Arden Burstein
Arden Burstein is a Principal in the Consumer Law Department at Scali Rasmussen, where she combines deep litigation experience with a practical, business-minded approach to legal problem-solving. A seasoned litigator, Arden brings the sharp instincts of a trial lawyer to every engagement—transforming lessons from the courtroom into proactive guidance and training that help clients stay ahead of legal risk.
With specific expertise in the Automotive Industry, Arden is particularly skilled at navigating the intricate legal relationships between manufacturers, dealerships, and lenders. With a strong track record representing both dealerships and financial institutions, she delivers strategic, real-world solutions tailored to each client’s unique business environment. Her reputation for anticipating client needs and crafting forward-thinking strategies makes her a trusted advisor.
Prior to joining Scali Rasmussen, Arden honed her expertise in creditors’ rights litigation, defending dealerships and managing complex cases for major financial institutions. She also served as in-house counsel for a startup, giving her firsthand insight into how legal decisions impact operations, growth and efficiency. This dual perspective informs her in-house style of counsel and her ability to provide practical legal advice designed to prevent disputes before they arise.
She earned her Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Mount Saint Mary’s University. Outside of her practice, Arden is a passionate supporter of the Special Olympics and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Ms. Burstein has successfully represented clients in banking and finance in the automotive industry, representing large banks, credit unions, and car dealerships.
More recently, Ms. Burstein has been defending business and automobile dealerships, and regularly leads internal training for clients, to help teams identify risks and strengthen compliance practices to avoid litigation. Her ultimate goal is to empower clients with the tools and confidence to navigate today’s business landscape, ensuring they remain compliant, protected, and positioned for success and to advocate strategically throughout litigation.
Representative matters
- Regularly represented automotive dealerships in disputes with flooring lenders regarding inventory financing arrangements
- Design and implement monthly Finance & Insurance training and compliance programs to assist California vehicle dealerships to maintain alignment with evolving consumer protection laws.
- Represent financial institutions in defense against consumer protection claims related to repossession, credit reporting, and debt collection practices, with expertise in the Rees-Levering Automobile Sales Finance Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 2983.2), the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the California Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1788 et seq.), the California Business & Professions Code §§ 5700–7511, and the Uniform Commercial Code – Division 9.
- Consistently deliver favorable outcomes by securing early settlements that avoid costly discovery, or by prevailing on strategic dispositive motions including demurrers and summary judgments.
- Successfully litigated 42 U.S.C. §1983 claims against cities over unconstitutional seizures of collateral, compelling municipalities to adopt improved notice procedures protecting creditors’ due process rights.
- Successfully represented leading financial institution in commercial litigation protecting monetary claims and property interest, securing a full judgment for all monetary damages prayed for, recovery of disputes property, and an award of attorney's fees and costs.
Bar Admissions
California, U.S. District Court Northern District of California, Southern District of California, Eastern District of California, Central District of California, California Central Bankruptcy Court, California Southern Bankruptcy Court