Jonathan E. Altman

Profile

Jonathan E. Altman is a partner at Munger Tolles & Olson. Since joining the firm in 1993, Mr. Altman has specialized in high-profile, complex fraud and legal malpractice litigation and has played an active role in the firm’s False Claims Act practice. He has also represented major entertainment clients in various copyright actions.

Mr. Altman’s extensive litigation experience includes acting as one of the lead counsel for a “top-ten” American law firm involved in multiple malpractice and fraud actions in various states across the country. Mr. Altman’s work in those matters involved managing individual malpractice cases to conclusion in San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., Cleveland, Orlando and Texas.

In 2011, Mr. Altman served as one of two lead trial counsel for a Southern California public utility accused of fraud and breach of contract. Mr. Altman recently completed a four-week arbitration of the matter, which concerned claims in excess of $150 million. In 2009, Mr. Altman was one of three lead trial counsel representing a major aerospace manufacturer in a three-month, high-stakes fraud and breach of contract trial involving claims of well over a billion dollars.

In the past, Mr. Altman has served as one of a team of lawyers representing a Los Angeles subway contractor in False Claims Act litigation arising from the formation of a highly publicized “sinkhole” near Hollywood and Vine. Mr. Altman also represented a Hollywood movie studio accused of plagiarizing the script for one of its mega-blockbusters and has represented a major music company in a class action claiming a failure to pay proper pension contributions under ERISA.

Mr. Altman has spoken on defending False Claims Act litigation at the annual Construction Conference in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Program, and spent three months in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office prosecuting domestic violence and DUI cases. He is also active in the firm’s pro bono practice and recently represented a class of homeless persons suing the city of Santa Monica for denial of services.

Key Representations

  • An American Lawyer 20 law firm, trying and defeating a $2 billion legal malpractice claim against them.
  • Rhonda Byrne, in a copyright suit challenging the Australian author's copyrights to “The Secret,” Simon & Schuster’s all-time best-seller. MTO successfully convinced a Chicago federal jury to reject claims.

Jonathan E. Altman is a partner at Munger Tolles & Olson. Since joining the firm in 1993, Mr. Altman has specialized in high-profile, complex fraud and legal malpractice litigation and has played an active role in the firm’s False Claims Act practice. He has also represented major entertainment clients in various copyright actions.

Mr. Altman’s extensive litigation experience includes acting as one of the lead counsel for a “top-ten” American law firm involved in multiple malpractice and fraud actions in various states across the country. Mr. Altman’s work in those matters involved managing individual malpractice cases to conclusion in San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., Cleveland, Orlando and Texas.

In 2011, Mr. Altman served as one of two lead trial counsel for a Southern California public utility accused of fraud and breach of contract. Mr. Altman recently completed a four-week arbitration of the matter, which concerned claims in excess of $150 million. In 2009, Mr. Altman was one of three lead trial counsel representing a major aerospace manufacturer in a three-month, high-stakes fraud and breach of contract trial involving claims of well over a billion dollars.

In the past, Mr. Altman has served as one of a team of lawyers representing a Los Angeles subway contractor in False Claims Act litigation arising from the formation of a highly publicized “sinkhole” near Hollywood and Vine. Mr. Altman also represented a Hollywood movie studio accused of plagiarizing the script for one of its mega-blockbusters and has represented a major music company in a class action claiming a failure to pay proper pension contributions under ERISA.

Mr. Altman has spoken on defending False Claims Act litigation at the annual Construction Conference in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Program, and spent three months in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office prosecuting domestic violence and DUI cases. He is also active in the firm’s pro bono practice and recently represented a class of homeless persons suing the city of Santa Monica for denial of services.

Key Representations

  • An American Lawyer 20 law firm, trying and defeating a $2 billion legal malpractice claim against them.
  • Rhonda Byrne, in a copyright suit challenging the Australian author's copyrights to “The Secret,” Simon & Schuster’s all-time best-seller. MTO successfully convinced a Chicago federal jury to reject claims.