Employers routinely seek out J.R. because he enjoys a reputation for helping his clients navigate thorny employment issues and vigorously defending them against employee claims made in court and in arbitration. J.R. knows the difficulties and challenges employers face – particularly in the State of California – and limits his employment practice to representing employers, not employees. As a litigator with roughly 25 years of courtroom experience, J.R. defends clients against wage and hour class actions, Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) claims, and myriad other causes of action ranging from wrongful termination to discrimination. Over the years, J.R. has defended companies big and small. For example, in addition to having represented well-known clients (e.g., Oracle, Viacom, and PwC), J.R. routinely represents local and regional clients (e.g., banks, restaurants, developers, wineries, and Supported Living Service providers). Having attended the Association of Workplace Investigators’ training institute, J.R. has conducted dozens of workplace investigations for employers to evaluate the merits of employee claims. As a result, J.R. has considerable experience investigating allegations, weighing the relative strengths and weaknesses of testimony and documentary evidence, and making reasoned conclusions and findings of fact.

Businesses also seek out J.R. to mitigate risk exposure, reduce the likelihood of litigation, and be their zealous advocate when litigation is necessary. His litigation experience includes but is not limited to partnership disputes, breach of contract actions, trade secret misappropriation, fraud, and wine-related matters. In fact, J.R. has litigated some of the highest profile business cases venued in California and throughout the country. For example, he tried a case that secured his client the second largest verdict ever to come out of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. The case involved trade secret misappropriation, fraud, and breach of contract claims. The judgment debtors tried to escape payment and the court’s jurisdiction, but J.R. successfully chased them across the country to New York and Florida, and his clients were paid. Similarly, J.R. helped the City of Stockton fend off multiple Wall Street investment funds who actively thwarted the City’s efforts to obtain bankruptcy protection, including through claims that Stockton could cut more (e.g., it could further reduce its severely understaffed police force and could sell off municipal parks). With J.R. serving as one of the City’s trial attorneys, the City won the nation’s first ever municipal bankruptcy eligibility trial. The National Law Journal, the Daily Journal, Law360, and Sacramento Magazine have publicly recognized J.R.’s litigation results by conferring on him top plaintiff verdict, top defense verdict, and other accolades. Although many of his cases are high profile, J.R. has also worked with clients to successfully keep sensitive matters out of public view.

Before joining Folsom Jackson’s partnership, J.R. spent 16 years at the global law firm Orrick. He also gained trial experience prosecuting cases as a Deputy District Attorney. Additionally, before graduating from Georgetown Law, J.R. was an active duty officer (Captain) in the United States Air Force serving at various locations, including The Pentagon and overseas.

Outside of work, J.R. enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, traveling, working on old Land Rovers, and venturing into the Sierra back country.