James (Jim) H. Berry is the co-managing partner of MWM’s Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s executive committee. He is also a prominent member of the employment and labor and litigation practices. He brings several decades of experience in employment law and guides employers through litigation and counseling related to California and federal law. He advises clients on discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, disability compliance, whistleblower claims, and wage and hour issues.
Jim practices before all California federal and state courts and is admitted to the Ninth Circuit. Among the multiple matters handled by Jim are claims based on common-law tortious discharge theories, breach of express and implied contract, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour violations, including overtime, penalty pay, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims, class and representative actions, and matters before the NLRB involving non-union employers. In commercial litigation, Jim represents clients on matters related to breach of contract, unfair competition, and a variety of IP infringement litigation disputes. He also represents advertisers in negotiating and documenting high-value celebrity endorsement contracts.
Since starting his career at Jones Day, Jim has represented a wide variety of clients, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to mid-sized businesses. Prior to joining MWM, Jim established his own boutique litigation and employment practice and continued to develop his commercial litigation and employment practice there and later at Landau Law LLP.