The Los Angeles Business Journal has named partner Sasha Frid to its 2026 Leaders of Influence: Banking and Finance list, recognizing outstanding professionals in the Los Angeles region’s banking and finance community. A founding partner of Miller Barondess and a distinguished trial lawyer, Sasha is trusted by commercial banks, investment banks, and private equity firms to handle their complex and high-stakes matters.
Sasha represents Zions Bancorporation, N.A., doing business as California Bank & Trust (“CB&T”), in a commercial lending fraud action seeking recovery of more than $60 million in unpaid loans. The case arises from revolving credit facilities extended to Cantor Group II, LLC and Cantor Group IV, LLC to finance the acquisition of distressed commercial mortgage loans.
CB&T’s claims are directed against guarantors Andrew Stupin, Gerald J. Marcil and Deba Shyam, who executed personal guaranties in connection with the credit facilities. The defendants, along with the borrowers, allegedly abused the bank’s trust by reassigning or extinguishing CB&T’s first-priority security interests in collateral, diverting assets to affiliated entities under their control, and concealing those actions from the bank. Shortly after filing suit, Sasha obtained writs of attachment against the guarantors totaling approximately $60 million, securing a significant early victory for the bank.
In a recent victory, Sasha represented CriticalPoint Partners LLC (CPP), a prominent El Segundo-based investment bank and private equity firm, in a hard-fought arbitration over trade secret misappropriation and unfair competition. The Los Angeles County Superior Court confirmed the Final Arbitration Award, requiring former CPP executives Chapin Newhard and Philippe Didisheim to disgorge approximately $1.18 million in wrongfully obtained profits, primarily from retainer fees earned at their competing firms, 48North Partners and Anvil Partners. The former executives breached confidentiality agreements by misappropriating CPP’s proprietary client lists and deal-sourcing information. The award also imposes a broad five-year injunction barring solicitation of CPP’s clients or use of misappropriated information, and includes provisions for device inspections to ensure compliance.
Sasha’s prior successes include securing a complete dismissal of all class action claims against California Bank & Trust arising from the bank’s takeover of failed assets from the FDIC. All class action claims were dismissed on the eve of a class certification hearing. Sasha then obtained summary judgment on the remaining claims.