John Schwab is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson.
His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, trials, and arbitrations. He maintains an active pro bono practice.
Mr. Schwab represents companies across a wide spectrum of industries, including media and entertainment, pharmaceuticals, and cutting-edge technology. He has handled matters at every stage of litigation, from pre-litigation counseling through trial and appeal.
Mr. Schwab joined the firm after clerking on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he served as an articles editor of the Columbia Law Review and was a James Kent Scholar and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Prior to law school, Mr. Schwab worked as a network television writer on a variety of programs.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Walt Disney Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Paramount Pictures in obtaining summary judgment on claims for secondary copyright infringement based on a third-party vendor’s use of motion capture software on six of the biggest films of the 2010s. On the seventh film at issue, a jury awarded less than $350,000 in profits.
- Heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder in obtaining injunctive relief ordering a rematch of his bout with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
- A leading media company in arbitrating claims arising out of the termination of a senior executive.
- A prominent beverage company in arbitrating employment discrimination claims.
- Fox’s studio and network entities in contingent compensation disputes.
- ACF Property Management in overturning a $14.5 million verdict against ACF and its principal.
- Universal Music Group in defending against antitrust claims relating to music sold online in digital format.
- The Bruce Family in pro bono representation defending the County of Los Angeles’ decision to return the “Bruce’s Beach” property taken from the Bruce’s ancestors as part of a racially-motivated condemnation in the 1920s.
- Pro bono defendants in a successful anti-SLAPP motion striking a defamation complaint brought by a former employee of Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee, based on defendants’ reporting to law enforcement.
- Pro bono plaintiffs in a successful appeal advocating for citizen taxpayers’ standing to challenge allegedly unconstitutional activities by Orange County law enforcement.
Publications
- “Due Process and the ‘Worst of the Worst’: Mental Competence in Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment Proceedings,” 112 Colum. L. Rev. 912 (2012)
- “Houston, We Have a Problem: Does the Second Amendment Create a Property Right to a Specific Firearm?,” 112 Colum. L. Rev. Sidebar 158 (2012, with Thomas G. Sprankling)
- “Audiovisual Works and the Work for Hire Doctrine in the Internet Age,” 35 Colum. J. L. & Arts 141 (2011)
Education
-
Columbia Law School (J.D.); articles editor, Columbia Law Review; James Kent Scholar; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
-
Dartmouth College (B.A., with honors)
Clerkships
- Judge Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2013-2014
Bar Admissions
- California
- New York
Experience
Representative Matters
- Walt Disney Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Paramount Pictures in obtaining summary judgment on claims for secondary copyright infringement based on a third-party vendor’s use of motion capture software on six of the biggest films of the 2010s. On the seventh film at issue, a jury awarded less than $350,000 in profits.
- Heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder in obtaining injunctive relief ordering a rematch of his bout with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
- A leading media company in arbitrating claims arising out of the termination of a senior executive.
- A prominent beverage company in arbitrating employment discrimination claims.
- Fox’s studio and network entities in contingent compensation disputes.
- ACF Property Management in overturning a $14.5 million verdict against ACF and its principal.
- Universal Music Group in defending against antitrust claims relating to music sold online in digital format.
- The Bruce Family in pro bono representation defending the County of Los Angeles’ decision to return the “Bruce’s Beach” property taken from the Bruce’s ancestors as part of a racially-motivated condemnation in the 1920s.
- Pro bono defendants in a successful anti-SLAPP motion striking a defamation complaint brought by a former employee of Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee, based on defendants’ reporting to law enforcement.
- Pro bono plaintiffs in a successful appeal advocating for citizen taxpayers’ standing to challenge allegedly unconstitutional activities by Orange County law enforcement.
News
Publications
- “Due Process and the ‘Worst of the Worst’: Mental Competence in Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment Proceedings,” 112 Colum. L. Rev. 912 (2012)
- “Houston, We Have a Problem: Does the Second Amendment Create a Property Right to a Specific Firearm?,” 112 Colum. L. Rev. Sidebar 158 (2012, with Thomas G. Sprankling)
- “Audiovisual Works and the Work for Hire Doctrine in the Internet Age,” 35 Colum. J. L. & Arts 141 (2011)
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
-
Columbia Law School (J.D.); articles editor, Columbia Law Review; James Kent Scholar; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
-
Dartmouth College (B.A., with honors)
Clerkships
- Judge Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2013-2014
Bar Admissions
- California
- New York