John J. O’Kane IV
J
ohnny O’Kane is a partner in SKIERMONT DERBY’s Los Angeles office. His clients include entities and individuals in the real estate, energy, technology, hospitality and entertainment industries, in matters involving complex business disputes, intellectual property, employment, securities and consumer protection litigation. Mr. O’Kane has represented plaintiffs and defendants as trial counsel in federal and state court and before various arbitration forums, including on appeal. He has been named a Southern California “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers Magazine every year since 2013.
Prior to joining SKIERMONT DERBY, Johnny was a litigation associate in the Los Angeles headquarters of Paul Hastings LLP, a leading international law firm and one of the Top 10 in The American Lawyer’s “A-List” of the elite law firms in the United States. In law school, Mr. O’Kane was selected to the Order of the Coif and elected to the Order of the Barristers, the Editorial Board of the William and Mary Law Review, and as Chair of the National Moot Court Team, in addition to serving as a teaching assistant in constitutional law. Prior, Mr. O’Kane served as a staff member for the California State Assembly.
Johnny is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College, where he earned three letter awards as a member of the varsity baseball team and participated in the Claremont Colleges Debate Union. Mr. O’Kane also obtained an M.P.A. with a concentration in environmental science and policy from Columbia University, where he acted as an editorial assistant for the Journal of International Affairs and was named a university marshal.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Johnny serves on the Associate Leadership Board of Public Counsel, the largest pro bono law firm in the country. His pro bono practice includes a variety of criminal, civil, and immigration matters.
Representative Matters
Trial counsel for developer in fraud and contract action against lending institution; case settled at trial on terms favorable for client.
Arbitration counsel for a national real estate internet services company in its breach of contract action against a national lending company; hearing resulted in award of all damages claimed plus attorneys’ fees for client.
Appellate counsel for client in successful appeal to reverse trial court’s denial of anti-SLAPP motion to strike then dismiss fraud and unfair competition claims arising out of international manufacturing contract.
Trial counsel for plaintiff Southern California businessman and investor; bench trial resulted in finding of wrongful termination and damages in client’s favor.
Trial counsel for homeowners’ association in negligence, nuisance, and breach of contract lawsuit filed by association member; case settled on favorable terms on the eve of trial.
Member of nationwide Liaison Counsel team in dozens of class actions filed by consumers in multi-district litigation proceeding in the Central District of California.
Trial counsel for nationwide real estate investor in action against regional contracting company and related parties; case settled on favorable terms on the eve of trial.
Counsel for defendant local arm of international employees’ union in employment lawsuit; obtained complete and voluntary dismissal of wrongful termination claims after filing motion for summary judgment, prior to any opposition.
Counsel for national real estate company; settled claims against client for fraction of amount demanded shortly after taking Plaintiffs’ depositions in consolidated employment actions.
Member of trial team during two-month federal jury trial on behalf of a foreign conglomerate in trade secret theft case in Eastern District of Virginia; subsequently represented client in parallel criminal and civil proceedings, including through successful motion to quash international criminal summons and civil appeal leading to favorable settlement.
Counsel for plaintiff global sourcing and manufacturing solutions company based in Los Angeles in successful trade secret theft lawsuit against New York-based defendant company and former employee.
Counsel for regional consulting business in successful fraud and contract lawsuit against a national biotechnology company.
Authored successful petition for writ of mandate after trial court denied client’s demurrer to felony information in state court; obtained stay and review of trial proceedings in the Court of Appeal, leading to first-of-its-kind deferred prosecution agreement on behalf of a university professor facing multiple felony counts in novel state criminal prosecution.
Defended international gaming company executive in a nationwide securities class action.
Speaking Engagements, Presentations, and Publications
Microcaps Under the Microscope, Law360 (Jan. 6, 2015) (with Joshua G. Hamilton).
Heightened Enforcement Environment Signals Increased Use of Economic Espionage Act, Bloomberg BNA Patent, Trademark, & Copyright J., June 1, 2012, at 1-3 (with Thomas P. O'Brien).
Foreign Plaintiff, Foreign Stock, Foreign Exchange: Forget About It? Morrison v. Nat'l Austl. Bank and the Future of Global Securities Class Actions, 27 Int'l Litig. Q., no. 1, 2010 at 20-23 (with William F. Sullivan).
Partner
Contact Information
- 800 Wilshire Blvd., Ste 1450 Los Angeles, CA 90017
- 213.788.4500
- jokane@skiermontderby.com
- Email Johnny
Education
The College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law
Order of the Coif
Order of the Barristers
Notes Editor, William and Mary Law Review
Chair, National Moot Court Team
Teaching Assistant, Constitutional Law
Columbia University
M.P.A., Concentration in Environmental Science and Policy
Selected as a University Marshall
Claremont McKenna College
B.A., Government
3x Varsity Letter Award recipient for baseball
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
U.S. District Courts
Central District of California
Eastern District of California
Northern District of California
Southern District of California
Court Admissions
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Central District of California
Eastern District of California
Northern District of California
Southern District of California
Professional & Community Involvement
Professional Activities
California Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Association of Business Trial Lawyers
Member of the Associate Leadership Board of Public Counsel, the largest pro bono law firm in the United States
Member of the Government Relations Committee of the Barristers Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.