Rajan Trehan focuses his practice on high-stakes matters oriented towards trial. He has experience litigating contract, fraud, intellectual property, and class action disputes on behalf of a diverse array of corporate and individual clients, including several in the entertainment and media space. Mr. Trehan has earned clients’ trust by achieving noteworthy results in tough cases.
Mr. Trehan counsels clients throughout the litigation process, from initial fact gathering to post-trial briefing, and he has notched victories for his clients at every stage, including pre-filing settlements, dispositive motions, and jury verdicts. He has distinguished himself for his ability to navigate challenging examinations, both on direct and cross. The diversity of Mr. Trehan’s clients—including, for example, a Western utility, Match Group, the State of Hawaii, the country’s largest integrated health care system, Palantir Technologies, and Lionsgate—underscores his ability to translate his thoughtful and strategic approach to a wide variety of industries and disputes.
During law school, Mr. Trehan prosecuted domestic violence cases as an extern with the Queens District Attorney’s Office, and he interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. He was also a notes editor for the Columbia Law Review and a James Kent Scholar.
Before law school, Mr. Trehan was an honors paralegal with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition in Washington, D.C. He also worked to eradicate modern-day slavery as an intern with International Justice Mission in India.
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. The settlement was recognized with a U.S. Impact Case Award by Benchmark Litigation. (See “Epic Games Against Google on Deck After Match Settlement,” Daily Journal; “The Match-Google antitrust settlement netted the dating app maker over $300M,” TechCrunch).
Representing the major record labels, including UMG Recordings, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, in high-profile, high-stakes copyright litigation against two leading generative AI music companies, Suno and Udio. The lawsuits are the first time the record labels have sued AI companies over sound recording copyrights. (See “AI Cos. Hit With Copyright Claims From Music Labels,” Law360; “Major record labels sue AI company behind ‘BBL Drizzy,’” The Verge; “Music Labels Take On AI Startups With New Lawsuits,” The Wall Street Journal; “AI’s Most Ambitious Music Generators Accused of ‘Massive’ Infringement In New Lawsuit,” Rolling Stone).
Represented the co-founder of a dental alignment start-up company in a dispute over the proceeds from the company’s billion-dollar sale.
Obtained a favorable settlement, after two weeks of trial, for the country’s largest integrated health care system in a lawsuit brought by a group of California hospitals seeking hundreds of millions of dollars for emergency medical services provided to its members.
Representing a Western utility 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. In a recent damages-only trial in which the utility faced a nine-figure damages exposure, persuaded a jury to award just a fraction of what the plaintiffs sought.
Representing the State of Hawaii and advising the Governor and Attorney General, secured a historic global settlement exceeding $4 billion which—in less than one year—resolved all claims stemming from the catastrophic Aug. 8, 2023 Maui wildfires, one of the largest natural disasters in the state’s history. (See “Hawaii Inks $4B Maui Wildfires Deal Ahead of Anniversary,” Law360; “Battle with insurers follows $4.03B Maui fire settlement,” Daily Journal; “Who Were the Attorneys Behind the $4B Hawaii Wildfire Settlement?” Law.com).
On the eve of trial, favorably settled a lawsuit on behalf of Palantir Technologies alleging intentional interference with economic advantage relating to an alleged potential $300 million sale of stock.
Secured a sweeping victory for Joe Kiani, Founder and CEO of Masimo Corp., a global technology company, in a highly publicized activist shareholder suit challenging Kiani’s employment agreement. Plaintiffs asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty and sought to invalidate key provisions of the agreement, which they alleged to have been worth more than $1 billion. With trial approaching, plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed all claims.
Obtained a dismissal with prejudice of all claims for Ecobat, the global leader in battery recycling, in tort litigation alleging over $80 million in damages arising from the company’s operation of a facility in Southern California.
Represented a global apartment/hotel company in formulating and executing on a comprehensive strategy across a large portfolio of leases impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Represented a Chinese entrepreneur in civil litigation against a former business partner in China.
Represented Freedom for Immigrants in a high-profile, closely watched case and obtained an injunction against ICE that protected the non-profit’s First Amendment rights and restored a critical lifeline for persons in immigrant detention. (See “Judge restores immigrant-detention hotline featured in ‘Orange Is the New Black’,” Los Angeles Times).
Served as second chair at trial and obtained a unanimous defense jury verdict for Electronic Arts in a copyright dispute related to The Sims franchise.
Won dismissal at the demurrer stage of a majority of the claims alleged in a wrongful termination suit against the State Bar of California.
Represented Sumner M. Redstone in an elder abuse action to recover $150 million from former companions.
Represented multiple film studios in breach of contract and fraud actions.
Secured a favorable settlement for a major apparel brand seeking protection of its valuable intellectual property.
Represented Lionsgate in a federal trademark infringement action concerning its Laugh Out Loud comedy joint venture.
Recognitions
- Law Firm Visionaries, LA Times Studios (2025)
- Leaders of Influence: Minority Attorneys, Los Angeles Business Journal (2025)
- 40 & Under Hot List, Benchmark Litigation (2024)
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America (2022-2025)
- Southern California Rising Stars (2021-2025)
Activities
Board Member, Legal Education Access Pipeline (LEAP)