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John is an experienced trial lawyer and corporate compliance expert with extensive experience both as outside and public company in-house counsel, and as a senior officer with a government enforcement agency. While his professional experience spans many areas of substantive law, he has a particularly strong background in general litigation, securities litigation, corporate governance and compliance, and white collar criminal and regulatory investigations and defense. He has obtained more than $100 million in verdicts, judgments, and awards over the course of his career. He is active in pro bono and public interest work and serves on the Board of Directors of Public Counsel, the nation’s largest non-profit law firm.
Practice Focus
General Litigation, Securities Litigation, Corporate Governance and Compliance, White-Collar Defense, Regulatory Investigations and Defense
Prior Experience
After receiving his undergraduate and law degrees from UC Berkeley, John began his career as an associate and then partner at two prominent law firms, where his practice encompassed complex civil litigation, white collar criminal defense, and internal investigations. He developed extensive litigation experience, serving as first chair or solo counsel, as well as second chair, in jury trials, bench trials (in both state and federal courts), and various arbitration tribunals. He also briefed and argued appeals and writ proceedings before the California Courts of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit. His cases involved a wide range of underlying issues including breach of contract, commercial fraud, international trade disputes, unfair competition and theft of trade secrets, property disputes, employment litigation, insurance coverage disputes, securities litigation, broker-dealer liability, constitutional and civil rights law, legal malpractice, malicious prosecution, media regulation, defamation, the False Claims Act, RICO, and the defense of white collar criminal cases alleging mail or wire fraud, antitrust and bid-rigging violations, and other financial crimes.
Admissions
State Bar of California
Professional Associations and Leadership
9th Circuit Court of Appeals Pro Bono Panel, 1999-2008, 2021-Present
Public Counsel, Board of Directors, 2013-Present
Los Angeles County Bar Association, 1993-2008, 2021-Present
California Lawyers Association, 2021-Present
Honors and Awards
“Top 100 Lawyers in California”, Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2011
Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Legal Services Award, State Bar of California, 1993, 1994
