Johnny O’Kane is a partner in Skiermont Derby’s Los Angeles office.
Recognized for providing “top-notch corporate legal representation,” Mr. O’Kane’s practice centers on high-stakes business torts, partnership and closely-held entity disputes, employment, contract, and intellectual property matters in federal and state courts. His clients range from multinational corporations to individuals in the real estate, hospitality, technology, entertainment, agriculture, and logistics industries. Those clients have included high-profile developers, investors, film producers, designers, innovators, vintners, and international and luxury brands.
Mr. O’Kane guides clients through all stages of trial and appeal. Johnny has secured key victories on pleading challenges and at summary judgment, served as trial and arbitration counsel, and obtained favorable federal and state appellate decisions. He also leads a crisis management practice, stepping into cases for clients that already suffered an adverse case event to guide them through then past the situation with a steady, practical hand. Johnny’s creative approach and appropriately aggressive style have been praised by clients and party opponents alike. He was named to the Southern California “Super Lawyers” list for business litigation in 2024 and 2025, after nine times being selected as a “Rising Star.”
Beyond litigation, Mr. O’Kane acts as outside general counsel to a variety of innovative companies, providing strategic legal advice on compliance, employment, and other business matters. He is also the General Counsel of the firm.
Mr. O’Kane’s background reflects exceptional academic achievement. He earned his J.D. from the oldest law school in the nation, the College of William and Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law. He graduated Order of the Coif (top 10% by GPA) and was elected to the Order of the Barristers (top 10% of oral advocates). Mr. O’Kane served on the William and Mary Law Review and was selected to its Editorial Board. He was chosen as a teaching assistant to the late Professor William W. Van Alstyne, a leading constitutional scholar. Johnny also was elected as Chair of the National Moot Court Team, and was a two-time champion of the Tulane University Antitrust/Sports Law Invitational. Upon graduation, he was honored with a Dean’s Award and joined the litigation department at Paul Hastings LLP, a leading international law firm.
Mr. O’Kane also holds an M.P.A. with a concentration in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University, where he was named a University Marshal and was an editorial assistant for the Journal of International Affairs. He obtained his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College, where he played varsity baseball and was active in the debate union.
Outside Skiermont Derby, Johnny serves on the Leadership Council of Public Counsel, the largest pro bono law firm in the country. He maintains an active pro bono practice and has handled a variety of criminal, civil, and administrative matters on behalf of clients in need, working with organizations like Kids In Need of Defense (“KIND”), the Los Angeles Community Action Network (“LA-CAN”), and Public Counsel.
Mr. O’Kane is licensed to practice in California, Texas, and the District of Columbia.
Counsel for national digital media and marketing company as plaintiff in a complex commercial dispute against an international distributor; case settled favorably for client just before trial. (U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, Las Vegas Division.)
Appellate counsel for union members in retirement fund class action; obtained complete reversal of district court dismissal of claims. (United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.)
Counsel for commercial real estate company as plaintiff in trademark infringement and contract action against international conglomerate. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.)
Counsel for defendants, design company and former employees of national textile producer in parallel state court and arbitral actions involving trade secret misappropriation and related claims; innovative defense strategy led to early client-friendly global resolution of dispute. (Venue not available.)
Counsel for California hospitality and viticulture company as plaintiff against international organization in fraud and negligence dispute; aggressive pre-trial motion strategy and win led to favorable settlement for client. (Venue not available.)
Appellate counsel for petitioner on appeal from summary judgment; obtained reversal of order dismissing client’s breach of contract claims against international conglomerate. (United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.)
Trial counsel for plaintiff on fraud claims arising out of microcap stock acquisitions; obtained judgment against publisher of deceptive investment advice. (Superior Court of California, County of San Diego.)
Trial counsel for agricultural services and products provider as plaintiff in fraud and breach of contract action against regional company; obtained judgment against defendants. (Superior Court of California, County of Kern.)
Counsel for developer of cutting-edge casino management software as plaintiff in partnership and business tort lawsuit; obtained a life-changing settlement for client on the eve of trial. (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.)
Defense counsel for international technology company in trade secret, trademark, and RICO action brought by European manufacturer. (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.)
Counsel for putative class of union members in federal ERISA class action. (United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.)
Defense counsel for international security firm in wrongful termination, wage-and-hour, fraud, and RICO action. (United States District Court for the Northern District of California.)
Arbitration counsel for national real estate internet services company in breach of contract lawsuit against a national mortgage lender; client awarded all damages claimed plus attorneys’ fees. (JAMS [with prior firm].)
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. (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.)
Counsel for Virginia-based consulting firm in lawsuit against national technology company; obtained favorable settlement after aggressive pursuit of claims. (Circuit Court of Virginia, Fairfax County.)
Appellate counsel on complete reversal of trial court order dismissing client’s breach of fiduciary duty and fraud claims against gaming industry executive and company on appeal. (California Court of Appeal, Second District.)
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. (California Court of Appeal, Second District.)
Counsel for national real estate company; settled wrongful termination claims against client for fraction of amount demanded after taking Plaintiffs’ depositions in consolidated employment actions. (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.)
Member of nationwide Liaison Counsel team in dozens of class actions filed by purchasers of internationally-marketed sporting event in multi-district litigation proceeding in the Central District of California. (Federal MDL sited in Central District of California.)
Defended international gaming company executive in a nationwide securities class action. (U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada [with prior firm].)
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).
Named a Southern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2013-2021)
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association (“LACBA”).
Member, Leadership Council, Public Counsel (Los Angeles, California)
Named to Southern California “SuperLawyers” List for Business Litigation, 2024–25
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 & Court Admissions
California
Central District of California
Eastern District of California
Northern District of California
Southern District of California
Texas
Western District of Texas
Eastern District of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
District of Columbia
Counsel for national digital media and marketing company as plaintiff in a complex commercial dispute against an international distributor; case settled favorably for client just before trial. (U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, Las Vegas Division.)
Appellate counsel for union members in retirement fund class action; obtained complete reversal of district court dismissal of claims. (United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.)
Counsel for commercial real estate company as plaintiff in trademark infringement and contract action against international conglomerate. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.)
Counsel for defendants, design company and former employees of national textile producer in parallel state court and arbitral actions involving trade secret misappropriation and related claims; innovative defense strategy led to early client-friendly global resolution of dispute. (Venue not available.)
Counsel for California hospitality and viticulture company as plaintiff against international organization in fraud and negligence dispute; aggressive pre-trial motion strategy and win led to favorable settlement for client. (Venue not available.)
Appellate counsel for petitioner on appeal from summary judgment; obtained reversal of order dismissing client’s breach of contract claims against international conglomerate. (United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.)
Trial counsel for plaintiff on fraud claims arising out of microcap stock acquisitions; obtained judgment against publisher of deceptive investment advice. (Superior Court of California, County of San Diego.)
Trial counsel for agricultural services and products provider as plaintiff in fraud and breach of contract action against regional company; obtained judgment against defendants. (Superior Court of California, County of Kern.)
Counsel for developer of cutting-edge casino management software as plaintiff in partnership and business tort lawsuit; obtained a life-changing settlement for client on the eve of trial. (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.)
Defense counsel for international technology company in trade secret, trademark, and RICO action brought by European manufacturer. (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.)
Counsel for putative class of union members in federal ERISA class action. (United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.)
Defense counsel for international security firm in wrongful termination, wage-and-hour, fraud, and RICO action. (United States District Court for the Northern District of California.)
Arbitration counsel for national real estate internet services company in breach of contract lawsuit against a national mortgage lender; client awarded all damages claimed plus attorneys’ fees. (JAMS [with prior firm].)
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. (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.)
Counsel for Virginia-based consulting firm in lawsuit against national technology company; obtained favorable settlement after aggressive pursuit of claims. (Circuit Court of Virginia, Fairfax County.)
Appellate counsel on complete reversal of trial court order dismissing client’s breach of fiduciary duty and fraud claims against gaming industry executive and company on appeal. (California Court of Appeal, Second District.)
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. (California Court of Appeal, Second District.)
Counsel for national real estate company; settled wrongful termination claims against client for fraction of amount demanded after taking Plaintiffs’ depositions in consolidated employment actions. (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.)
Member of nationwide Liaison Counsel team in dozens of class actions filed by purchasers of internationally-marketed sporting event in multi-district litigation proceeding in the Central District of California. (Federal MDL sited in Central District of California.)
Defended international gaming company executive in a nationwide securities class action. (U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada [with prior firm].)
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).
Named a Southern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2013-2021)
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association (“LACBA”).
Member, Leadership Council, Public Counsel (Los Angeles, California)
Named to Southern California “SuperLawyers” List for Business Litigation, 2024–25