J. Warren Rissier

Warren is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, and for more than a dozen years‚ has been recognized as a “Southern California Rising Star” or “Southern California Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers in the areas of Securities Litigation and Class Action & Mass Torts. Warren is a past president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and served on its Board of Governors for nine years (2006–2014). Warren has also held various leadership positions at the firm and is presently the leader of litigation associate staffing nationwide, working with a team of 24 assignment partners across the firm’s offices.

Class Action Defense

• Defended global Internet retailer in consumer class action alleging claims of false advertising, unfair competition and violation of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, resulting in dismissal of all claims on summary judgment
• Defended real estate management company in consumer class action alleging claims of fraud, unfair competition and violation of Civil Code regarding security deposits, resulting in denial of class certification
• Defended energy company in securities class action resulting in dismissal on the pleadings for failure to allege scienter
• Defended global real estate company in securities class actions alleging claims of fraud and unfair competition resulting in dismissal on the pleadings on statute of limitations grounds
• Defended global chemical manufacturer in putative antitrust consumer class action, resulting in denial of class certification
• Defended clothing retailer in defense of Fair Credit Reporting Act class action resulting in favorable settlement
• Defended special committee to board of directors in shareholder class actions against provider of voice and data communications solutions, defeating attempts by shareholders to enjoin the company’s merger with another public company
• Defended special committee to board of directors in shareholder class actions against leading music retailer, defeating attempts by shareholders to enjoin acquisition of the public company in a going-private transaction
• Defended leader in wireless networks technology in securities class action, resulting in favorable settlement after first day of trial
• Represented auto manufacturer in defense of antitrust class action and prosecution of unfair competition and IP claims, resulting in dismissal of all antitrust claims on summary judgment and favorable settlement of unfair competition and IP claims
• Defended aeronautics manufacturer in defense of toxic tort class action, resulting in dismissal of a majority of plaintiffs on summary judgment

Mass Arbitration Defense

• Defending video game company against mass arbitration
• Defended technology company in mass arbitrations, resulting in dismissal of some claims and favorable individual settlements of the remainder
• Defended technology company in mass arbitrations, resulting in favorable class settlement
• Counseled technology companies and other retailers regarding mass arbitration provisions in their terms of use

Accountant Defense

• Defended major accounting firm in securities class action resulting in dismissal on the pleadings for failure to allege scienter
• Defended major accounting firm in securities class action arising from financial crisis resulting in significant narrowing of the class and favorable settlement after filing of summary judgment motion
• Defended major accounting firm in civil litigation brought by investors in alleged tax shelters
• Defended major accounting firm in government investigations resulting in no action
• Defended major accounting firm in bankruptcy trustee investigation resulting in no action
• Represented major accounting firm in defense of breach of contract claims resulting in dismissal on the pleadings