Sean J. Filippini
Partner / Executive Committee Member
Sean Filippini's practice focuses on litigation with experience in multiple practice areas, including construction, real estate, and commercial disputes.
Sean regularly litigates cases in California State Court, Federal District Court, State Appellate Court, and California’s Office of Administrative Hearings. Sean also has substantial experience with private arbitration and mediation.
In his construction and real estate practice, Sean represents public entities, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers. Construction and real estate clients rely on Sean for guidance in all aspects of their business—from day-to-day advice about risk management issues to representing them as lead counsel in litigation.
In addition to his construction practice, Sean also has significant experience with complex business litigation on behalf of public entities, publicly-traded companies, regional companies, financial institutions, and individuals.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento, Board of Directors, 2018-present; Chair, 2018-2022
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento, Big Brother, 2005-2013
- Big Brothers Big Sisters, Outside General Counsel, Pro Bono
- El Dorodo Hills Little League, Baseball Coach, 2019-present
- Jackson Elementary School, 5th Grade Girls Basketball Coach, 2022-2023
- United Contractors
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Construction Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Litigation Section
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, 2023-2025
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyer, Construction Litigation, 2019-2024
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Construction, Construction Litigation, General Litigation, 2015-2023
- Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2017-2018
Construction
- Represented international construction surety and obtained full defense judgment with award of attorney’s fees in litigation brought by commercial developer seeking in excess of ten million dollars in damages.
- Represented one of the largest HVAC manufacturers in the world and obtained full defense judgment in multi-party litigation brought by a commercial hotel owner seeking in excess of fifteen million dollars in damages.
- Represented numerous public entities in the drafting and bidding of hundreds of millions of dollars in public works contracts.
- Represented numerous public entities in the defense and prosecution of construction claims, including claims for delay, extra work, and deficient work.
- California counsel for national lumber company. Successfully prosecuted tens of millions of dollars in mechanic’s lien and contract actions to favorable termination, including establishing priority of mechanic’s liens over bank deeds of trust.
- Represented private owner in the negotiation and resolution of numerous construction claims on multi-million dollar river improvement construction project.
- Represented general contractor in litigation against public entity over extra work and delay claims on a public university dormitory construction project.
- Represented subcontractor in multi-party complex litigation over multi-million dollar high school construction project.
- Represented general contractor in arbitration and subsequent appeal over the propriety of default termination on a multi-million dollar public works project.
- Represented general contractor in litigation against subcontractors involving bond claims, stop notices, and prompt payment penalties on public works project.
- Represented subcontractor in extensive litigation against a general contractor involving extra work claims, delay claims, and bond claims on a multi-million dollar federal project.
- Represented numerous public entities in the drafting and bidding of hundreds of millions of dollars in public works contracts.
- Represented owners, contractors, design professionals, bonding companies, subcontractors, and materials suppliers in all facets of contract negotiations, contract drafting, and construction claims disputes.
- Represented numerous contractors in public works contract bid protests on total contract amounts in excess of one hundred million dollars.
- Outside general counsel for custom home builder. Represented contractor client in numerous mechanic’s lien actions and claims for payment.
Commercial Litigation
- Represented public school district in litigation against publicly traded technology company regarding a failed technology project. Obtained multi-million dollar settlement for client.
- Represented shareholder in the negotiation and resolution of a complex, multi-million dollar settlement agreement that resolved numerous lawsuits through the $12 million sale of a closely held corporation to a publicly traded company.
- Extensive experience litigating Anti-SLAPP Motions in cases involving protected speech. Obtained full defense judgments and recovery of attorney’s fees in numerous cases.
- Lead counsel for contractor in numerous complex asbestos litigation cases. Successfully obtained dismissals for client in all actions after taking depositions and filing motions for summary judgment.
- Lead counsel for regional luxury car importer, broker, and seller.
- Represented regional telecommunications company in contract litigation against publicly traded corporation.
- Represented large fruit packing company in multiple litigation matters, including favorable termination of lawsuit over solar power installation.
- Representation of wineries and craft breweries in all aspects of litigation.
- Represented landlords and tenants in numerous landlord-tenant disputes, including filing and defense of unlawful detainer and breach-of-lease actions.
- Extensive general business litigation, including contract actions, personal injury actions, and wrongful death actions.
- Represented clients in virtually all facets of pre-trial civil litigation, including discovery, provisional remedies, motion practice, and mediation and negotiations.
Announcements
22 related items-
October 24, 202442 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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August 15, 2024Best Lawyers® 2025 Recognizes 44 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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June 26, 202441 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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August 17, 2023Best Lawyers® 2024 Recognizes 46 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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August 1, 202338 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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June 30, 202342 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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August 18, 202240 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch 2023
Three selected as 2023 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” -
August 3, 202233 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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July 7, 202232 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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July 7, 202130 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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June 17, 202138 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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July 24, 202045 Downey Brand Attorneys Earn Top Lawyers Distinction from Sacramento Magazine
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July 8, 202025 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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June 26, 201922 Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized as 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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May 1, 201949 Downey Brand Attorneys Distinguished as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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August 27, 201818 Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized as Best of the Bar 2018
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June 29, 2018Sacramento Magazine Recognizes 54 Downey Brand Attorneys As Top Lawyers
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September 11, 201720 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Best of the Bar 2017
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July 14, 201752 Downey Brand Attorneys Make Sacramento Magazine’s 2017 Top Lawyers List
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July 15, 201660 Downey Brand Attorneys Make Sacramento Magazine’s 2016 Top Lawyers List
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July 14, 201551 Downey Brand Attorneys Named to Sacramento Magazine’s 2015 Top Lawyers List
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January 1, 2015Downey Brand Elects Four New Partners
In the News
2 related items-
September 27, 2019Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Sacramento Area
KVIE Studio Sacramento -
September 25, 2019Sacramento-Area Big Brothers Big Sisters Dealing with Shortage of Mentors
Fox40 News
Speaking Engagements / Events
5 related items-
April 3, 2020COVID-19 Webinar No. 3: Considerations for Businesses & EmployersDowney Brand COVID-19 Webinar Series
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October 17, 2019Introduction to Public Works Contracting & Claims ResolutionPresenter, County Counsel
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November 27, 20182018 ACWA Legal Briefing & CLE Workshop Presented by Downey Brand LLPACWA 2018 Fall Conference & Exhibition
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November 2, 2016Legal Updates in the Construction IndustryPresenter, Building Opportunity Conference
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April 27, 2016Construction Law 101: Covering the BasicsPresenter, Metro Chamber 2016 Seminar Series
Legal Alerts
2 related items-
September 2011DB Construction Law Update—Licensing Developments
Construction Law -
May 2011Changes in Prompt Payment Penalties Catch Attention of Construction Industry
Construction Law
Sean is actively involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento. Sean served as a Big Brother for seven years and was named the Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Brother of the Year in 2008. Sean also served on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors for four years. Presently, Sean serves as outside general counsel to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Additionally, Sean is a licensed California Real Estate Broker. In that capacity, he has negotiated and brokered numerous real estate transactions.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento, Board of Directors, 2018-present; Chair, 2018-2022
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento, Big Brother, 2005-2013
- Big Brothers Big Sisters, Outside General Counsel, Pro Bono
- El Dorodo Hills Little League, Baseball Coach, 2019-present
- Jackson Elementary School, 5th Grade Girls Basketball Coach, 2022-2023
- United Contractors
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Construction Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Litigation Section
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, 2023-2025
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyer, Construction Litigation, 2019-2024
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Construction, Construction Litigation, General Litigation, 2015-2023
- Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2017-2018