Jason H. Wilson

Partner

Practice Areas

Biography
  • Bio
  • Honors
  • Winning Matters
  • Cases
  • Clients
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Professional Affiliations
  • Publications
  • News

Jason Wilson’s experience is a rare blend of extensive trial experience, coupled with years of appellate work. Jason’s recent career highlights demonstrate his versatility. In May 2021, on behalf of the fifth largest pharmaceutical company in the world, he conducted a blistering cross-examination of one of the defendant’s (also a large pharmaceutical company) officer, in Delaware Chancery Court. Jason’s client won the liability phase of this proceeding. In September 2023, our client won the damages (phase two) trial in this case. In November 2020, Jason argued a critical issue regarding independent contracting before the California Supreme Court.

Jason is sought after as a last minute trial counsel, and he is also frequently called in to serve as appellate counsel. Jason has taken almost 20 civil matters to trial (both jury and bench) or binding arbitrations. His experience on the appellate side is equally deep. He started his career with two clerkships for two different judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and has handled over 40 different appellate matters in his career so far.

As a result of his unique blend of skills, he is equally adept at telling a compelling story in front of a jury or unpacking a complex legal issue before an appellate panel. Clients turn to Jason to creatively tell their stories to trial courts, juries, and appellate panels.

Valued by leading businesses for his creative thinking, Jason is adept at untangling his clients’ knottiest legal problems. He is in his element when navigating complex litigation challenges and—with over thirty years of practice at the trial and appellate levels—he is a force in the courtroom. In 2016, he was one of only 300 attorneys nationally to be recognized by BTI Consulting Group as a Client Service All Star for his superior client service. Jason provides counsel to Fortune 500 companies in a wide variety of industries, including hospitality, utility, retail, and energy. His experience, aptitude for creative strategy, and passion for intellectual challenges make him an exceptional attorney.

Jason’s combined experience in trial litigation and appeals leads to significant advantages for his clients. An example of this can be seen in his victory for Southern California Gas Company (“SoCalGas”) in a case against a vendor, Syntellect. Jason led the Willenken team to prevail first in a partial summary judgment and then, after an unexpected turn, again in a 49-day rush to trial. After securing a favorable judgment, Jason put on his appellate hat and won two heavily contested appeals. Ultimately, SoCalGas won and collected $9.6 million.

On several occasions, Jason’s sharp trial skills have paid dividends for his clients even before the case has been given to the jury for their determination. In one case, representing the plaintiff in a jury trial, Jason’s devastating cross-examination of the defendant drove the defendant to settle the case before closing statements for twenty times the pretrial settlement offer. In addition to his trial victories, Jason has served as lead counsel and prevailed on behalf of his clients in many binding arbitrations.

Jason practiced at an Am Law 100 firm before joining Willenken shortly after its formation. He began his legal career as a law clerk for The Honorable Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and the late Honorable Judge Thomas Tang of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Along with other highly respected trial lawyers, Jason sits on the Board of Visitors of the National Judicial College, and he has been named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation for the past eight years.

Jason presents the “Trial Is Not a Crisis but an Opportunity for Success” video series. He is a trivia enthusiast and successfully competed on the TV game shows “Win Ben Stein’s Money” and Dick Clark’s “Winning Lines.” He has also watched every one of the 271 episodes in the classic “Perry Mason” show three times.

Upcoming Events

14 September

NAMWOLF 2025 Annual Meeting

, Los Angeles,

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1987
  • Pomona College, B.A., cum laude, 1984

Bar Admissions

  • Admitted to the State Bar of California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California

 

Willenken Wins Extraordinary $448+ Million Trial Verdict in Delaware Chancery Court
Willenken’s Trade Secrets Team Achieves Settlement and Stipulated Injunction on the Eve of Trial
In High-Profile Patent Infringement Case, the District Court of Colorado Adopted All of Willenken’s Constructions for Contested Terms

The following is a representative sample of Jason’s casework:

  • Abbvie Endocrine, Inc. v. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. In a four-day bench trial (phase one trial), took four witnesses at trial. Client prevailed in the liability phase of the trial. A trial on damages was held in January 2023 and our client won the phase two trial as the Delaware Chancery Court adopted virtually all of the damages analysis presented by the Willenken team and awarded over $448 million in damages to AbbVie, which sum totaled $506 million after adding pre- and post-judgment interest.
  • Nascent Electric Vehicle Company v. Former Employees. Represented nine executives and employees of an electric vehicle start-up facing allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets, violation of non-solicitation and confidentiality obligations, and breach of fiduciary duties in arbitration.
  • Lumens Co., Ltd. v. GoEco LED LLC et al. Obtained a $1 million victory and a total defense victory to $16 million in counterclaims for Korean LED manufacturer Lumens Co., Ltd., which was later affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  • Southern California Gas Company v. Syntellect, Inc. After prevailing on a motion for summary adjudication of liability, which the Ninth Circuit affirmed, secured a $9.6 million judgment in a patent infringement indemnity action on behalf of the country’s largest gas distribution utility.

The following is a representative sample of Jason’s clients:

  • Sempra Energy
  • Southern California Gas Company
  • San Diego Gas & Electric
  • Walgreens
  • Motorola Solutions
  • Starbucks Corporation
  • Hilton Worldwide Holdings
  • Southern California Edison
  • Shell Oil Company
  • KeyBank
  • McDonald’s
  • Co-Presenter, “Defending the Corporate Witness,” ACC SW Ohio Chapter CLE Presentation (May 7, 2024)
  • Co-Presenter, “Ten Lessons from Ten Famous Trials – from OJ to SBF,” ACC SW Ohio “Just in Time” CLE Conference (November 30, 2023)
  • Co-Presenter, “Managing the Risks and Rewards of Trade Secrets: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” ACC Washington Chapter 2023 Business Summit (September 21, 2023)
  • Moderator, “Influencers and Brand Promotion: IP Issues for Negotiating Sponsored Content,” ACC Chicago Chapter Summit (September 14, 2023)
  • Co-Presenter, “Top Ten Insider Secrets That All In-House Counsel Need to Know to Manage a Case That Could Go to Trial,” ACC-NYC Webinar (March 21, 2023)
  • Presenter, “Top Ten Insider Secrets That All In-House Counsel Need to Know to Manage a Case That Could Go to Trial,” ACC Georgia Chapter CLE Presentation (December 13, 2022)
  • Co-Presenter, “In-House Counsel’s Consumer Class Action Defense Checklist: Positioning Your Case for a Better Outcome,” ACC Chicago Chapter Summit (August 30, 2022)
  • Co-Presenter, “Ethics and the Lawyer’s Many Hats,” ACC SW Ohio In-Person CLE Presentation (June 8, 2022)
  • Co-Presenter, “Managing the Risks and Rewards of Trade Secrets: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” ACC SW Ohio “Just in Time” CLE Conference (December 2, 2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “What Every In-House Counsel Needs to Know About Delaware Law,” ACC Washington Chapter Summit (September 23, 2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “Defying Convention: Unconventional Terms to Manage Litigation Risk,” ACC Chicago Chapter Summit (September 1, 2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “Important Lessons that Every Lawyer (Including Transactional Lawyers) Can Learn From Perry Mason,” ACC SW Ohio Chapter CLE Presentation (June 10, 2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “Defying Convention: Unconventional Terms to Manage Litigation,” ACC Washington Chapter 3rd Annual Business Summit (September 12, 2019)
  • Co-Presenter, “How Solo and Small Firms Can Use Collaboration With Other Firms, Big and Small, to Increase Revenue,” NAPABA Webinar (August 13, 2019)
  • Moderator, “Primer for Successful Litigation Management: 10 Ways Experienced Trial Counsel Can Help Your Company Obtain an Optimal and Efficient Settlement Without Going to Trial,” ACC Colorado Chapter CLE Presentation (May 16, 2019)
  • Panelist, “Strategies for Better Contract Drafting: Mitigating Risks in Contracts with U.S. Parties,” ACC Ontario Chapter CLE Presentation (September 14, 2017)
  • Presenter, “Soft IP – 10 Hot Topics in Copyright and Trademark Law,” NAPABA Webinar (May 18, 2017)
  • Panelist, “Ten Tips to Reduce Your Litigation Spend,” ACC South Florida Chapter’s 6th Annual CLE Conference (September 30, 2016)
  • Presenter, “In-House Counsel’s Checklist for Trial Success: 7 Key Issues to Raise with Outside Counsel,” ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter CLE Presentation (December 9, 2015)
  • Presenter, “Sharks Rule the Ocean and Courtroom: What These Killers Can Teach Us About Trial Tactics,” ACC South Florida Chapter CLE Presentation (October 9, 2015)
  • Presenter, “What’s Up in the Cloud?” ACC Denver Fall Frenzy (September 17, 2015)
  • Panelist, “Risk Management: Top 10 Ways to Avoid Heartbreak in American Litigation,” ACC Ontario Chapter CLE Presentation (May 21, 2015)
  • Presenter, “Assorted Mysteries of California Law,” ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter CLE Presentation (October 2014)

Jason’s videos in the Top 10 Secrets All In-House Counsel Need To Know To Manage a Case That Could Go To Trial series include:

 

Jason’s videos in the Trial Is Not a Crisis but an Opportunity for Success series include:

Willenken Earns “Best Law Firms” Ranking from Best Lawyers for the Second Consecutive Year

November 7, 2024

Willenken Recognized as a “Top Boutique” by the Daily Journal for 2024

October 30, 2024

Willenken Recognized by Benchmark Litigation for the Eighth Consecutive Year

October 3, 2024

Biography

Jason Wilson’s experience is a rare blend of extensive trial experience, coupled with years of appellate work. Jason’s recent career highlights demonstrate his versatility. In May 2021, on behalf of the fifth largest pharmaceutical company in the world, he conducted a blistering cross-examination of one of the defendant’s (also a large pharmaceutical company) officer, in Delaware Chancery Court. Jason’s client won the liability phase of this proceeding. In September 2023, our client won the damages (phase two) trial in this case. In November 2020, Jason argued a critical issue regarding independent contracting before the California Supreme Court.

Jason is sought after as a last minute trial counsel, and he is also frequently called in to serve as appellate counsel. Jason has taken almost 20 civil matters to trial (both jury and bench) or binding arbitrations. His experience on the appellate side is equally deep. He started his career with two clerkships for two different judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and has handled over 40 different appellate matters in his career so far.

As a result of his unique blend of skills, he is equally adept at telling a compelling story in front of a jury or unpacking a complex legal issue before an appellate panel. Clients turn to Jason to creatively tell their stories to trial courts, juries, and appellate panels.

Valued by leading businesses for his creative thinking, Jason is adept at untangling his clients’ knottiest legal problems. He is in his element when navigating complex litigation challenges and—with over thirty years of practice at the trial and appellate levels—he is a force in the courtroom. In 2016, he was one of only 300 attorneys nationally to be recognized by BTI Consulting Group as a Client Service All Star for his superior client service. Jason provides counsel to Fortune 500 companies in a wide variety of industries, including hospitality, utility, retail, and energy. His experience, aptitude for creative strategy, and passion for intellectual challenges make him an exceptional attorney.

Jason’s combined experience in trial litigation and appeals leads to significant advantages for his clients. An example of this can be seen in his victory for Southern California Gas Company (“SoCalGas”) in a case against a vendor, Syntellect. Jason led the Willenken team to prevail first in a partial summary judgment and then, after an unexpected turn, again in a 49-day rush to trial. After securing a favorable judgment, Jason put on his appellate hat and won two heavily contested appeals. Ultimately, SoCalGas won and collected $9.6 million.

On several occasions, Jason’s sharp trial skills have paid dividends for his clients even before the case has been given to the jury for their determination. In one case, representing the plaintiff in a jury trial, Jason’s devastating cross-examination of the defendant drove the defendant to settle the case before closing statements for twenty times the pretrial settlement offer. In addition to his trial victories, Jason has served as lead counsel and prevailed on behalf of his clients in many binding arbitrations.

Jason practiced at an Am Law 100 firm before joining Willenken shortly after its formation. He began his legal career as a law clerk for The Honorable Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and the late Honorable Judge Thomas Tang of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Along with other highly respected trial lawyers, Jason sits on the Board of Visitors of the National Judicial College, and he has been named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation for the past eight years.

Jason presents the “Trial Is Not a Crisis but an Opportunity for Success” video series. He is a trivia enthusiast and successfully competed on the TV game shows “Win Ben Stein’s Money” and Dick Clark’s “Winning Lines.” He has also watched every one of the 271 episodes in the classic “Perry Mason” show three times.

Honors

 

Winning Matters

Willenken Wins Extraordinary $448+ Million Trial Verdict in Delaware Chancery Court
Willenken’s Trade Secrets Team Achieves Settlement and Stipulated Injunction on the Eve of Trial
In High-Profile Patent Infringement Case, the District Court of Colorado Adopted All of Willenken’s Constructions for Contested Terms

Cases

The following is a representative sample of Jason’s casework:

  • Abbvie Endocrine, Inc. v. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. In a four-day bench trial (phase one trial), took four witnesses at trial. Client prevailed in the liability phase of the trial. A trial on damages was held in January 2023 and our client won the phase two trial as the Delaware Chancery Court adopted virtually all of the damages analysis presented by the Willenken team and awarded over $448 million in damages to AbbVie, which sum totaled $506 million after adding pre- and post-judgment interest.
  • Nascent Electric Vehicle Company v. Former Employees. Represented nine executives and employees of an electric vehicle start-up facing allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets, violation of non-solicitation and confidentiality obligations, and breach of fiduciary duties in arbitration.
  • Lumens Co., Ltd. v. GoEco LED LLC et al. Obtained a $1 million victory and a total defense victory to $16 million in counterclaims for Korean LED manufacturer Lumens Co., Ltd., which was later affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  • Southern California Gas Company v. Syntellect, Inc. After prevailing on a motion for summary adjudication of liability, which the Ninth Circuit affirmed, secured a $9.6 million judgment in a patent infringement indemnity action on behalf of the country’s largest gas distribution utility.

Clients

The following is a representative sample of Jason’s clients:

  • Sempra Energy
  • Southern California Gas Company
  • San Diego Gas & Electric
  • Walgreens
  • Motorola Solutions
  • Starbucks Corporation
  • Hilton Worldwide Holdings
  • Southern California Edison
  • Shell Oil Company
  • KeyBank
  • McDonald’s

Speaking Engagements

  • Co-Presenter, “Defending the Corporate Witness,” ACC SW Ohio Chapter CLE Presentation (May 7, 2024)
  • Co-Presenter, “Ten Lessons from Ten Famous Trials – from OJ to SBF,” ACC SW Ohio “Just in Time” CLE Conference (November 30, 2023)
  • Co-Presenter, “Managing the Risks and Rewards of Trade Secrets: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” ACC Washington Chapter 2023 Business Summit (September 21, 2023)
  • Moderator, “Influencers and Brand Promotion: IP Issues for Negotiating Sponsored Content,” ACC Chicago Chapter Summit (September 14, 2023)
  • Co-Presenter, “Top Ten Insider Secrets That All In-House Counsel Need to Know to Manage a Case That Could Go to Trial,” ACC-NYC Webinar (March 21, 2023)
  • Presenter, “Top Ten Insider Secrets That All In-House Counsel Need to Know to Manage a Case That Could Go to Trial,” ACC Georgia Chapter CLE Presentation (December 13, 2022)
  • Co-Presenter, “In-House Counsel’s Consumer Class Action Defense Checklist: Positioning Your Case for a Better Outcome,” ACC Chicago Chapter Summit (August 30, 2022)
  • Co-Presenter, “Ethics and the Lawyer’s Many Hats,” ACC SW Ohio In-Person CLE Presentation (June 8, 2022)
  • Co-Presenter, “Managing the Risks and Rewards of Trade Secrets: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” ACC SW Ohio “Just in Time” CLE Conference (December 2, 2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “What Every In-House Counsel Needs to Know About Delaware Law,” ACC Washington Chapter Summit (September 23, 2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “Defying Convention: Unconventional Terms to Manage Litigation Risk,” ACC Chicago Chapter Summit (September 1, 2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “Important Lessons that Every Lawyer (Including Transactional Lawyers) Can Learn From Perry Mason,” ACC SW Ohio Chapter CLE Presentation (June 10, 2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “Defying Convention: Unconventional Terms to Manage Litigation,” ACC Washington Chapter 3rd Annual Business Summit (September 12, 2019)
  • Co-Presenter, “How Solo and Small Firms Can Use Collaboration With Other Firms, Big and Small, to Increase Revenue,” NAPABA Webinar (August 13, 2019)
  • Moderator, “Primer for Successful Litigation Management: 10 Ways Experienced Trial Counsel Can Help Your Company Obtain an Optimal and Efficient Settlement Without Going to Trial,” ACC Colorado Chapter CLE Presentation (May 16, 2019)
  • Panelist, “Strategies for Better Contract Drafting: Mitigating Risks in Contracts with U.S. Parties,” ACC Ontario Chapter CLE Presentation (September 14, 2017)
  • Presenter, “Soft IP – 10 Hot Topics in Copyright and Trademark Law,” NAPABA Webinar (May 18, 2017)
  • Panelist, “Ten Tips to Reduce Your Litigation Spend,” ACC South Florida Chapter’s 6th Annual CLE Conference (September 30, 2016)
  • Presenter, “In-House Counsel’s Checklist for Trial Success: 7 Key Issues to Raise with Outside Counsel,” ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter CLE Presentation (December 9, 2015)
  • Presenter, “Sharks Rule the Ocean and Courtroom: What These Killers Can Teach Us About Trial Tactics,” ACC South Florida Chapter CLE Presentation (October 9, 2015)
  • Presenter, “What’s Up in the Cloud?” ACC Denver Fall Frenzy (September 17, 2015)
  • Panelist, “Risk Management: Top 10 Ways to Avoid Heartbreak in American Litigation,” ACC Ontario Chapter CLE Presentation (May 21, 2015)
  • Presenter, “Assorted Mysteries of California Law,” ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter CLE Presentation (October 2014)

Professional Affiliations

Publications

Jason’s videos in the Top 10 Secrets All In-House Counsel Need To Know To Manage a Case That Could Go To Trial series include:

 

Jason’s videos in the Trial Is Not a Crisis but an Opportunity for Success series include:

Upcoming Events

14 September

NAMWOLF 2025 Annual Meeting

, Los Angeles,

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1987
  • Pomona College, B.A., cum laude, 1984

Bar Admissions

  • Admitted to the State Bar of California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Benchmark Litigation "Litigation Star" (2018-2025)
BTI Consulting Group "Client Service All-Star" (2016)
The American Lawyer "Top Rated Lawyer in Commercial Litigation" (2013)

related alerts (view all)

Secret #2 – Top 10 Secrets All In-House Counsel Need To Know To Manage a Case That Could Go To Trial
Secret #1 – Top 10 Secrets All In-House Counsel Need To Know To Manage a Case That Could Go To Trial
Trial Is Not a Crisis but an Opportunity for Success – Episode 9: A Trial Is Like a Movie, Part 8

related alerts (view all)

Secret #2 – Top 10 Secrets All In-House Counsel Need To Know To Manage a Case That Could Go To Trial
Secret #1 – Top 10 Secrets All In-House Counsel Need To Know To Manage a Case That Could Go To Trial
Trial Is Not a Crisis but an Opportunity for Success – Episode 9: A Trial Is Like a Movie, Part 8

latest news about jason

Willenken Earns “Best Law Firms” Ranking from Best Lawyers for the Second Consecutive Year

November 7, 2024

Willenken Recognized as a “Top Boutique” by the Daily Journal for 2024

October 30, 2024

Willenken Recognized by Benchmark Litigation for the Eighth Consecutive Year

October 3, 2024

latest news about jason

Willenken Earns “Best Law Firms” Ranking from Best Lawyers for the Second Consecutive Year

November 7, 2024

Willenken Recognized as a “Top Boutique” by the Daily Journal for 2024

October 30, 2024

Willenken Recognized by Benchmark Litigation for the Eighth Consecutive Year

October 3, 2024