James C. Wald
Partner
19191 South Vermont Avenue
Suite 900
Torrance, CA 90502
With more than 20 years of legal experience, James has litigated numerous complex litigation cases throughout the country. Highly sought after for his creative legal strategy and effective litigation skills, James has represented numerous businesses, executives, and high net worth individuals facing challenging and complex controversies. He has served as a litigator at some of...
With more than 20 years of legal experience, James has litigated numerous complex litigation cases throughout the country. Highly sought after for his creative legal strategy and effective litigation skills, James has represented numerous businesses, executives, and high net worth individuals facing challenging and complex controversies. He has served as a litigator at some of the most well-regarded law firms in the world.
James focuses his practice on a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, business tort, intellectual property, shareholder, partnership, healthcare, real estate, and entertainment. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small firms and individuals spanning numerous industry sectors including automotive, healthcare, entertainment, private equity, and real estate.
James is not just a lawyer, but a strategic partner to his clients, committed to understanding and addressing the multifaceted legal and business challenges they face. James serves as outside counsel to a merchant bank, real estate investment company, and a neurosurgery practice. His clients routinely praise his judgment, strategic creativity, negotiating skills, and professionalism.
In addition to his legal practice, James serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and the University of California Irvine School of Law, teaching pretrial advocacy, trial advocacy, and deposition skills classes for nearly a decade. In 2025, UC Irvine School of Law recognized James for his excellence in teaching and for receiving consistently stellar reviews from his students.
the most well-regarded law firms in the world.
James focuses his practice on a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, business tort, intellectual property, shareholder, partnership, healthcare, real estate, and entertainment. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small firms and individuals spanning numerous industry sectors including automotive, healthcare, entertainment, private equity, and real estate.
James is not just a lawyer, but a strategic partner to his clients, committed to understanding and addressing the multifaceted legal and business challenges they face. James serves as outside counsel to a merchant bank, real estate investment company, and a neurosurgery practice. His clients routinely praise his judgment, strategic creativity, negotiating skills, and professionalism.
In addition to his legal practice, James serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and the University of California Irvine School of Law, teaching pretrial advocacy, trial advocacy, and deposition skills classes for nearly a decade. In 2025, UC Irvine School of Law recognized James for his excellence in teaching and for receiving consistently stellar reviews from his students.
Experience
Other Professional Experience
- Adjunct Professor, University of Southern California Gould School of Law (2017-present)
- Adjunct Professor, University of California Irvine School of Law (2014-present)
Representative Matters
Commercial Litigation
- Trial counsel to a global financial services firm during a six-week jury trial involving a $9.2 billion claim arising out of the failed acquisition of Unocal Corporation
- Litigation counsel to a private equity firm in a $1 billion lawsuit arising from the bankruptcy of the largest U.S. manufacturer of ladders and climbing products
- Litigation counsel in cases involving breach of contract, business torts, shareholder, fiduciary duty, defamation, and insurance issues
Intellectual Property Litigation
- Trial counsel to a major software company in a $110 million arbitration involving breach of contract and patent licensing claims
- Trial counsel to a leading semiconductor company in a $15 million arbitration arising from the acquisition of a distressed corporation and its intellectual property
- Litigation counsel in various disputes involving copyright, trademark, and trade secret issues
Automotive Litigation
- Counsel to a leading car manufacturer in a multi-district litigation involving defective airbags and billions of dollars at issue
- Counsel to a leading car manufacturer in a product defect case concerning unintentional acceleration issues
- Counsel to an electric car manufacturer in a contract dispute with a supplier
Healthcare Litigation
- Trial counsel to a private equity firm and its principals involving a $2.3 billion health care industry SPAC transaction in the Delaware Court of Chancery
- Litigation counsel to a global biopharmaceutical company in a $125 million lawsuit involving patent royalty issues brought by a hospital affiliated with Harvard University
- Trial counsel to a pharmaceutical manufacturer during a four-week jury trial involving a $12 million claim arising out of the supply of adulterated products
Real Estate Litigation
- Litigation counsel to a major bank in two multi-billion disputes involving defaulted real estate loans for resorts in Las Vegas and Idaho
- Litigation counsel to a global real estate company in a $119 million real estate joint venture dispute
- Litigation counsel to private investors in twelve real estate litigation matters including a $26 million real estate fraud claim
- Litigation counsel in property development, commercial retail, and multi-family disputes
Entertainment Litigation
- Litigation counsel for a television station in a multi-million dispute involving shows "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill"
- Litigation counsel for the largest provider of Spanish language media and entertainment content worldwide in numerous disputes
- Litigation counsel for the largest Filipino television content provider worldwide
Education
-
University of Southern California Gould School of Law,
JD
(2003)
- Order of the Coif
- Executive editor, Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal
-
University of California, Berkeley,
BA,
high honors
(2000)
- Phi Beta Kappa
- High Distinction in General Scholarship
- Scholar Athlete Award
Admissions
- California
- District of Columbia
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Clerkships
- Extern, the Honorable George H. Wu, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Practice Areas
Industries
Other Professional Experience
- Adjunct Professor, University of Southern California Gould School of Law (2017-present)
- Adjunct Professor, University of California Irvine School of Law (2014-present)
Representative Matters
Commercial Litigation
- Trial counsel to a global financial services firm during a six-week jury trial involving a $9.2 billion claim arising out of the failed acquisition of Unocal Corporation
- Litigation counsel to a private equity firm in a $1 billion lawsuit arising from the bankruptcy of the largest U.S. manufacturer of ladders and climbing products
- Litigation counsel in cases involving breach of contract, business torts, shareholder, fiduciary duty, defamation, and insurance issues
Intellectual Property Litigation
- Trial counsel to a major software company in a $110 million arbitration involving breach of contract and patent licensing claims
- Trial counsel to a leading semiconductor company in a $15 million arbitration arising from the acquisition of a distressed corporation and its intellectual property
- Litigation counsel in various disputes involving copyright, trademark, and trade secret issues
Automotive Litigation
- Counsel to a leading car manufacturer in a multi-district litigation involving defective airbags and billions of dollars at issue
- Counsel to a leading car manufacturer in a product defect case concerning unintentional acceleration issues
- Counsel to an electric car manufacturer in a contract dispute with a supplier
Healthcare Litigation
- Trial counsel to a private equity firm and its principals involving a $2.3 billion health care industry SPAC transaction in the Delaware Court of Chancery
- Litigation counsel to a global biopharmaceutical company in a $125 million lawsuit involving patent royalty issues brought by a hospital affiliated with Harvard University
- Trial counsel to a pharmaceutical manufacturer during a four-week jury trial involving a $12 million claim arising out of the supply of adulterated products
Real Estate Litigation
- Litigation counsel to a major bank in two multi-billion disputes involving defaulted real estate loans for resorts in Las Vegas and Idaho
- Litigation counsel to a global real estate company in a $119 million real estate joint venture dispute
- Litigation counsel to private investors in twelve real estate litigation matters including a $26 million real estate fraud claim
- Litigation counsel in property development, commercial retail, and multi-family disputes
Entertainment Litigation
- Litigation counsel for a television station in a multi-million dispute involving shows "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill"
- Litigation counsel for the largest provider of Spanish language media and entertainment content worldwide in numerous disputes
- Litigation counsel for the largest Filipino television content provider worldwide
With more than 20 years of legal experience, James has litigated numerous complex litigation cases throughout the country. Highly sought after for his creative legal strategy and effective litigation skills, James has represented numerous businesses, executives, and high net worth individuals facing challenging and complex controversies. He has served as a litigator at some of... the most well-regarded law firms in the world.
James focuses his practice on a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, business tort, intellectual property, shareholder, partnership, healthcare, real estate, and entertainment. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to small firms and individuals spanning numerous industry sectors including automotive, healthcare, entertainment, private equity, and real estate.
James is not just a lawyer, but a strategic partner to his clients, committed to understanding and addressing the multifaceted legal and business challenges they face. James serves as outside counsel to a merchant bank, real estate investment company, and a neurosurgery practice. His clients routinely praise his judgment, strategic creativity, negotiating skills, and professionalism.
In addition to his legal practice, James serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and the University of California Irvine School of Law, teaching pretrial advocacy, trial advocacy, and deposition skills classes for nearly a decade. In 2025, UC Irvine School of Law recognized James for his excellence in teaching and for receiving consistently stellar reviews from his students.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Other Professional Experience
- Adjunct Professor, University of Southern California Gould School of Law (2017-present)
- Adjunct Professor, University of California Irvine School of Law (2014-present)
Representative Matters
Commercial Litigation
- Trial counsel to a global financial services firm during a six-week jury trial involving a $9.2 billion claim arising out of the failed acquisition of Unocal Corporation
- Litigation counsel to a private equity firm in a $1 billion lawsuit arising from the bankruptcy of the largest U.S. manufacturer of ladders and climbing products
- Litigation counsel in cases involving breach of contract, business torts, shareholder, fiduciary duty, defamation, and insurance issues
Intellectual Property Litigation
- Trial counsel to a major software company in a $110 million arbitration involving breach of contract and patent licensing claims
- Trial counsel to a leading semiconductor company in a $15 million arbitration arising from the acquisition of a distressed corporation and its intellectual property
- Litigation counsel in various disputes involving copyright, trademark, and trade secret issues
Automotive Litigation
- Counsel to a leading car manufacturer in a multi-district litigation involving defective airbags and billions of dollars at issue
- Counsel to a leading car manufacturer in a product defect case concerning unintentional acceleration issues
- Counsel to an electric car manufacturer in a contract dispute with a supplier
Healthcare Litigation
- Trial counsel to a private equity firm and its principals involving a $2.3 billion health care industry SPAC transaction in the Delaware Court of Chancery
- Litigation counsel to a global biopharmaceutical company in a $125 million lawsuit involving patent royalty issues brought by a hospital affiliated with Harvard University
- Trial counsel to a pharmaceutical manufacturer during a four-week jury trial involving a $12 million claim arising out of the supply of adulterated products
Real Estate Litigation
- Litigation counsel to a major bank in two multi-billion disputes involving defaulted real estate loans for resorts in Las Vegas and Idaho
- Litigation counsel to a global real estate company in a $119 million real estate joint venture dispute
- Litigation counsel to private investors in twelve real estate litigation matters including a $26 million real estate fraud claim
- Litigation counsel in property development, commercial retail, and multi-family disputes
Entertainment Litigation
- Litigation counsel for a television station in a multi-million dispute involving shows "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill"
- Litigation counsel for the largest provider of Spanish language media and entertainment content worldwide in numerous disputes
- Litigation counsel for the largest Filipino television content provider worldwide
Education
-
University of Southern California Gould School of Law,
JD
(2003)
- Order of the Coif
- Executive editor, Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal
-
University of California, Berkeley,
BA,
high honors
(2000)
- Phi Beta Kappa
- High Distinction in General Scholarship
- Scholar Athlete Award
Admissions
- California
- District of Columbia
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Clerkships
- Extern, The Honorable George H. Wu, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Practice Areas
Industries
Highlights from the Firm’s Insights
