Jason H. Wilson

Partner

Practice Areas

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

Jason Wilson is one of the few lawyers whose practice spans both first-chair trial work and high-stakes appeals. With more than three decades of experience, Jason has tried nearly 20 civil cases and binding arbitrations and handled more than 40 appeals, including argument before the California Supreme Court. That unique combination allows him to evaluate every case through both a trial and appellate lens, focusing on what will persuade a judge, jury, or arbitrator at trial and what will hold up on appeal. He represents Fortune 500 companies and other leading businesses in complex commercial, financial services, and real estate litigation, intellectual property and trade secrets disputes, and product liability matters.

Jason has been at the center of several of the firm’s most important victories. He played a leading role in securing a half-billion-dollar judgment for AbbVie in a high‑profile pharmaceutical supply dispute in the Delaware Court of Chancery, where he took key depositions, prepared and presented witnesses, and argued critical issues before the court. The court ultimately adopted nearly all Willenken’s damages analysis, earning the firm Benchmark Litigation’s 2025 “Impact Case Award.” He also led the team that secured a $9.6 million recovery for Southern California Gas Company in a complex commercial dispute that involved summary adjudication, a fast‑tracked trial schedule, and two successful appeals.

Recently, Jason secured a judgment notwithstanding the verdict in a complex commercial lease dispute after an adverse jury verdict, and obtained critical appellate relief that reduced a proposed $1.7 billion bond to $1,000 in high-stakes receivership litigation. He also achieved a settlement twenty times the pre-trial offer following a jury trial cross-examination that shifted the course of the case, and argued a key independent contractor issue before the California Supreme Court.

His work has been recognized by leading publications and industry groups. Jason has been named both a national and California “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, repeatedly honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a “Leader of Influence,” selected by BTI Consulting Group as a “Client Service All‑Star,” and recognized by The American Lawyer as a “Top Rated Lawyer” in commercial litigation. He is also ranked in Legal 500’s “U.S. City Elite – Los Angeles: Commercial Disputes.”

Beyond his litigation practice, Jason serves on the Board of Visitors of the National Judicial College and is a Fellow of both the Litigation Counsel of America and the American Bar Foundation. He is a member of the Japanese American Bar Association (JABA), the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF)—where he previously co‑chaired the Trials Practice Area Committee—the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), and the Harvard Law School Association’s Asian Pacific American Alumni Network, where he serves as Vice President.

At the start of his career, Jason clerked for the Honorable Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and the late Honorable Thomas Tang of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He later practiced at an Am Law 10 firm before joining Willenken shortly after its founding in 2002. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Upcoming Events

12 November

NAPABA Annual Convention 2026

JW Marriott and Hotel Indigo at L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles

Education

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

Bar Admissions

  • 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 $506 Million Trial Verdict in Delaware Chancery Court for AbbVie
Willenken Achieves Favorable Settlement and Stipulated Injunction on Eve of Trial for Takeya USA
Willenken Secures Complete Claim Construction Victory in High-Profile Patent Infringement Case for All Plastic, Inc.
  • 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.
  • Hilton Worldwide Holdings
  • KeyBank
  • McDonald’s
  • Motorola Solutions
  • San Diego Gas & Electric
  • Sempra Energy
  • Shell Oil Company
  • Southern California Edison
  • Southern California Gas Company
  • Starbucks Corporation
  • Walgreens
  • “Jury Selection & Voir Dire,” Panelist, DRI Diversity for Success Seminar, Louisville, KY, June 4, 2026
  • “Three Keys to a Successful Trademark Trial,” Presenter, NAMWOLF IP PAC Webinar, Remote, May 13, 2026
  • “Building Your Brand and Book: Business Development Strategies for the Men of CMCP,” Panelist, Men of CMCP Conference, Los Angeles, CA, April 23, 2025
  • “Defending the Corporate Witness,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, May 7, 2024
  • “Ten Lessons from Ten Famous Trials: From OJ to SBF,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, November 30, 2023
  • “Managing the Risks and Rewards of Trade Secrets: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” Co-Presenter, ACC Washington Business Summit, Seattle, WA, September 21, 2023
  • “Influencers and Brand Promotion: IP Issues for Negotiating Sponsored Content,” Moderator, ACC Chicago Summit, Chicago, IL, September 14, 2023
  • “Top Ten Insider Secrets That All In-House Counsel Need to Know to Manage a Case That Could Go to Trial,” Co-Presenter, ACC New York City Webinar, Remote, March 21, 2023
  • “Top Ten Insider Secrets That All In-House Counsel Need to Know to Manage a Case That Could Go to Trial,” Presenter, ACC Georgia CLE Program, Atlanta, GA, December 13, 2022
  • “In-House Counsel’s Consumer Class Action Defense Checklist: Positioning Your Case for a Better Outcome,” Co-Presenter, ACC Chicago Summit, Chicago, IL, August 30, 2022
  • “Ethics and the Lawyer’s Many Hats,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, June 8, 2022
  • “Managing the Risks and Rewards of Trade Secrets: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, December 2, 2021
  • “What Every In-House Counsel Needs to Know About Delaware Law,” Co-Presenter, ACC Washington Summit, Seattle, WA, September 23, 2021
  • “Defying Convention: Unconventional Terms to Manage Litigation Risk,” Co-Presenter, ACC Chicago Summit, Chicago, IL, September 1, 2021
  • “Important Lessons that Every Lawyer (Including Transactional Lawyers) Can Learn From Perry Mason,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, June 10, 2021
  • “Defying Convention: Unconventional Terms to Manage Litigation,” Co-Presenter, ACC Washington 3rd Annual Business Summit, Seattle, WA, September 12, 2019
  • “How Solo and Small Firms Can Use Collaboration With Other Firms, Big and Small, to Increase Revenue,” Co-Presenter, NAPABA Webinar, Remote, August 13, 2019
  • “Primer for Successful Litigation Management: 10 Ways Experienced Trial Counsel Can Help Your Company Obtain an Optimal and Efficient Settlement Without Going to Trial,” Moderator, ACC Colorado CLE Program, Denver, CO, May 16, 2019
  • “Strategies for Better Contract Drafting: Mitigating Risks in Contracts with U.S. Parties,” Panelist, ACC Ontario CLE Program, Ontario, Canada, September 14, 2017
  • “Soft IP: 10 Hot Topics in Copyright and Trademark Law,” Presenter, NAPABA Webinar, Remote, May 18, 2017
  • “Ten Tips to Reduce Your Litigation Spend,” Panelist, ACC South Florida 6th Annual CLE Conference, Fort Lauderdale, FL, September 30, 2016
  • “In-House Counsel’s Checklist for Trial Success: 7 Key Issues to Raise with Outside Counsel,” Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, December 9, 2015
  • “Sharks Rule the Ocean and Courtroom: What These Killers Can Teach Us About Trial Tactics,” Presenter, ACC South Florida CLE Program, Fort Lauderdale, FL, October 9, 2015
  • “What’s Up in the Cloud?,” Presenter, ACC Denver Fall Frenzy, Denver, CO, September 17, 2015
  • “Risk Management: Top 10 Ways to Avoid Heartbreak in American Litigation,” Panelist, ACC Ontario CLE Program, Ontario, Canada, May 21, 2015
  • “Assorted Mysteries of California Law,” Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, October 2014

Jason Wilson regularly publishes and presents on trial strategy, litigation management, and effective courtroom advocacy, including the following series:

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

Willenken Recognized by Chambers USA in “Litigation: General Commercial – Highly Regarded”

June 4, 2026

Willenken Recognized in The Legal 500 “U.S. City Elite – Los Angeles: Commercial Disputes”

January 21, 2026

Kenneth Trujillo-Jamison and Jason Wilson Named to LABJ’s 2026 “Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys”

January 12, 2026

Biography

Jason Wilson is one of the few lawyers whose practice spans both first-chair trial work and high-stakes appeals. With more than three decades of experience, Jason has tried nearly 20 civil cases and binding arbitrations and handled more than 40 appeals, including argument before the California Supreme Court. That unique combination allows him to evaluate every case through both a trial and appellate lens, focusing on what will persuade a judge, jury, or arbitrator at trial and what will hold up on appeal. He represents Fortune 500 companies and other leading businesses in complex commercial, financial services, and real estate litigation, intellectual property and trade secrets disputes, and product liability matters.

Jason has been at the center of several of the firm’s most important victories. He played a leading role in securing a half-billion-dollar judgment for AbbVie in a high‑profile pharmaceutical supply dispute in the Delaware Court of Chancery, where he took key depositions, prepared and presented witnesses, and argued critical issues before the court. The court ultimately adopted nearly all Willenken’s damages analysis, earning the firm Benchmark Litigation’s 2025 “Impact Case Award.” He also led the team that secured a $9.6 million recovery for Southern California Gas Company in a complex commercial dispute that involved summary adjudication, a fast‑tracked trial schedule, and two successful appeals.

Recently, Jason secured a judgment notwithstanding the verdict in a complex commercial lease dispute after an adverse jury verdict, and obtained critical appellate relief that reduced a proposed $1.7 billion bond to $1,000 in high-stakes receivership litigation. He also achieved a settlement twenty times the pre-trial offer following a jury trial cross-examination that shifted the course of the case, and argued a key independent contractor issue before the California Supreme Court.

His work has been recognized by leading publications and industry groups. Jason has been named both a national and California “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, repeatedly honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a “Leader of Influence,” selected by BTI Consulting Group as a “Client Service All‑Star,” and recognized by The American Lawyer as a “Top Rated Lawyer” in commercial litigation. He is also ranked in Legal 500’s “U.S. City Elite – Los Angeles: Commercial Disputes.”

Beyond his litigation practice, Jason serves on the Board of Visitors of the National Judicial College and is a Fellow of both the Litigation Counsel of America and the American Bar Foundation. He is a member of the Japanese American Bar Association (JABA), the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF)—where he previously co‑chaired the Trials Practice Area Committee—the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), and the Harvard Law School Association’s Asian Pacific American Alumni Network, where he serves as Vice President.

At the start of his career, Jason clerked for the Honorable Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and the late Honorable Thomas Tang of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He later practiced at an Am Law 10 firm before joining Willenken shortly after its founding in 2002. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Honors

 

Winning Matters

Willenken Wins Extraordinary $506 Million Trial Verdict in Delaware Chancery Court for AbbVie
Willenken Achieves Favorable Settlement and Stipulated Injunction on Eve of Trial for Takeya USA
Willenken Secures Complete Claim Construction Victory in High-Profile Patent Infringement Case for All Plastic, Inc.

Cases

  • 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

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

Speaking Engagements

  • “Jury Selection & Voir Dire,” Panelist, DRI Diversity for Success Seminar, Louisville, KY, June 4, 2026
  • “Three Keys to a Successful Trademark Trial,” Presenter, NAMWOLF IP PAC Webinar, Remote, May 13, 2026
  • “Building Your Brand and Book: Business Development Strategies for the Men of CMCP,” Panelist, Men of CMCP Conference, Los Angeles, CA, April 23, 2025
  • “Defending the Corporate Witness,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, May 7, 2024
  • “Ten Lessons from Ten Famous Trials: From OJ to SBF,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, November 30, 2023
  • “Managing the Risks and Rewards of Trade Secrets: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” Co-Presenter, ACC Washington Business Summit, Seattle, WA, September 21, 2023
  • “Influencers and Brand Promotion: IP Issues for Negotiating Sponsored Content,” Moderator, ACC Chicago Summit, Chicago, IL, September 14, 2023
  • “Top Ten Insider Secrets That All In-House Counsel Need to Know to Manage a Case That Could Go to Trial,” Co-Presenter, ACC New York City Webinar, Remote, March 21, 2023
  • “Top Ten Insider Secrets That All In-House Counsel Need to Know to Manage a Case That Could Go to Trial,” Presenter, ACC Georgia CLE Program, Atlanta, GA, December 13, 2022
  • “In-House Counsel’s Consumer Class Action Defense Checklist: Positioning Your Case for a Better Outcome,” Co-Presenter, ACC Chicago Summit, Chicago, IL, August 30, 2022
  • “Ethics and the Lawyer’s Many Hats,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, June 8, 2022
  • “Managing the Risks and Rewards of Trade Secrets: A Guide for In-House Counsel,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, December 2, 2021
  • “What Every In-House Counsel Needs to Know About Delaware Law,” Co-Presenter, ACC Washington Summit, Seattle, WA, September 23, 2021
  • “Defying Convention: Unconventional Terms to Manage Litigation Risk,” Co-Presenter, ACC Chicago Summit, Chicago, IL, September 1, 2021
  • “Important Lessons that Every Lawyer (Including Transactional Lawyers) Can Learn From Perry Mason,” Co-Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, June 10, 2021
  • “Defying Convention: Unconventional Terms to Manage Litigation,” Co-Presenter, ACC Washington 3rd Annual Business Summit, Seattle, WA, September 12, 2019
  • “How Solo and Small Firms Can Use Collaboration With Other Firms, Big and Small, to Increase Revenue,” Co-Presenter, NAPABA Webinar, Remote, August 13, 2019
  • “Primer for Successful Litigation Management: 10 Ways Experienced Trial Counsel Can Help Your Company Obtain an Optimal and Efficient Settlement Without Going to Trial,” Moderator, ACC Colorado CLE Program, Denver, CO, May 16, 2019
  • “Strategies for Better Contract Drafting: Mitigating Risks in Contracts with U.S. Parties,” Panelist, ACC Ontario CLE Program, Ontario, Canada, September 14, 2017
  • “Soft IP: 10 Hot Topics in Copyright and Trademark Law,” Presenter, NAPABA Webinar, Remote, May 18, 2017
  • “Ten Tips to Reduce Your Litigation Spend,” Panelist, ACC South Florida 6th Annual CLE Conference, Fort Lauderdale, FL, September 30, 2016
  • “In-House Counsel’s Checklist for Trial Success: 7 Key Issues to Raise with Outside Counsel,” Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, December 9, 2015
  • “Sharks Rule the Ocean and Courtroom: What These Killers Can Teach Us About Trial Tactics,” Presenter, ACC South Florida CLE Program, Fort Lauderdale, FL, October 9, 2015
  • “What’s Up in the Cloud?,” Presenter, ACC Denver Fall Frenzy, Denver, CO, September 17, 2015
  • “Risk Management: Top 10 Ways to Avoid Heartbreak in American Litigation,” Panelist, ACC Ontario CLE Program, Ontario, Canada, May 21, 2015
  • “Assorted Mysteries of California Law,” Presenter, ACC Southwest Ohio CLE Program, Cincinnati, OH, October 2014

Professional Affiliations

Publications

Jason Wilson regularly publishes and presents on trial strategy, litigation management, and effective courtroom advocacy, including the following series:

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

Upcoming Events

12 November

NAPABA Annual Convention 2026

JW Marriott and Hotel Indigo at L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles

Education

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

Bar Admissions

  • 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" (2018-2026)
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 Recognized by Chambers USA in “Litigation: General Commercial – Highly Regarded”

June 4, 2026

Willenken Recognized in The Legal 500 “U.S. City Elite – Los Angeles: Commercial Disputes”

January 21, 2026

Kenneth Trujillo-Jamison and Jason Wilson Named to LABJ’s 2026 “Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys”

January 12, 2026

latest news about jason

Willenken Recognized by Chambers USA in “Litigation: General Commercial – Highly Regarded”

June 4, 2026

Willenken Recognized in The Legal 500 “U.S. City Elite – Los Angeles: Commercial Disputes”

January 21, 2026

Kenneth Trujillo-Jamison and Jason Wilson Named to LABJ’s 2026 “Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys”

January 12, 2026