Robert Blake Case Lands Business Attorney (Happily) in the Spotlight

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Robert Blake Case Lands Business Attorney (Happily) in the Spotlight

By CHRIS CZIBORR

Orange County Business Journal

For most people, seeing your lawyer on “Geraldo” isn’t a good sign. For Raj Rai, owner of Cypress-based Pepperoni’s Grill pizza chain, it’s something to boast about.

“I brag to family members about what a good lawyer he is,” Rai said. “And I have mentioned that he’s involved in the Blake case.”

Rai is talking about Irvine attorney Eric Dubin and the Robert Blake murder case. Dubin, a sole practitioner, has gained notoriety for his work representing Bonnie Lee Bakley’s four children.

Dubin’s work has landed him on the Fox News Channel, CNN and Court TV. He’s even been the subject of a Jay Leno joke on “The Tonight Show.”

Pizza chain operator Rai and other Dubin business clients say they don’t mind that their lawyer who usually handles contract disputes, bad debts and other basics for small businesses has become a celebrity of sorts.

Rai enlisted Dubin in a fight with La Quinta-based Stuft Pizza Franchise Corp. over a franchise deal. Rai was a Stuft franchisee before going out on his own last year.

“We’re big Eric Dubin fans,” said Daniel Strauss, president of Van Nuys industrial products distributor A Cut Above Distributing Co. “I’m low-key about discussing his involvement in the news. But I never hesitate to refer him to potential business clients.”

A Cut Above has been a Dubin client for more than a decade, Strauss said. Dubin has represented the distributor of grinding wheels, wire brushes and other gear on issues ranging from bad debts to trademark disputes.

“His involvement with the Blake case concerned me at first,” Strauss said. “But we feel pretty fortunate that it hasn’t caused any problems for us. What would bother me is if he didn’t take care of us and we ended up lower on the totem pole. But he treats us like his No. 1 client. If I called Eric and he never called me back, I wouldn’t use him I would just find another attorney.”

The Blake case has helped drum up new business clients, Dubin said. “On a national level, I now get business calls all the time from people that have companies or entities in California,” he said.

Dubin said he’s developed a novelty factor.

“A lot of people have seen me on TV,” he said. “They think I do really well, and they are pleased it’s kind of like having a name brand. I haven’t had any negative feedback, but I’m sure at some point I’ll make a fool out of myself.”

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