John Major is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson.
His practice primarily focuses on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on internet and technology companies. His recent representations include matters for Airbnb, Block, Meta, and Snap.
John has significant experience in litigation involving the Communications Decency Act and in representing technology companies in disputes involving platform liability, trade-secret issues and compliance with novel regulatory requirements.
John also litigates high-stakes disputes in a variety of other contexts, representing individuals, law firms, utility companies, home builders, and other major corporations in their most important and challenging cases.
John has published multiple articles regarding platform liability and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, including an overview of efforts to amend Section 230 and an article discussing non-Section 230 defenses to claims against platforms.
John is active in the Los Angeles community, serving on the board of Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena and as the Vice Chair of the board of Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County. He also serves on the University of Southern California Law School’s Board of Councilors Clerkship Committee, which encourages USC Law students to seek judicial clerkships, and on the Homeowner Committee of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy.
Prior to joining the firm, John clerked for Judge Alex Kozinski and Judge Paul J. Watford, both of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Experience
Key Representations
- Facebook, in obtaining dismissal of First Amendment and state law claims in an action brought by a Russian news agency concerning Facebook’s removal of its content following the Special Counsel’s investigation of foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election.
- Snap, in obtaining dismissal of multiple lawsuits alleging that Snapchat app encouraged harmful conduct by users.
- Snap, in litigation alleging trade-secret and patent claims relating to its “Snap Map” feature.
- Airbnb, in obtaining dismissal of a putative class action claiming that Airbnb facilitated violations of San Francisco’s short-term rental laws. The dismissal was affirmed on appeal.
- Airbnb, in litigation challenging municipal regulations of its operations and platform under the Communications Decency Act, Stored Communications Act, First and Fourth Amendments and related state-law causes of action.
- Airbnb, in litigation brought by a real estate investment trust company alleging that Airbnb interfered with its lease agreements and aided and abetted trespass.
- Lyft, in compelling arbitration of claims relating to use of the Lyft app.
- A technology start-up, in litigation regarding alleged breaches of contract and a former employee’s claimed entitlement to additional equity.
- A start-up gaming company, regarding pre-litigation claims of copyright infringement.
Education
-
USC Gould School of Law (J.D., 2013) Order of the Coif; executive editor, Southern California Law Review; graduated first in class
-
University of Southern California (B.S., cum laude, 2010)
Clerkships
- Judge Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2014-2015
- Judge Paul J. Watford, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2013-2014
Bar Admissions
- California
Experience
Key Representations
- Facebook, in obtaining dismissal of First Amendment and state law claims in an action brought by a Russian news agency concerning Facebook’s removal of its content following the Special Counsel’s investigation of foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election.
- Snap, in obtaining dismissal of multiple lawsuits alleging that Snapchat app encouraged harmful conduct by users.
- Snap, in litigation alleging trade-secret and patent claims relating to its “Snap Map” feature.
- Airbnb, in obtaining dismissal of a putative class action claiming that Airbnb facilitated violations of San Francisco’s short-term rental laws. The dismissal was affirmed on appeal.
- Airbnb, in litigation challenging municipal regulations of its operations and platform under the Communications Decency Act, Stored Communications Act, First and Fourth Amendments and related state-law causes of action.
- Airbnb, in litigation brought by a real estate investment trust company alleging that Airbnb interfered with its lease agreements and aided and abetted trespass.
- Lyft, in compelling arbitration of claims relating to use of the Lyft app.
- A technology start-up, in litigation regarding alleged breaches of contract and a former employee’s claimed entitlement to additional equity.
- A start-up gaming company, regarding pre-litigation claims of copyright infringement.
News
Industries
Education
-
USC Gould School of Law (J.D., 2013) Order of the Coif; executive editor, Southern California Law Review; graduated first in class
-
University of Southern California (B.S., cum laude, 2010)
Clerkships
- Judge Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2014-2015
- Judge Paul J. Watford, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2013-2014
Bar Admissions
- California