Governor Brown Appoints Partner Alex Giza to Judgeship in Los Angeles Superior Court

Mr. Giza is one of 12 California superior court judges announced today, and one of seven selected for Los Angeles County. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Laura A. Matz.

Mr. Giza is founding partner of Hueston Hennigan, where he has handled high technology and intellectual property matters, including patent, trademark, trade secret and business litigation, patent advice/due diligence/licensing, and appellate matters.

“Alex has been a wonderful colleague and friend and a huge asset to our firm,” said managing partner Brian Hennigan. “We congratulate him on this appointment, and have no doubt he will be a success in his new role.”

“As a founding partner and leader of our IP litigation practice, Alex consistently made extraordinary contributions to our firm, clients and community. We will greatly miss him but are proud that he is joining our tradition of impactful public service,” added John Hueston.

Mr. Giza earned his juris doctor from UCLA School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.

Hueston Hennigan Argues Significant Class Action Appeal Before Supreme Court

Hueston argued that Rule 23(f), which provides a party with 14 days from the entry of a class certification order to file a petition for permission to appeal with the court of appeals, is an emphatic and mandatory claim-processing rule that is not subject to judge-made exception. Hueston further argued that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had improperly created “broad and unprecedented equitable exceptions” to excuse the Class Plaintiff’s late 23(f) petition, by essentially nullifying Rule 23(f)’s deliberately narrow 14-day interlocutory appeal window. As Hueston explained, Rule 23(f) was specifically crafted “to minimize the disruption and delay in the context of class action cases.”

This appeal arose after Hueston Hennigan successfully obtained class decertification at the district court, and Class Plaintiff/Appellee Lambert missed the deadline set forth in Rule 23(f), to file a petition for permission to appeal the order in the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit nevertheless found that Rule 23(f) was subject to equitable exceptions, and then applied those exceptions to excuse Lambert’s late filing and reverse the district court. Hueston Hennigan sought certiorari of the Ninth Circuit’s decision, which the Supreme Court granted in June.

Nutraceutical was also represented at the U.S. Supreme Court by John Hueston, Joseph Reiter and Michael Todisco.

See Law360 article, “Justices Weigh Missed Deadline In Nutraceutical False Ad Suit.”

Hennigan and Hueston Named “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America” by Benchmark Litigation

As noted by Chambers USA, Brian Hennigan is “described by clients as a ‘real trial lawyer’ with … ‘great judgment’ and [an] ‘ability to handle extremely complex cases and achieve great results’.” As one of the nation’s leading litigators, Mr. Hennigan has received notable recognition for his client advocacy including, Band 1 ranking in Chambers USA, Los Angeles “Lawyer of the Year” in White Collar Criminal Defense by The Best Lawyers in America, and “Top 20 Trial Lawyers in California” by Benchmark Litigation. He also received the California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) recognition, which singles out lawyers whose work has had a significant impact on public policy, the law, and the profession.

John Hueston has been described by Chambers USA as “the best lawyer of his generation” with a “commanding reputation for his trial advocacy.” Rated one of the nation’s top trial lawyers, he has also received the California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) recognition twice. Recently, Mr. Hueston has been named “Top 100 Lawyers in California” by the Daily Journal, received top rankings in Chambers USA in both white collar and commercial litigation, included as a “Top 20 Trial Lawyers in California” by Benchmark Litigation, and recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Hueston and Mr. Hennigan are both fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a recognition bestowed on less than 1% of active lawyers who have “mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked with the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.”

Recognized for its staggering level of high-risk and novel matters, the firm, which was “highly recommended,” received additional top rankings in General Commercial, Entertainment and Securities and White Collar Crime.

“Hueston Hennigan is becoming the firm to beat,” noted a local peer in the Benchmark Litigation analysis. “They are dynamic and engaged, and they have invigorated and re-shaped the landscape, whether others realize it or not. And they have a lot of mileage to go ahead of them.”

Hueston Hennigan Again Named As a “Top 10 Boutique” in U.S. by Benchmark Litigation

“Hueston Hennigan is becoming the firm to beat,” noted a local peer in the Benchmark Litigation analysis. “They are dynamic and engaged, and they have invigorated and re-shaped the landscape, whether others realize it or not. And they have a lot of mileage to go ahead of them.”

Recognized for a staggering level of high-risk and novel matters, the firm, which was “highly recommended,” received additional top rankings in General Commercial, Entertainment and Securities and White Collar Crime.

Eight partners were also included in the Benchmark Litigation ranking released earlier this year. John Hueston and Brian Hennigan were named national “Top 100 Trial Lawyers,” Marshall Camp, Moez Kaba, and Robert Klieger were included as “Litigation Stars,” and partner Doug Dixon and was included as “Future Stars.”

Hueston Hennigan was also recently named among one of the 2018 “Top Boutiques” by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal. Hueston Hennigan was noted for “performing high-stakes litigation and white collar defense and investigations.”

Hueston Hennigan Recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” Rankings

The firm’s Criminal Defense: White Collar practice received both a National Tier 2 and Metropolitan Tier 1, and the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice received a Metropolitan Tier 1 ranking.

In addition, three partners were listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2019 ranking released earlier this year.

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process.