Overview
John W. Spiegel combines a general trial practice with extensive experience in securities and shareholder litigation, internal and governmental investigations, corporate governance and related matters.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and ranked by Chambers USA as one of only two “Star Individuals” in securities litigation in California.
Before joining Munger Tolles, John clerked for Justice Byron White of the U.S. Supreme Court and served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, where he tried approximately two dozen cases in U.S. District Court. He also served as special assistant to Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher.
John played first on the varsity tennis team at Stanford University and received the “Block S” award for the varsity athlete with the highest grade point average. He continues to compete in USTA national tournaments.
Capabilities
Experience
Lead Trial Counsel
A veteran trial lawyer, John has served as lead trial counsel addressing a range of commercial and business disputes.
Key representations include:
The Walt Disney Company in prevailing in a three week jury trial in 2023 alleging copyright infringement in the remake of the classic film Beauty and the Beast.
Rent-A-Center, Inc. in obtaining judgment after expedited trial in Delaware Court of Chancery in February 2019 holding a merger termination valid and resulting in payment to Rent-A-Center of a $92.5 million termination fee.
The Los Angeles Clippers in litigation against Madison Square Garden, which is challenging the development of a new arena in Inglewood, California.
A leading biotechnology company in its successful defense against a $100 million breach of contract claim brought by Fortune 50 pharmaceutical company.
Adelphia as lead trial counsel in successfully recovering $68 million in a post-trial settlement against Motorola in a case alleging aiding and abetting fraudulent accounting practices at Adelphia.
A multinational engineering company in winning a $26 million judgment after a three-week court trial involving engineering services provided to all courthouses in Southern California.
A film and television studio in litigation with an actor arising from his termination from a hit television series. John received a California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Award for his representation in this case.
Occidental Petroleum in obtaining an arbitration award against Chevron Texaco regarding the allocation of costs in the operation of a major oil field.
Southern California Edison Company (SCE) in obtaining favorable results in litigation arising from the California power crisis in 2000-2001. This litigation included an action by SCE against the California Public Utilities Commission resulting in a settlement by which SCE recovered billions of dollars of electricity procurement costs, and breach of contract actions by dozens of electricity generators against SCE, which were dismissed by the coordination trial judge.
Securities and Shareholder Litigation and Related Matters
John has extensive experience representing corporate boards, board committees and CEOs in investigations and litigation arising from claims of securities fraud, insider trading, misleading financial statements, breach of fiduciary duty and other claims.
Key representations include:
Various clients, including Northrop Grumman Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, Edison International, Intel Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation and Corinthian Colleges in obtaining dismissals of federal securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits and affirmances of dismissals on appeal in the Ninth Circuit. Results included obtaining a published decision confirming important defenses for directors and officers under the federal securities laws (Metzler Investment GMBH v. Corinthian Colleges, 540 F.3d 1049 (9th Cir. 2008)).
Transocean Ltd., the parent company and indirect owner of the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, in obtaining dismissals with prejudice in shareholder derivative litigation and federal securities cases arising from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
The founders of Google, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, in litigation in Delaware Chancery Court challenging the issuance of non-voting stock alleged to extend the founders’ voting control of Google. A settlement agreement reached the day before trial permitted the issuance of the challenged stock.
A former CEO in a case of first impression brought by the SEC under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, seeking “clawback” of the CEO’s bonuses and stock profits without allegation of wrongdoing by the CEO.
A toy manufacturer and its officers and directors in shareholder litigation arising out of the recall of toys manufactured in China. This matter was named one of the Los Angeles Daily Journal’s top 10 California defense verdicts of the year.
Former officers and directors of IndyMac Bank and New Century Financial Corporation in litigation and investigations arising from the financial crisis.
One of the nation’s largest law firms in litigation and investigations arising from the collapse of Enron Corporation, obtaining dismissal of securities class actions and successful resolution of other matters.
More
- “Star Individual,” Litigation: Securities (California); General Commercial Litigation (California) Chambers USA (2004-2025)
- The Best Lawyers in America (2024-2026)
- 500 Leading Litigators in America, Lawdragon (2024-2025)
- California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Award, Daily Journal, 2012
- Super Lawyers, 2005-2025
- Member of the board of directors, UCLA Health
John served as general counsel of the “Christopher Commission,” the Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department appointed in the aftermath of the Rodney King incident to investigate and recommend improvements in the LAPD. Serving pro bono as general counsel, he was responsible for directing the volunteer staff of over 100 lawyers and accountants and for overseeing the drafting of the Commission’s Report issued in 1991.
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Incoming chair, Nominating Committee for Southern California, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Chair, American Bar Association Litigation Section Coordinating Group on Civil Justice Reform
- Co-chair, ABA Litigation Section Committee on Class Actions and Derivative Suits
- Chair, Los Angeles County Bar Association Committee on Professionalism
- Trial advocacy instructor, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), University of Southern California Law Center and Hastings Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy
- Member, Council on Foreign Relations
