State Bar of California
U.S. District Court for Central District of California
U.S. District Court for Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for Southern District of California
U.S. District Court for Eastern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
“Southern California Rising Star” by Super Lawyers® (2015-2022)
Top Defense Verdict (2010), Daily Journal
New York University School of Law (J.D., 2007)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (B.S., 2004; magna cum laude)
Linear Technology Corp. v. Novellus Systems, Inc. Served as a member of trial team in case where the plaintiff sought more than $200 million in damages on contract and patent warranty claims against semiconductor equipment client. Obtained complete defense verdict at trial in Santa Clara County Superior Court, including more than $5 million in attorneys’ fees. Both the verdict and the fee award were affirmed by the California Court of Appeal.
Confidential arbitration. Served as second-chair trial counsel in a real estate joint venture for a client who was sued by his partner for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. After a full hearing on the merits, all claims of wrongdoing alleged against client were rejected by the arbitration panel.
O’Donnell Strategic Industrial REIT, Inc. v. Strategic Capital Advisory Services. Defended a broker dealer and financial advisor to REITs in litigation arising out of the collapse of a $750 million REIT deal. Successfully petitioned to compel arbitration and then defended that decision on appeal. After plaintiff moved forward in arbitration, obtained several important rulings that resulted in a favorable settlement for client.
State of Texas v. Hill. Part of a team that obtained dismissal of a criminal mortgage fraud indictment against our client. Heavily involved in evidentiary hearings for prosecutorial misconduct arising from that indictment that resulted in the Dallas County District Attorney being held in contempt.
Justin is a trial lawyer who has represented a wide-variety of corporate clients in federal and state courts and arbitration in venues nationwide. His diverse practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, including securities class actions and derivative suits, intellectual property and trade secret matters, partnership/LLC disputes, real estate development disputes, government investigations, RICO, professional negligence, breach of contract, and fraud and other business torts.
Justin’s victories include a six-week trial selected as a Top Defense Verdict of 2010 by the Daily Journal and wins on dispositive motions covered in the national press. Justin has been recognized by Super Lawyers magazine as a Southern California “Rising Star” every year from 2015-2022.
Justin earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2007 and his B.S., magna cum laude, from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2004. Before joining Mortenson Taggart Adams, Justin practiced at Irell & Manella and Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth.