Overview
James Neudecker is a partner and trial attorney in the Litigation Department of Jeffer Mangels & Mitchell LLP.
His practice focuses on commercial litigation and arbitrations for companies in a variety of business sectors, including financial services, transportation, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, private equity, professional sports, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality and the on-demand gig economy.
James understands that every legal strategy decision is ultimately a business decision, and therefore, James views himself as a partner in his clients' business operations, rather than merely a vendor of legal services. Whether that means developing an innovative alternative fee arrangement that suits his clients' needs for a particular case, to coming up with creative settlement constructs, to trying a case on the merits when necessary, James always litigates with an eye toward putting his clients' "big picture" business objectives first.
Representative Experience
Commercial Litigation
• Represented plaintiff in arbitration between medical partners alleging breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. Secured six-figure award following full evidentiary hearing.
• Represented solar project financing company in multi-million dollar construction dispute. Secured settlement enabling project completion without additional cost.
• Represented international robotics company in equipment dispute. Obtained $9.9 million arbitration award and prevailing party fees.
• Represented event planning company in contract dispute after COVID-related cancellation. Recovered nearly full contract value in settlement.
• Represented software development company in dispute with technology company and tax debt relief company. Obtained $2.6 million award after full evidentiary hearing.
Class Actions and Mass Torts
• Represented three governmental entities (a county and two Joint Powers Authorities) in Truth in Lending Act (TILA) federal class actions challenging PACE programs. Obtained dismissals with prejudice.
• Represented manufacturers and distributors of welding rods in mass tort litigation alleging neurological injury from fume inhalation. Secured complete defense verdict and upheld result on appeal.
• Represented NHL hockey team in federal ADA class action. Negotiated favorable settlement pre-certification and recouped nearly all costs through insurance and indemnity.
Regulatory and Government Enforcement
• Represented one of the largest Bay Area banks in regulatory lawsuit by California AG and Cemetery and Funeral Bureau over pre-need funeral trust accounts. Negotiated settlement for under 4% of claimed damages.
• Represented California’s largest school transportation company in multi-year California False Claims Act litigation involving novel claims and high-profile third parties. Negotiated favorable settlement on eve of trial.
• Represented California municipality and transit contractor in writ proceeding over bus contract award. Achieved dismissal with prejudice.
Banking and Finance Disputes
• Represented community business bank in dispute with unsecured creditor over lien priority. Obtained favorable settlement following summary judgment motion.
• Represented one of the largest U.S. banks in wrongful death lawsuit advancing novel lender liability theory. Won early summary judgment before costly discovery.