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Trial Litigation Veteran
John has more than 30 years of experience in high-stakes, enterprise-threatening corporate and commercial litigation and has tried or arbitrated more than 50 matters to conclusion.
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Proven Litigation Success
Representing plaintiffs and defendants, John has recovered more than $275 million for clients to date.
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Broad Industry Experience
John has tried cases in areas ranging from intellectual property and trade secrets, securities and professional liability, and entertainment and employment law to human rights.
John P. Flynn is a veteran trial lawyer. With 30 years of experience in high-stakes, enterprise-threatening corporate and commercial litigation, John has tried or arbitrated more than 50 matters to conclusion. He has tried cases covering virtually every aspect of commercial litigation, in areas ranging from intellectual property and trade secrets, securities and professional liability, environmental law, entertainment and employment law to civil and human rights. John's broad litigation and trial experience allows him to develop strategy and evidence with a clear understanding of how a case will ultimately be presented to a judge, jury, or arbitrator, and to put maximum pressure on the opposing party for a successful outcome. Representing plaintiffs and defendants, John has recovered more than $275 million for clients to date.
Prior to joining the firm's San Francisco office, John was a partner and co-founder of the litigation firm McLeod, Moscarino, Witham & Flynn in San Francisco. He previously was a partner at Latham & Watkins and Dewey Ballantine, after beginning his career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
John P. Flynn is a veteran trial lawyer. With 30 years of experience in high-stakes, enterprise-threatening corporate and commercial litigation, John has tried or arbitrated more than 50 matters to conclusion. He has tried cases covering virtually every aspect of commercial litigation, in areas ranging from intellectual property and trade secrets, securities and professional liability, environmental law, entertainment and employment law to civil and human rights. John's broad litigation and trial experience allows him to develop strategy and evidence with a clear understanding of how a case will ultimately be presented to a judge, jury, or arbitrator, and to put maximum pressure on the opposing party for a successful outcome. Representing plaintiffs and defendants, John has recovered more than $275 million for clients to date.
Prior to joining the firm's San Francisco office, John was a partner and co-founder of the litigation firm McLeod, Moscarino, Witham & Flynn in San Francisco. He previously was a partner at Latham & Watkins and Dewey Ballantine, after beginning his career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1987
- B.A., University of Michigan, 1984
- Member, State Bar of California
- Member, New York Bar Association
- State Bar of California
- State Bar of New York
- All U.S. District Courts in California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1987
- B.A., University of Michigan, 1984
- Member, State Bar of California
- Member, New York Bar Association
- State Bar of California
- State Bar of New York
- All U.S. District Courts in California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Select Representations
- Represented several innovative biotech, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies in a range of commercial disputes concerning mergers and acquisitions, development agreements, contract matters and business torts.
- Represented a semiconductor manufacturer in a trade secrets litigation in which the plaintiff sought $40 million in damages and recovered against a co-defendant, but was awarded nothing by the jury from our client.
- Represented a company specializing in gas and radiation detection technologies in several matters pertaining to licensing, trade secrets, and business torts. John obtained a complete defense award on a claim for the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Represented several large public employee pension funds in successfully prosecuting substantial claims for professional liability against their consulting firms.
- Represented several victims of a human trafficking scheme in a civil action against the perpetrators. The matter was settled for $8.9 million during trial—one of the largest cash recoveries ever obtained on behalf of victims of human trafficking in the United States.
- Represented a major multimedia entertainment company in a consumer class action seeking more than $50 million in damages and restitution. John also represented this client in a series of federal copyright infringement and state law "theft-of-idea" actions, shareholder derivative lawsuits, and other commercial matters.
- Represented a nonprofit healthcare system and its individual directors in a series of corporate governance lawsuits seeking more than $100 million in damages and challenging actions taken in response to changes in the Southern California market for healthcare services. John represented these clients in the trial court and on appeal, and obtained summary judgment on their behalf.
- Represented several major oil companies in a broad range of commercial cases resulting from refinery explosions; dealer disputes; employment issues; exposure to toxic chemicals; civil, administrative, and criminal environmental matters; and pipeline and other transportation issues. John successfully tried many of these cases to judgment, including a series of environmental cases and several personal injury and acute exposure cases.
- Represented a major North American reinsurer in several arbitrations concerning losses from the reinsurance of workers' compensation carve-out business.
- Represented several pharmaceutical companies in product liability cases involving deaths and serious injuries.
Select Representations
- Represented several innovative biotech, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies in a range of commercial disputes concerning mergers and acquisitions, development agreements, contract matters and business torts.
- Represented a semiconductor manufacturer in a trade secrets litigation in which the plaintiff sought $40 million in damages and recovered against a co-defendant, but was awarded nothing by the jury from our client.
- Represented a company specializing in gas and radiation detection technologies in several matters pertaining to licensing, trade secrets, and business torts. John obtained a complete defense award on a claim for the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Represented several large public employee pension funds in successfully prosecuting substantial claims for professional liability against their consulting firms.
- Represented several victims of a human trafficking scheme in a civil action against the perpetrators. The matter was settled for $8.9 million during trial—one of the largest cash recoveries ever obtained on behalf of victims of human trafficking in the United States.
- Represented a major multimedia entertainment company in a consumer class action seeking more than $50 million in damages and restitution. John also represented this client in a series of federal copyright infringement and state law "theft-of-idea" actions, shareholder derivative lawsuits, and other commercial matters.
- Represented a nonprofit healthcare system and its individual directors in a series of corporate governance lawsuits seeking more than $100 million in damages and challenging actions taken in response to changes in the Southern California market for healthcare services. John represented these clients in the trial court and on appeal, and obtained summary judgment on their behalf.
- Represented several major oil companies in a broad range of commercial cases resulting from refinery explosions; dealer disputes; employment issues; exposure to toxic chemicals; civil, administrative, and criminal environmental matters; and pipeline and other transportation issues. John successfully tried many of these cases to judgment, including a series of environmental cases and several personal injury and acute exposure cases.
- Represented a major North American reinsurer in several arbitrations concerning losses from the reinsurance of workers' compensation carve-out business.
- Represented several pharmaceutical companies in product liability cases involving deaths and serious injuries.
The victory is a culmination of several years of effort, including a first trial that was undermined by faulty pretrial rulings, a successful Ninth Circuit appeal of those rulings, COVID delays, and the recent hard-fought jury trial. The team secured a $6 million verdict and will be seeking prevailing party attorney fees.
The Wilson Sonsini trial team that represented GIS included Colleen Bal, John Flynn, Dylan Liddiard, Jason Mollick, and Josh Baskin, with assistance from Pamela Sandillo, Delilah Crim, Lorri Nicolini, and Albert Garcia.
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