Faraz Behnamjou

Faraz Behnamjou is an associate in Goodwin’s Litigation department. His practice spans complex commercial litigation across a broad array of industries, including life sciences, healthcare, real estate, technology, software, fintech, blockchain, digital assets, and automotive.

Faraz represents companies and individuals in high-stakes disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, post-merger and earn-out disagreements, employment matters, copyright, trade secrets, antitrust, and qui tam actions. He has substantial experience managing cases through all phases of litigation and trial.

He has secured significant results for his clients. Notably, Faraz has twice prosecuted post-merger disputes to final judgments for fraud — prevailing once in arbitration and once before a jury, which awarded $17 million in punitive damages. He has also obtained a range of prejudgment remedies, including injunctions and receiverships. In one matter, he obtained an injunction preventing the dissipation of luxury assets during an LLC partnership dispute; in another, he successfully represented a lender in obtaining the ex parte appointment of a receiver to take control of a multi-use real estate development.

Faraz maintains an active pro bono practice in both civil and criminal matters. He represents the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley in California Public Records Act litigation currently pending before the California Supreme Court, serving as lead author of the briefing. He has also represented criminal defendants at various stages of their proceedings, most recently filing a motion to obtain the compassionate release of an individual serving an exceptionally long sentence for a non-violent marijuana offense.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Faraz served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge William Alsup for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. During his clerkship, he drafted orders for all stages of litigation, including motions to dismiss, summary judgment, change of venue, class certification, class settlement approval, attorney’s fees, and injunctions, involving a wide range of legal areas including the False Claims Act, ERISA, employment, California Unfair Competition Law, and Consumer Remedies Act.

During law school, Faraz served as a judicial extern for Judge William Alsup. He also served as a law clerk at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office where he worked on various criminal matters. Faraz was also a research assistant to two of his professors.

Faraz was recognized as One to Watch by The Best Lawyers in America 2027 for his work in Commercial Litigation.

Faraz was awarded the Daily Journal’s 2026 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award for his pro bono work representing the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley in the landmark California Public Records Act case, City of Gilroy v. Superior Court. Goodwin achieved a groundbreaking decision from The Supreme Court of California ensuring state and local agencies are held accountable when they improperly withhold public records essential to governmental accountability. Awarded annually, the CLAY Awards celebrate California attorneys whose work over the past year has exemplified excellence, leadership, and results of statewide or national importance.

Faraz was recognized as a Litigator of the Week runner-up by Law.com in connection a $33 million jury verdict against Silvaco Group Inc.

During law school, Faraz received CALI/Witkin awards for Civil Procedure, Remedies, and Professional Responsibility.