Michael Dobbs

Michael Dobbs joined Baron & Budd’s Los Angeles office as an associate in 2024. He works in our Class Action Litigation Group. His life-long commitment to public service and social justice led Mr. Dobbs to litigate on behalf of victims of consumer fraud and manufacturer negligence.

Prior to joining Baron & Budd, Mr. Dobbs represented plaintiffs in class action lawsuits involving consumer fraud, environmental justice, and unlawful utility rates. At his previous law firm, Mr. Dobbs handled all phases of litigation to include drafting complaints, extensive motion practice, discovery, participating in settlement conferences, and management of expert witnesses in science, engineering, and economics.

Michael Dobbs received his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Irvine School of Law in 2021. As a law student, he clerked for the Office of the Attorney General of California writing responses to criminal appeals and for the Veterans Legal Institute. Michael Dobbs successfully provided oral arguments for the State of California in two criminal appeals before the Fourth District Court of Appeal. He also served as a research assistant on comity between national legal systems and recovered VA benefits for veterans and their families while working in the school’s advanced appellate clinic. Michael Dobbs was part of a team of students who developed early versions of the Parental Leave Rights App for the California Department of Fair Employment & Housing using AI-empowered software.

Prior to entering the legal profession, Mr. Dobbs served 22 years in the U.S. Navy and commanded a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. After leaving the U.S. Submarine Force, Mr. Dobbs worked as a system engineer designing, integrating, and testing military command, control, and communications systems and served as part-time and adjunct faculty for several San Diego universities and for the U.S. Naval War College. Michael Dobbs received his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of Grenoble, France, Institute of Political Studies.

Michael Dobbs is enthusiastic about children’s literacy and military history and strategy. He is also active in the San Diego sailing community.

Publications

Author, “Capítulo XVII – La Dimensión Bajo el Mar: Una Historia de Dos Tipos de Submarinos. A 40 Anos de la Guerra de Malvinas:  Una Mirada Diferente, edited by Marcos Moloeznik and José Gabriel Paz, Escuela Nacional de Inteligenica de Argentina, 2022, pp. 491-501.

Author, “Submariners Must Prepare for War,” Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, April 2017

Author, “Unman Battle Stations,” Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, December 2013.

Author, “The Incredible Shrinking SSBN(X),” Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, June 2012.

Co-Author, “Preventing Undersea Mishaps,” Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, June 2010.

Author, “Hype, Hope and Hard Facts: Rethinking the SSGN Concept,” Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, February 2008.

Author, “U.S. Maritime Transportation Security in Focus,” Homeland Security Monitor, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), November 2007.

Author, “As the Twig is Bent:  Rethinking the Development of Submarine Junior Officers for Command,” Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, June 2007.

Author, “Homeland Security Implications from the Battle of the Atlantic,” RUSI Journal, Royal United Services Institute, October 2003.

Author, “Homeland Security…from the Sea.” RUSI Journal, Royal United Services Institute, August 2002.

Contributor, “Over the Next Hill: A Sailor’s Perspective of Maritime Air Power and the Legacy of Lord Trenchard,” RUSI Journal, Royal United Services Institute, April 2002.

Author, “Establishing a CINC for Homeland Security,” Journal of Homeland Security, ANSER, October 2002.

Author, “A Renaissance for U.S. Civil Defense?” Journal of Homeland Security, ANSER, July 2001.

Author, “Homeland Security:  New Challenges for an Old Responsibility,” Journal of Homeland Defense, ANSER, April 2001.

Presentations

Presenter, “Nuke Subs Down Under:  AUKUS Submarine Agreements,” University of San Diego, May 2022.

Presenter, “NATO and Threats from Russia,” University of San Diego Master of International Studies, January 2021.

Presenter, “Autonomous Robotic Warriors:  Coming to a Battlefield Near You,” University of California, San Diego, May 2018.

Presenter, “Insurgency Warfare,” University of California,” San Diego, May 2018.

Presenter, “Unified Command Plan and Military Diplomacy,” University of San Diego, April 2018.

Presenter, “U.S. Soft Power and Diplomacy,” University of San Diego, March 2018.

Presenter, “Enduring Sources of U.S. Military Power,” University of San Diego, March 2018.

Presenter, “Maritime Balance of Power in Europe,” University of California, San Diego, February 2018.

Presenter, “South China Sea Disputes,” University of San Diego, February 2018.

Presenter, “Armed Drones at the Strategic, Operational, and Tactical Levels of the ‘Forever War,’” University of San Diego, June 2017.

Presenter, “Armed Drones and Targeted and Signature Killings,” Mock United Nations Assembly, University of California, San Diego, October 2014.

Presenter, “Armed Drones and Targeted and Signature Killings,” University of California, San Diego, May 2014.

Presenter, “Armed Drones at the Strategic, Operational, and Tactical Levels in the ‘Forever War,’” Human Rights Day Panel on Drone Warfare, University of San Diego, December 2013.

Presenter, “China’s Energy Security and Maritime Strategy,” Master of Advanced Studies in International Affair, University of California, San Diego, September 2013.

Presenter, “America’s Strategic Pivot to Indo-Pacific Region,” University of San Diego meeting of NATO Parliamentarians, November 2012.

Presenter, “China’s Energy Security and Maritime Strategy,” Chapman College Energy Security Conference, July 2012.

Presenter, “U.S. Submarine Force Missions and Capabilities, University of California, San Diego, March 2011.

Presenter, “China’s Energy Security and Maritime Strategy,” Military Industrial, Legal, Media, Educational, and Complex (MILMEC) Luncheon Lecture Series, San Diego, May 2009.

Presenter, “China’s Energy Security and Maritime Strategy,” University of San Diego Energy Futures Symposium, May 2009.

Presenter, “China’s Energy Security, University of California, San Diego, February 2009.

Presenter, “U.S. Navy’s ‘Achilles’ Heels,’” University of San Diego, April 2008.

Presenter, “U.S.C. Title 10 and the Unified Command Plan,” University of California, San Diego, April 2008.

Co-Presenter, “Post-911 Unified Command Plan Revisions,” Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5), Pentagon, October 2001.

Co-Presenter, “2001 Unified Command Plan,” U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, April 2001.

Presenter, “Revising the Unified Command Plan for Homeland Defense,” Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5), Pentagon, February 2001.

Presenter, “CINC Responsibilities for National Cyber Security,” Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J5), Pentagon, October 2000.

Presenter, “U.S. Navy Contributions to Homeland Security,” ANSER Workshop, August 2000.