Overview
Brett Meyerhoff represents clients at both the trial and appellate level. His cases have covered many areas of law, including patent infringement, antitrust exclusive dealing and monopolization, trade secret misappropriation, and breach of contract. At the trial level, Brett has won numerous dispositive motions, first-chaired a jury trial, second-chaired a bench trial, and defended clients in both state and federal court. At the appellate level, Brett has drafted numerous briefs before the United States Courts of Appeals as well as the California Courts of Appeal, and has successfully argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Brett has also assisted with amicus briefs in criminal procedure cases, including to the US Supreme Court.
Brett maintains an active pro bono practice and participates in the firm’s Pro Bono & Community Service committee. His pro bono practice includes the representation of individuals in immigration proceedings.
Prior to rejoining McDermott, Brett served as a law clerk to the Honorable Johnnie B. Rawlinson of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. While in law school, Brett served as a judicial extern to the Honorable William R. Dorsey of the US Department of Labor, Office of Administrative Law Judges. Brett also was a managing editor of the UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy, a legal extern at SAG-AFTRA and a legal research and writing advisor for first-year law students.
Results
- Successfully represented a plaintiff in a two-week jury trial in a breach of contract case, serving as the joint first-chair and achieving a complete verdict in favor of plaintiff after the jury deliberated for under an hour (California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, 2024)
- Part of a cross-office appellate team that represented a major online short-term rental platform in a landmark matter interpreting the California Coastal Act of 1976. The plaintiff sought a state-wide injunction concerning all short-term rentals located within California’s 1,100 mile-long coastal zone. After the matter had been dismissed by the trial court, the McDermott team won affirmance on appeal. (California 2nd District Court of Appeal, Division Three, 2023)
- In the United States Immigration Court, acted as lead counsel and secured asylum on behalf of a pro bono client. (United States Immigration Court, 2023)
- Defended the co-founders of a luxury candy company against claims of federal trademark infringement in violation of Section 32 of the Lanham Act, and four related common-law and California causes of action, resulting in complete summary judgment on all five causes of action (US District Court for the Central District of California, 2023).
- Part of a cross-office team that won summary judgment on behalf of the defendant, a leading maker of office headsets and videoconferencing products, in connection with a trade secret misappropriation action filed by a multinational corporation (US District Court for the Northern District of California, 2023).
- In the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, won a unanimous victory in an asylum and withholding of removal case on behalf of two pro bono clients. (Zita-Martinez v. Garland, 2021). Read case study here.
- Defended an independent power producer in the successful arbitration of a contract dispute concerning a half-billion dollar renewable energy development project (2020).
- Obtained summary judgment for a leading health insurance company, defeating provider claims seeking more than $8 million in compensatory damages in addition to punitive damages (US District Court for the Central District of California, 2020).
- Defended a hospital in a contractual dispute with a physician group, serving as second chair during an arbitration that resulted in a finding of no breach of contract (2019).
- Defended a health insurance company in civil litigation against a former out-of-network provider, resulting in summary judgment for the health insurance company on all eight causes of action (California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, 2019).
Community
- Adjunct Professor at USC Gould School of Law, Spring 2023-present
- Alumni Mentor to 1L Students at UCLA School of Law, 2019-present
- Judge for UC Irvine School of Law’s Moot Court Competition, 2023-present
Credentials
Education
- University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, JD, 2018
- University of California, Irvine, BA, summa cum laude, 2015
Admissions
- California
Courts
- US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- US District Court for the Central District of California
