Why Hire Mr. Reynolds
Aggressive • Intelligent • Savvy • Experienced
Trial Counsel
Complex Business Litigation & Trials
Because every wrongfully injured person or business should be fully compensated, for over thirty years attorneys have relied on Mr. Reynolds to set the stage for maximizing settlements and, if necessary, winning hostile, caustic trials for catastrophic, complex or difficult cases. If your going to trial, gain a significant edge by putting Mr. Reynolds on your side.
Case Wins
Unava, LLC v. World Organics, LLC, et al.
Superior Court, California, Los Angeles, North West District
Case No.: EC061440
Demand: $50,000,000
Dispute over Unava, LLC’s $10,000,000 investment into startup venture. Mr. Reynolds represented Unava, LLC on Complaint and, as defense, on Cross-Complaint against Unava, LLC and its individual principals. Complaint sought $4,500,000 plus damages. Cross-Complaint against Unava, LLC and its principals sought $50,000,000. Following 3 month jury trial, verdict for Unava, LLC for $841,800 and verdict against Unava, LLC on the Cross-Complaint for $750,000. Unava, LLC prevailing party. Defense verdict in favor of Unava, LLC’s individual principals.
Amplicon, Inc. v. Jonathan Philip Helms
United States Bankruptcy Court, California, Central District
Case No.: 1:96-AP-01043-GM
Demand: $8,000,000
Debtor Mr. Helms was sued for fraud seeking $8,000,000 by Amplicon, Inc. Mr. Reynolds at the last minute was retained to represented Mr. Helms. Verdict in favor of Mr. Helms and against Amplicon, Inc.
“I was sued for fraud seeking damages of $8,000,000.00. My attorneys left me forty-five days before Trial. James took my case and he handled the Trial. James won a verdict for defense in my favor. Thank you, James.”
Phil Helms
[Confidential] v. [Confidential] Systems, Inc., et al.
Superior Court, [Confidential]
Case No. [Confidential]
Demand: $40,000,000
[Confidential] Systems, Inc. hired away the entire marketing staff of a competitor. The competitor filed a lawsuit against [Confidential] Systems, Inc. and competitor’s prior marketing staff seeking $40,000,000 in damages. Mr. Reynolds represented [Confidential] Systems, Inc. and competitor’s prior marketing staff. After 6 weeks of jury trial, parties entered into a confidential settlement for $3,000,000.
“My company hired the entire sales staff and management of a competitor. In the first year, the sales group added $36,000,000.00 in sales. The Plaintiff wanted $40,000,000.00 in damages. James represented us and, approximately half way through the 6 week jury trial, James with other counsel brokered a $3,000,000.00 settlement. Even with the settlement, we still profited from the acquisition.”
John
[Confidential] v. [Confidential]
Superior Court, [Confidential]
Case No. [Confidential]
Demand: $2,000,000
[Confidential] slipped and fell at [Confidential] and incurred a broken knee cap with head injuries. Mr. Reynolds represented [Confidential]. Following a 5 day jury trial and before the jury returned a verdict, the parties entered into a confidential settlement for $500,000.
The Practice
Mr. Reynolds’ law practice specializes in jury trials, both at the state and federal levels. On average, Mr. Reynolds tries to verdict 2 to 4 cases each year with additional cases prepared but settling during trial preparation or during trial. In the past thirty plus years, Mr. Reynolds has handled a wide variety of trials, including business disputes, personal injury, employment, ERISA, intellectual property, lemon law, real estate, insurance and securities. Cases are best characterized as catastrophic, complex or difficult with opposing counsel or parties hostile, caustic. Damage claims (excluding pain and suffering) range from $50,000 to $50,000,000. The mass majority of trials handled by Mr. Reynolds are referred to him by other attorneys.
Trial Perspective
In an ocean of attorneys representing themselves as “trial attorneys,” Mr. Reynolds brings to the table a vast set of unique experiences and skills beyond the majority of “trial attorneys.” First, a large percentage of “trial attorneys” may try one case a year. Mr. Reynolds tries multiple cases each year in addition to multiple cases prepared for trial which settle on the eve of trial. Second, a large percentage of “trial attorneys” handle one type of case such as personal injury or intellectual property. Mr. Reynolds tries multiple types of cases and hence sees an enormous variety of trial situations the majority of “trial attorneys” do not see and are not prepared to handle at trial. Third, although the majority of “trial attorneys” see the big picture, the devil is in the details. With experience as a CPA before becoming an attorney and having managed for years a law firm focused on tax and securities in Century City, Mr. Reynolds has a keen eye on details, both financial and otherwise, in addition to a constant eye on the big picture. Lastly, and most importantly, trial is only about winning—at jury verdict, there is a winner and a loser. Mr. Reynolds is only interested in winning for you.
Settlement Perspective
Trial is a calculated gamble with no guarantees. Whether a judge or jury, the trier sits in judgment with a wide variety of life experiences, prejudices and biases, and varying degrees of common sense. Before any cases goes to trial, diligence and common sense demand a careful examination of settlement. Yet, for any number of various reasons, a worthy settlement may not be on the horizon as trial comes ever closer. Some cases require trial preparation to achieve maximum settlement. Other cases simply require trial. Yet, quality trial preparation and trial consume time and unwavering commitment, and is a cultivated expertise that, if misapplied, results in disaster. Mr. Reynolds prepares trials to win for you while leaving open the opportunity for settlement, even during trial.
Impressive Background
Starting out as a CPA, Mr. Reynolds went on to acquire his legal degree and Masters of Laws (taxation) before working in the securities and ERISA department for the national law firm of Keck, Mahin & Cate. After leaving the firm, Mr. Reynolds set up his own boutique law firm in Century City tailoring to the special litigation needs of businesses trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Mr. Reynolds was appointed Special Counsel to the United States District Court (Los Angeles) by then Chief Justice Manual Real. Mr. Reynolds resolved juror interference, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims, including conducting federal litigation on behalf of District Court.
Today, Mr. Reynolds’ law practice specializes in jury trials, both at the state and federal levels. On average, Mr. Reynolds tries to verdict 2 to 4 cases each year. Cases are best characterized as catastrophic, complex or difficult with opposing counsel or parties hostile, caustic. Damage claims (excluding pain and suffering) range from $50,000 to $50,000,000. The mass majority of trials handled by Mr. Reynolds are referred to him by other attorneys.
The Man
Mr. Reynolds is a seasoned trial counsel with a calm, calculating, but assertive, intellectual take charge style. Trial is planned down to the smallest detail. To the extent trial allows, nothing is left to chance. Mr. Reynolds is laser focused on the end result, the money for his client.
