Donald Sterling
Samini received national media coverage after serving as lead counsel to former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, in litigation with the NBA, TMZ, and Sterling's ex-girlfriend V. Stiviano. In April 2014, website TMZ released an audio recording of a man reported to be Sterling making racial remarks to V. Stiviano, following an Instagram post featuring Stiviano and basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.[4] In the recording, the man believed to be Sterling, is heard saying: "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to?" and "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games."[5]
"If you're going to come after Sterling, maybe it's time for the NBA to take a close reflection on their own conduct."
Following a public outcry, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Sterling would receive a lifetime ban from the NBA, fined $2.5 million by the league, and forced to sell the team.[6] On August 14, 2014, after an unsuccessful appeal attempt by Sterling, the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft chief executive officer Steve Ballmer for $2 billion was finalized.[7] In response to the NBA's decision, Samini called the NBA a "band of hypocrites", citing previous discriminatory conduct by the NBA, and suggested the organization "take a close reflection on their own conduct."[8]
In addition, Samini also served as co-counsel to Sterling in his probate and divorce proceedings with wife Shelly Sterling.[9] In March 2016, Samini informed the Los Angeles Times that "notwithstanding all the difficult events of the last two years, the Sterlings have resolved their differences" and decided not to proceed with their divorce.[10]
On November 6, 2015, a Los Angeles judge granted TMZ's request to be dismissed from the case, ruling that TMZ had a right to release the tape because it concerned an issue of public interest.[11] On March 22, 2016, a federal judge dismissed Sterling's antitrust lawsuit against the NBA.[12] The judge concluded that Sterling could not "show that the NBA parties deprived him of a constitutionally protected interest."[13] In response, Samini released a statement, stating that "it is impossible to believe that, in any other circumstance, a private conversation could be recorded and distributed without an individual's consent or that private medical information could be made public in this manner all without consequence."[13] Despite the setback, Samini announced that Sterling "remains committed to the cause."[12]
Representation of royal families and sovereigns
In 2019, Samini represented Kuwait Interior Minister Khaled Al-Sabah, a member of Kuwait's royal family, when he was defrauded out of a $163 million investment while purchasing a Beverly Hills mountain.[14] Al-Sabah alleged that the previous owner "duped him into thinking he would get a 50 percent cut from his years-long investment in the property."[15]
On July 16, 2020, the United States Justice Department filed a forfeiture complaint against the 157-acre undeveloped hilltop. The Justice Department accused Al-Sabah of illegally transferring more than $100 million to invest in and buy the assets.[16] "My client denies any wrongdoing whatsoever. Any suggestion that my client was involved in any illegal activity is incorrect. Mr. al-Sabah will continue to pursue his legal claims against Mr. Noval in the civil action", said Samini.[17]
