James Salzmann is a litigation associate in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson.
He primarily handles complex civil litigation, representing law firms, major corporations, cultural institutions, cities and universities in their most challenging high-stakes matters. His practice includes legal malpractice defense, False Claims Act litigation, disputes involving allegations of false advertising and unfair competition, and government agency investigations.
One of Mr. Salzmann’s notable matters was a representation of the publicly traded medical apparel company FIGS, Inc. and its co-founder against a legacy industry incumbent’s Lanham Act and unfair competition claims, resulting in a full and complete defense verdict following a three-week federal jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The representation achieved American Lawyer Litigator of the Week runner-up recognition and designation by the Daily Journal as a Top Defense Verdict of 2022. Mr. Salzmann was instrumental in taking and defending important depositions, writing critical briefs, drafting trial exams and arguing discovery motions, as well as a vital set of evidentiary objections at trial.
Before joining MTO, Mr. Salzmann practiced at an international law firm. Additionally, he worked as an executive at leading auction houses in the United Kingdom and the United States, and was a director of an international fine art advisory group. In 2012, he co-authored Corporate Art Collections: A Handbook.
Mr. Salzman earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he was editor-in-chief of the Southern California Law Review and received the Judge Barry Russell Federal Practice Award.
Experience
- FIGS, Inc. and its co-founders, in obtaining a full and complete defense verdict for the medical apparel company against $100 million in false advertising, intentional interference with prospective economic relations and unfair competition claims brought by industry incumbent Careismatic Brands (formerly Strategic Partners, Inc.). The Daily Journal noted FIGS as a Top Defense Verdict of 2022.
- The City of Los Angeles, in favorably resolving a False Claims Act lawsuit, negotiating a $39 million settlement against the more than $2 billion in damages and penalties sought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- A prominent national broker-dealer, as plaintiff, in obtaining a full victory at summary judgment on the eve of trial in a precedent-setting Uniform Commercial Code warranty matter against a regional bank.
- A national law firm in obtaining a recommendation for terminating sanctions in an action for professional misconduct.
- Higher education institutions in numerous internal investigations regarding potential Title IX liability and Clery Act compliance.
- Major museums in collections-related investigations and disputes, including restitution issues.
Community Involvement
- Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Center at Caltech
Thought Leadership
- Co-Author, “4 Paths to Defending California Unfair Competition Claims,” Law360, June 14, 2023
- Co-Author, “Sexual Misconduct Arising out of Student Health, Athletic Medicine, and Academic Medical Centers,” National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), June 2022
- Co-Author, “InteliClear and the Future of CUTSA’s Pre-Discovery Requirements in Federal Court,” Daily Journal, April 21, 2021
- “Statutory Millennialism: Establishment and Free Exercise Concerns Arising from the Health Care Sharing Ministry Exemption’s 1999 Cutoff Date,” Southern California Law Review, January 2018
- Co-Author, Corporate Art Collections: A Handbook, Lund Humphries, 2012
Education
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USC Gould School of Law (J.D., 2018); Order of the Coif
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Sotheby’s Institute of Art (M.A., with distinction, 2008)
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Harvard University (A.B., magna cum laude, 2002)
Clerkships
- Judge John A. Kronstadt, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2019-2020
Bar Admissions
- California
Experience
- FIGS, Inc. and its co-founders, in obtaining a full and complete defense verdict for the medical apparel company against $100 million in false advertising, intentional interference with prospective economic relations and unfair competition claims brought by industry incumbent Careismatic Brands (formerly Strategic Partners, Inc.). The Daily Journal noted FIGS as a Top Defense Verdict of 2022.
- The City of Los Angeles, in favorably resolving a False Claims Act lawsuit, negotiating a $39 million settlement against the more than $2 billion in damages and penalties sought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- A prominent national broker-dealer, as plaintiff, in obtaining a full victory at summary judgment on the eve of trial in a precedent-setting Uniform Commercial Code warranty matter against a regional bank.
- A national law firm in obtaining a recommendation for terminating sanctions in an action for professional misconduct.
- Higher education institutions in numerous internal investigations regarding potential Title IX liability and Clery Act compliance.
- Major museums in collections-related investigations and disputes, including restitution issues.
News
Community Involvement
- Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Children’s Center at Caltech
Thought Leadership
- Co-Author, “4 Paths to Defending California Unfair Competition Claims,” Law360, June 14, 2023
- Co-Author, “Sexual Misconduct Arising out of Student Health, Athletic Medicine, and Academic Medical Centers,” National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), June 2022
- Co-Author, “InteliClear and the Future of CUTSA’s Pre-Discovery Requirements in Federal Court,” Daily Journal, April 21, 2021
- “Statutory Millennialism: Establishment and Free Exercise Concerns Arising from the Health Care Sharing Ministry Exemption’s 1999 Cutoff Date,” Southern California Law Review, January 2018
- Co-Author, Corporate Art Collections: A Handbook, Lund Humphries, 2012
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
-
USC Gould School of Law (J.D., 2018); Order of the Coif
-
Sotheby’s Institute of Art (M.A., with distinction, 2008)
-
Harvard University (A.B., magna cum laude, 2002)
Clerkships
- Judge John A. Kronstadt, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2019-2020
Bar Admissions
- California