Practice Focus

James Speyer is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. His practice focuses on antitrust and other complex civil litigation, including product liability, unfair competition, and franchise law. Mr. Speyer has an extensive background in all phases of civil trial practice and appeals, in federal and state courts in California and throughout the country. He recently led the joint defense team in a set of antitrust class actions seeking billions of dollars in damages.

From 1991 to 2005, Mr. Speyer was an attorney at Arnold & Porter LLP and practiced in the antitrust and trade regulation group. Prior to rejoining Arnold & Porter, Mr. Speyer served as Chair of the litigation practice group at Heller Ehrman’s Los Angeles office.

Mr. Speyer received his law degree from George Washington University Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review.

Representative Matters

• Defends world's largest live music company in In re Live Concert Antitrust Litigation-a multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceeding consisting of 22 class actions alleging that defendant monopolized the rock concert industry.
• Represented one of the nation's largest consumer products companies in several statewide consumer class actions alleging price-fixing in violation of Sherman Act § 1.
• Represents client in proceedings before the California Supreme Court that are expected to result in a seminal ruling concerning the impact of a voter initiative (Proposition 64) on class actions under California's Unfair Competition Law.
• Defended tobacco company in statewide consumer class action seeking to invalidate on antitrust grounds the landmark Master Settlement Agreement between 46 attorneys general and the major tobacco companies.
• Defended weapons manufacturer in product liability/wrongful death lawsuit.
• Served as lead counsel for the tobacco industry in healthcare reimbursement and unfair competition lawsuits brought by the State of California and 19 California cities and counties.
• Served as lead counsel for the lead industry in class action brought by California public entities seeking abatement of all lead-painted properties in California.
• Represented one of the nation's largest distributors of electrical products in federal antitrust lawsuit alleging group boycott and attempted monopolization claims.
• Represented major convenience store franchisor in numerous antitrust and unfair competition matters