When William C. Ford Jr. wanted to know more about billionaire Kirk Kerkorian’s initial offer to boost his stake in Ford Motor Co., he knew whom to call: Los Angeles litigator Terry Christensen.

Christensen may be facing a high-profile trial July 16 on federal conspiracy and wiretapping charges related to the criminal activities of private investigator Anthony Pellicano, but he’s still a big player in business and legal circles.

After all, it was the 67-year old Christensen who guided Kerkorian’s mid-June deal that upped the billionaire investor’s ownership in the Detroit automaker from 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent.

Certainly, not all is rosy at the Century City-based law firm he co-founded, Christensen Glaser Fink Jacobs Weil & Shapiro LLP, where he remains managing partner. Recruiting lawyers to work at the firm can be difficult, for example, since he is the only lawyer facing trial related to the lingering Pellicano case. (The government indicted Christensen in March 2006 on charges that he paid a minimum of $100,000 to have Kerkorian’s ex-wife, Lisa Bonder Kerkorian, wiretapped during a child support dispute.)

But morale at the firm hasn’t suffered, said Patricia Glaser, the partner who will be defending Christensen. “People are being totally appropriate and supportive.

It’s wonderful. Terry is my friend and partner of many years, and I expect him to be vindicated.”

Many high-profile clients, including Kerkorian and real estate developer Edward Roski Jr.’s Majestic Realty Co., have remained loyal to the firm.

“Christensen Glaser still does our real estate work,” said Reon Roski, vice president and managing director of Majestic. “We are happy with them, and look forward to continue using them.”

But in addition to serving clients such as Majestic, Christensen Glaser lawyers are preparing to defend their high-profile name partner.

Glaser, who has a Southern accent from her West Virginia roots and a reputation as a tough-as-nails litigator, became the second name on the firm’s letterhead in May 2006 after former partner Louis “Skip” Miller left the firm. She will make the opening and closing arguments at Christensen’s trial.

Christensen also called on well-known white collar criminal defense attorneys Terree Bowers and Mary Cater Andrus to represent him in the case. Bowers and Andrus are both partners at Washington D.C.-based Howrey LLP and former federal prosecutors.“For Christensen, his entire career and legacy is on the line,” said Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor.

Meeting Kerkorian