"U.S. Trial Firm of the Year" – 3 Consecutive Years (Benchmark; Law360)
DougDixonPicture

Douglas J.
Dixon

Partner

Partner

Education

Clerkships

  • Hon. Edward Rafeedie, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Admissions

  • California
  • New York
“He lives and breathes [his cases] ... really good strategic instincts.”
—Chambers
“Doug’s hallmark qualities are his unfailingly appropriate tone and ability to read the room, and his unerring command of the facts and law.”
—Chambers
“A spectacular lawyer” who shines on “tough cases.”
—Benchmark Litigation
“[He] strongly believes litigating cases with the client from the very beginning is a key to success ... creating a memorable story that resonates with the jury and even the court.”
—Daily Journal
“Doug is embedded with us for the long haul ... he takes the time to understand everything from our perspective.”
—Chambers
“Doug produces outstanding briefs and is extremely effective in oral advocacy. He’s extremely smart, zealously meticulous in his preparation and a fantastic advocate and negotiator.”
—Chambers

Douglas J. Dixon is a first-chair trial lawyer recognized by Chambers USA for his general commercial litigation work. Described by clients to Chambers as “an exceptional attorney” who “has unbelievable credibility with judges and juries,” Mr. Dixon navigates and advises clients on complex technological, regulatory, and business matters across multiple areas of the law.

Mr. Dixon’s practice focuses on complex business litigation, mass torts litigation, antitrust litigation, intellectual property litigation, securities litigation, and other high-stakes commercial disputes. He has represented clients across a broad spectrum of industries, including Amazon.com, Amgen, Broadcom, ClearOne, Glaukos, Lionsgate, Match Group, NV Energy, PacifiCorp, PNM Resources, Southern California Edison, T-Mobile, Waste Management, Western Digital, and Yelp.

In addition to being ranked by Chambers USA, Mr. Dixon has been recognized as a national “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation since 2021 and has been consistently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in area of commercial litigation since 2018. In 2023, The Los Angeles Business Journal listed Mr. Dixon among the “Leaders of Influence: Litigators & Trial Attorneys” and the Daily Journal listed him among the Leading Commercial Litigators.

Mr. Dixon is a founding partner of Hueston Hennigan. He received his J.D. magna cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as an editor for The Georgetown Law Journal.

In addition to his practice, Mr. Dixon serves on the boards of the Federal Bar Association of Orange County and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society – Orange County. He is also active in providing service in his community.

Experience

Obtained a favorable settlement exceeding $300 million in value for Match Group against Google over its illegal monopolization and other anticompetitive behavior in the distribution of mobile apps and processing of in-app purchases. (See “The Match-Google antitrust settlement netted the dating app maker over $300M,” TechCrunch; “Epic Games Against Google on Deck After Match Settlement,” Daily Journal).

Won complete defense verdict of no infringement and invalidity representing ClearOne Inc. as lead trial counsel in the District of Delaware in a case involving design patent for beamforming microphone arrays against Shure Incorporated. (See “Jury Says Microphone Co. Shure’s Patent Invalid After Trial,” Law360; “ClearOne Beats Rival Microphone Maker’s Design Patent Claims,” Bloomberg).

Won a $25 million trial victory for Acorn Semi, LLC as lead trial counsel in a patent infringement case against Samsung relating to its semiconductor technology. (See “Samsung Hit With $25M Semiconductor IP Verdict In EDTX,” Law360).

Won summary judgment of non-infringement in favor of Amazon.com against claims for patent infringement brought by serial patent litigant MasterObjects, Inc. (See “Amazon Beats Patent Claims After Alsup ‘Misstated’ Its Motion,” Law360).

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Representing Southern California Edison and Edison International in litigation arising out of the 2017 Thomas Fire, the 2018 Montecito mudslides, and the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

Representing the State of Hawaii and advising the Governor and Attorney General concerning the state’s enormous responsibilities in the wake of the 2023 Maui fire, one of the ‘largest natural disasters’ in state’s history.

Secured a declination from the California Department of Justice for Southern California Edison in connection with the 2018 Woolsey Fire that burned in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Representing PacifiCorp against numerous lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions across Oregon and California arising out of the 2020 Labor Day Fires. The fires burned over 500,000 acres across at least five counties in Oregon and California and allegedly destroyed over 2,000 structures. One of these matters was tried in 2023 in a seven-week jury trial where Mr. Dixon served as lead trial counsel.

Represented NV Energy in lawsuits arising out of the Pinehaven Fire in Reno, Nevada.

Representing a leading social media company with respect to antitrust issues in the app ecosystem.

Represented Masimo Corp., a leading global medical technology company, in cases in the U.S. and China against claims of monopolization of the pulse oximeter monitor market, conspiracy to monopolize, tying, and related antitrust issues.

Secured a victory for BlackBerry Corp. and BlackBerry Ltd. in civil extortion and unfair competition claims leveled against it by MobileIron, forcing it to pay Blackberry’s legal fees and drop its lawsuit.

Obtained favorable settlement for a leading fitness technology company– including admissions of patent validity, intentional copying and an agreement to immediately cease using its patented leaderboard technology – after prevailing on an Alice challenge and virtually every other motion. (See “Peloton, Flywheel Settle Legal Disputes Over Fitness Bike Tech,” Wall Street Journal; “Peloton, Flywheel Agree To End Patent Fight Over Bike Tech,” Law360).

Represented Western Digital and its SanDisk subsidiaries in their widely publicized dispute with Toshiba over anti-transfer provisions in joint venture agreements governing the manufacture and development of NAND flash memory. The dispute encompassed multiple ICC arbitrations and litigation in the California trial and appellate courts, where SanDisk secured injunctive relief in aid of the arbitrations.

Represented Amgen in nationwide securities fraud class action and shareholder derivative matters alleging misrepresentations or omissions regarding the safety and marketing of several of Amgen’s most important drugs. The class action settled on favorable terms, and Mr. Dixon obtained the dismissal with prejudice of multiple shareholder derivative actions asserting that Allergan’s board members failed to prevent alleged off-label marketing violations.

Won a motion for preliminary injunction for ClearOne Inc. in a patent infringement suit, enjoining a large, multinational competitor’s manufacture, marketing, and sale of a competing, infringing product.

Represented T-Mobile in a series of patent infringement lawsuits asserting patents relating to various cellular communication standards in Texas federal court. All lawsuits settled on terms very favorable to T-Mobile.

Represented Sumner M. Redstone, chairman emeritus of Viacom and CBS, in shareholder derivative and class action matters in the Delaware Court of Chancery arising out of changes to Viacom’s board of directors and bylaws.

Served as trial counsel for Sumner M. Redstone in a successful defense against a high-profile challenge to Mr. Redstone’s mental competency.

Served as trial counsel for a patentee in a successful jury trial against LG Electronics in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas involving user interface patents.

Represented T-Mobile in a patent infringement lawsuit involving near-field communications technology in mobile devices in New York federal court.

Represented Juniper Networks in a lawsuit brought by Implicit Networks Inc. alleging infringement of patents relating to a method for processing data in a computer network. Mr. Dixon helped secure a double summary judgment ruling that all asserted patent claims against Juniper were both invalid and not infringed.

Represented Hitachi Global Storage Technologies and Western Digital in a lawsuit accusing them of infringing patents relating to a method for developing diamond-like carbon films. Mr. Dixon was heavily involved in every aspect of the case, including the development of key arguments refuting the plaintiffs’ infringement and damages contentions. The case settled favorably before trial.

Defended a major medical device company against claims of inequitable conduct in Delaware federal court.

Obtained dismissal of all felony charges against a subsidiary of Waste Management after a four-year-long investigation and litigation involving allegations of conspiracy, false statements, and Clean Water Act violations.

Defended a banker in a lengthy insider trading investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The investigation was terminated without action.

Served as trial counsel for a Fortune 500 company in a breach of contract lawsuit that culminated in a multiweek trial before an arbitrator involving complex property valuation methods.

Obtained a dismissal of putative consumer class action against Waste Management and others seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages relating to garbage collection operations in Los Angeles, California.

Recognitions

  • CA: Commercial Litigation, Chambers (2023)
  • Top Intellectual Property Lawyers, Daily Journal (2022)
  • Leading Commercial Litigators, Daily Journal (2023)
  • Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation (2021-present)
  • Recommended Lawyer for General Commercial Disputes, Legal 500
  • Future Star, Benchmark Litigation (2019, 2020)
  • Leaders of Influence: Top Litigators & Trial Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal (2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America (2018-present)
  • Named to the Southern California Rising Stars list (2014-2016, 2020, 2021)

Activities

Executive Committee, J. Reuben Clark Law Society – Orange County

Board of Directors, Federal Bar Association of Orange County (2016-present)

Board of Directors, Public Law Center (2016-2023)

Board of Directors, Constitutional Rights Foundation (2015-2017)