J. Warren Rissier

Warren is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and, for more than a dozen years‚ Warren 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). Before joining Morgan Lewis, Warren was a litigation partner at another international law firm.

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

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

Complex Commercial Litigation

• Represented seller of corporate housing business in international arbitration against the buyer regarding post-transaction indemnity and breach of contract claims, resulting in client recovering $11.6 million and defeating $16 million in counter-claims
• Defended global real estate company in multi-party actions alleging claims of fraud and unfair competition resulting in dismissal on the pleadings
• Defended members of board of directors of regional business against allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, resulting in dismissal of the claims
• Defended leading technology company in $30 million breach of contract claim resulting in favorable settlement
• Achieved settlement for plaintiff business worth more than $20 million in dispute regarding joint venture and the rights of investors and lenders
• Defended major insurance company in environmental nuisance and trespass dispute, resulting in dismissal of key claims on motion for judgment on the pleadings
• Defended national newspaper in breach of contract case filed by printer, resulting in favorable settlement after depositions revealing alteration of documents