives him perspective on how legal disputes affect business operations and executive decision-making. - Thurman previously spent nine years as a partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP. - At Loeb & Loeb, Thurman helped establish the firm's Consumer Protection Defense Department and co-chaired its Consumer Protection Bureau Task Force. - Thurman also previously served as an in-house general counsel and as a litigation partner at Keesal, Young & Logan.

Between the lines: - The acquisition signals that Sklar Kirsh is competing for more sophisticated, higher-stakes business litigation work. - Thurman's mix of trial experience and in-house counsel experience suggests the firm wants to pair courtroom defense with practical business advice. - The addition also aligns with areas where regulatory scrutiny and private litigation often overlap.

What's next: - Sklar Kirsh is expected to use Thurman's experience to grow matters involving regulatory defense, consumer protection and complex commercial disputes. - Thurman said the move will let him offer clients the resources of a larger business law firm while maintaining personalized service and strategic counsel. - The firm's expanded litigation bench positions it to pursue more matters tied to consumer compliance, enforcement defense and competitor disputes.

The bottom line: - Sklar Kirsh is adding a veteran litigator to strengthen a growing disputes practice and better serve clients facing regulatory and commercial pressure.