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Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
HeadquartersCalifornia Plaza
Los Angeles, California
No. of offices3
No. of attorneys200 (2023)[1]
Major practice areaslitigation, corporate, tax, real estate, bankruptcy, labor and employment, environmental
Key peopleHailyn J. Chen, and Malcolm A. Heinicke, Co-Managing Partners
Revenue$317.4 million (2023)[2]
Profit per equity partner$2.0 million (2022)[2]
Date foundedFebruary 1, 1962
FounderCharlie Munger, Roy Tolles, Carla and Rod Hills, Dick Esbenshade, Fred Warder Jr.
Company typeLimited liability partnership
Websitehttps://www.mto.com

Munger, Tolles, & Olson LLP (MTO) is an American law firm with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.. The firm represents clients in industries such as entertainment, technology, energy and healthcare.[3]

History

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Munger, Tolles & Hills opened in Tishman Building at Flower Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Downtown Los Angeles on February 1, 1962. It was born out of the desire of three partners at Musick, Peeler & Garrett — Charlie Munger, E. Leroy Tolles, and Roderick M. Hills — to strike out on their own. They invited two younger Musick lawyers, Dick Esbenshade and Frederick B. Warder Jr. (son of rear admiral Frederick B. Warder), and were also joined by Hills’ wife Carla Anderson Hills, then an assistant U.S. attorney.[4][5] They also brought another lawyer, James T. "Jamie" Wood, a sole practitioner and friend of the Hills.[6][7][8] In 1965, Munger left the firm to pursue investment management full time, joining Warren Buffett in a business partnership and eventually serving as vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a client of the firm.[9] Charles E. Rickershauser, Jr., a former clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, joined the firm, boosting its corporate practice and renaming it Munger, Tolles, Hills & Rickershauser. Ronald Olson was hired in 1968 and became partner in 1970.[10]

The firm opened an office in San Francisco in 1991.[11] In 2016, the firm hired former Solicitor General of the United States Donald B. Verrilli Jr. to launch an office in Washington D.C.[12]

In 2019, the firm elected Malcolm Heinicke and Hailyn Chen as co-managing partners, succeeding longtime firm leaders Brad Brian and Sandra Seville-Jones. Brad Brian was named as firm chair.[13] At the time of her election, Chen was only the second Asian woman to assume a leadership position at a major law firm.[14]

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Some of the firm's notable clients have included Google, Disney, Bank of America, PG&E, BNSF Railway, Intel, Fortress and Berkshire Hathaway.[1]

Munger, Tolles & Olson is known for its democratic approach to management.[12] It typically hires graduates from top law schools and promotes from within, and places high value on judicial clerkships.[15][12] As of 2005, 19 of the firm's attorneys had clerked for justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.[16]

Recognition

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Munger, Tolles & Olson ranked as the nation's top law firm on the American Lawyer A-List from 2008 to 2010.[17][18][19][20] In 2022, the firm had been ranked by Vault as the number one litigation boutique for eleven consecutive years.[21]

Notable representations

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Litigation

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  • Represented Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) in wildfire-related litigation (2017-2020), resulting in settlement agreements.[22][23]
  • Served as counsel for Vanessa Bryant in two significant cases:
    • Privacy litigation regarding crash site photographs, resulting in a $31 million jury verdict (2022)[24]
    • Wrongful death litigation against Island Express Helicopters regarding the January 2020 crash that resulted in nine fatalities[24]
  • Represented Grayscale Investments, LLC in successful appeal before the D.C. Circuit regarding bitcoin exchange-traded product approval.[25]
  • Defended BMO Bank N.A. in appellate litigation, securing reversal of a $1 billion judgment.[26]
  • Represented Snap, Inc. in litigation against public school districts regarding social media platform effects.[27]
  • Represented Plains All American Pipeline in appellate litigation regarding Santa Barbara oil spill restitution claims.[28]
  • Acted as counsel for Chevron in Ninth Circuit appeal regarding gasoline price-fixing class action.[29]
  • Defended View, Inc. in securities class action litigation.[30]
  • Represented Lyft, Inc. in dismissal of driver class action regarding pricing practices.[31]
  • Defended Figs Inc. in false advertising litigation regarding medical apparel.[32]
  • Represented MGM Resorts International in antitrust class action dismissal.[33]
  • Represented Transocean Deepwater Inc. in litigation arising from the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill.[34]
  • Wells Fargo Bank in Sheen v. Wells Fargo, a case establishing that lenders and loan services are not obligated to protect a borrower’s economic interests when processing a mortgage modification application.[35]
  • Google in an appellate victory when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Google did not violate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s First Amendment rights by removing YouTube videos of him containing vaccine misinformation during his campaign for the presidency.[36]
  • Represented various institutional clients in significant matters, including:

Investigations

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Pro Bono

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The firm's pro bono representation includes:

  • Supreme Court advocacy regarding state courts' election law authority.[49]
  • Educational equity litigation (Fairfax County School Board).[50]
  • Criminal justice reform:
    • Los Angeles County bail reform litigation[51][52]
    • C.J. Rice post-conviction relief[53]
  • Civil rights matters:
    • Immigration enforcement practices litigation[54]
    • San Francisco vehicle towing policy challenge[55]
    • Bruce Family's Beach property restoration[56]
  • Represented families in Sandy Hook settlement negotiations ($73 million settlement).[57]
  • Represented Kenneth Walker III in Louisville police settlement ($2 million).[58]

Lawyers

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MTO Office 2023

Attorneys

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Alumni

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Former summer associate:

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "How to Be a Firm that Businesses Call When Billions are at Stake". LA Business Journal. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  2. ^ a b Yount, Jessie (2023-03-08). "Munger Tolles Sees Flat Revenue, Profits Following Record 2021". Law.com.
  3. ^ Orzeck, Kurt (2014-07-22). "California Powerhouse: Munger Tolles & Olson". Lae360.
  4. ^ https://www.mto.com/Templates/media/files/Daily_Journal_firm_profile.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ https://stacks.stanford.edu/file/druid:sm857zv4444/sm857zv4444_HillsC_Transcript.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ https://www.mto.com/Templates/media/files/A-list2012.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  7. ^ Arnold, Laurence (2014-10-30). "Roderick M. Hills dies at 83; head of the SEC under President Ford". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ "Co-founder of Los Angeles law firm". Los Angeles Times. 2008-02-01.
  9. ^ Kolz, Amy (2011-05-06). "Munger Tolles's Ron Olson and Berkshire: The Question of Lawyers Serving on Client Boards". AM Law Daily.
  10. ^ Maharaj, Davan (1995-09-05). "HENNIGAN VS. OLSON : Court Rivals : 2 Lawyers Will Slug It Out in O.C. Bankruptcy Debacle : Ronald L. Olson: Investment Giant Is Latest of His High-Profile Clients". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^ Savage, David G. (2016-09-28). "Obama's former Supreme Court lawyer, Donald Verrilli, joins L.A. law firm". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ a b c Randazzo, Sara (2016-09-28). "California Law Firm Hires Former Solicitor General for Washington, D.C., Office". Wall Street Journal.
  13. ^ Packel, Dan (2019-03-06). "Munger Tolles Elects New Managing Partners; Brad Brian Named Chair". American Lawyer.
  14. ^ Chen, Vivia (2019-05-10). "News Flash: Asian American Woman Is New Leader at Elite Law Firm". American Lawyer.
  15. ^ McIntyre, Andrew (2012-12-04). "How Munger Tolles defied the rules and built a national law firm". Los Angeles Daily Journal.
  16. ^ Schmitt, Kellie (2005-09-06). "Munger, Tolles Bags 4 High Court Clerks". Law.com.
  17. ^ Chang, Andrea (2008-07-08). "L.A. law firm judged No. 1". Los Angeles Times.
  18. ^ "THE AM LAW 100: Munger Revenue and Profits Flat".
  19. ^ Jones, Ashby (2009-06-30). "Munger Tolles Tops AmLaw's A-List, Once Again". The Wall Street Journal.
  20. ^ Jones, Ashby (2010-07-01). "Deja Vu All Over Again: Munger Tolles Again Tops the 'A-List'". The Wall Street Journal.
  21. ^ Rubino, Kathryn (2022-04-26). "Elite Law Firm Will Offer $150,000 In Clerkship Bonuses". Above the Law.
  22. ^ Yount, Jessie (2021-11-28). "When Disaster Strikes, Munger Tolles' Litigators Come to Clients' Rescue". Law.com.
  23. ^ Atkins, Dorothy (2023-05-31). "PG&E To Pay $50M To End Criminal Case Over Zogg Fire". Law 360.
  24. ^ a b Clough, Craig (2022-08-24). "Kobe Bryant Jury Awards Families $31M Over Crash Pics". Law 360.
  25. ^ Keely, Aislinn (2023-08-29). "DC Circ. Reverses SEC Denial Of Grayscale Bitcoin ETF - Law360". www.law360.com.
  26. ^ "8th Circ. Nixes $563M Verdict Against BMO Harris Over Ponzi - Law360". www.law360.com. 2024-09-12.
  27. ^ Graf, Rachel; Poritz, Isaiah; Spoto, Maia (2024-06-08). "Social Media Giants Avoid School Districts' Addiction Claims". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2024-06-09.
  28. ^ "People v. Plains All American Pipeline, L.P." Justia Law.
  29. ^ Foretek, Jared (2024-09-18). "9th Circ. Won't Revive Gas Price-Fixing Suit Over Trump Pact - Law360". www.law360.com.
  30. ^ Perera, Katryna (2024-04-10). "'Smart' Glass Maker View Escapes SPAC Merger Suit For Good - Law360". www.law360.com.
  31. ^ Koenig, Bryan (2023-06-15). "Opting Out From Some Arb Doesn't Spare Uber, Lyft Drivers - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  32. ^ Eslinger, Bonnie (2022-11-07). "Jury Clears Scrubs Startup Figs In Rival's False Ad Suit - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
  33. ^ Foretek, Jared (2023-10-25). "Vegas Strip Hotels Temporarily Beat Price-Fixing Claims - Law360". www.law360.com.
  34. ^ Orlando, Michael (2015-03-15). "In re Deepwater Horizon: Additional Insured Questions Resolved". IRMI.
  35. ^ Clough, Craig (2021-12-07). "Wells Fargo Owed Mortgagor Duty Of Care, Calif. Justices Told - Law360". www.law360.com.
  36. ^ Poritz, Isaiah (2024-08-27). "RFK Jr. Loses Appeal to Reinstate His Anti-Vax YouTube Videos". Bloomberg Law.
  37. ^ Felch, Jason; Frammolino, Ralph (2006-09-02). "Investigators Secretly Mined Munitz's Records". Los Angeles Times.
  38. ^ Davis, Ryan (2009-10-06). "Bankruptcy Partner Returns To Munger Tolles & Olson". Law260.
  39. ^ Maharaj, Davan (1995-09-05). "HENNIGAN VS. OLSON : Court Rivals : 2 Lawyers Will Slug It Out in O.C. Bankruptcy Debacle : Ronald L. Olson: Investment Giant Is Latest of His High-Profile Clients". Los Angeles Times.
  40. ^ Rempel, William (1990-11-06). "Marcos Claims Pact Near With Aquino Government". Los Angeles Times.
  41. ^ "Em2m Llc. v. Records, s. 09-55817, 09-56069". Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  42. ^ Osakwe, Chinekwu (2022-03-22). "Munger Tolles, Willkie steer Buffett's $11.6 bln Alleghany deal". Reuters.
  43. ^ O'Brien, Thomas L. (2005-05-01). "For Buffett, the One That Got Away". The New York Times.
  44. ^ Frye, Andrew (2011-08-26). "Buffett BofA Deal Is Latest to Capitalize on Bank Weakness". Bloomberg.
  45. ^ Thomas Jr., Landon (2006-06-27). "A $31 Billion Gift Between Friends". The New York Times.
  46. ^ Hamilton, Matt; Mejia, Brittny; Sahlby, Colleen; Gomez, Melissa (2021-06-22). "Behind elite boarding school's veneer of trust and family, sexual misconduct was 'ignored'". Los Angeles Times.
  47. ^ Rieder, David (2023-01-31). "Teri McKeever Fired From Cal After Long Investigation Concludes". Swimming World News.
  48. ^ Curley, Mike (2019-12-20). "Los Angeles DA Clears Santa Anita In Racehorses' Deaths - Law360". www.law360.com.
  49. ^ Fowler, Hayley (2023-06-27). "Justices Rule State Courts Can Review Election Laws - Law360". www.law360.com.
  50. ^ Bravin, Jess (2024-02-20). "Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Diversity Efforts at Top High School". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-02-20.
  51. ^ Kim, Gina (2023-05-17). "Calif. Judge Halts Some Pre-Arraignment Cash Bail In LA". Law 360.
  52. ^ Stoltze, Frank (2023-05-17). "LA Judge Temporarily Limits Cash Bail Requirement". LAist.
  53. ^ Tapper, Jake (2023-11-27). "C.J. Rice conviction overturned". CNN.
  54. ^ Aquino, Alyssa (2024-05-16). "Judge Ends ICE's 'Knock And Talk' Immigrant Arrest Tactic - Law360". www.law360.com.
  55. ^ Steier, Raya (24 July 2023). "California Court of Appeal Declares San Francisco's Poverty Tows Unconstitutional As Legislature Confronts Towing Policies Statewide". LCCRSF. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  56. ^ Greene, Jenna (2022-07-28). "Black family's oceanfront land seized in 1929 returned with help from pro bono lawyer". Reuters.
  57. ^ Greene, Jenna (2022-03-01). "Pro Bono Heroes: How big (and small) firms helped win the Sandy Hook settlement". Reuters.
  58. ^ Romano, Matthew (2023-07-11). "Justice Is Served: Highlights From Big Law's Year of Impactful Pro Bono". American Lawyer.
  59. ^ "Munger Tolles adds former US deputy assistant attorney general". World Preview. 2017-03-08.
  60. ^ "Salomon Inc. names new CEO to head up securities house". Chicago Tribune. 1992-06-03. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012.
  61. ^ "Commission Members | Ronald L. Olson". Archived from the original on 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  62. ^ Olson, Elizabeth (2016-09-28). "Donald Verrilli, Former Solicitor General, to Join Law Firm". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  63. ^ "Alan Bersin, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy," Department of Homeland Security.
  64. ^ Korosec, Kirsten (2020-04-21). "Cruise hires PG&E board chairman Jeff Bleich as chief legal officer". Techcrunch.
  65. ^ "CUA Law Adjunct Professor Daniel Bress Confirmed to Serve as Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit". Law.edu. 2019-07-09.
  66. ^ "First openly Gay judge for U.S. Eastern District of California receives U.S. Senate confirmation". Elk Grove News. 2023-02-24.
  67. ^ "John Frank". Oaktree Capital. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  68. ^ Lyons, Byrhonda (2022-10-25). "California Supreme Court". LAist.
  69. ^ "Arizona appeals judge joins Phoenix law office". Phoenix Business Journal. 2022-03-03.
  70. ^ "Brett M. Kavanaugh: Selected Primary Material". Congressional Research Service. July 17, 2018.
  71. ^ "Leondra R. Kruger appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to state Supreme Court". Los Angeles Times. 25 November 2014.
  72. ^ Fulcher, Robb (2010-06-03). "Assemblyman Ted Lieu confident in Attorney General run". Easy Reader & Peninsula.
  73. ^ Fritsch, Jane (September 2, 1990). "Felicia Marcus : Fighting for the Environment From Inside the Establishment". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  74. ^ LA Observed
  75. ^ "President Biden Announces Fourth Slate of Judicial Nominations". White House. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  76. ^ "President Biden Names Seventh Round of Judicial Nominees". White House. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  77. ^ Schonfeld, Zach (July 15, 2024). "JD Vance's wife leaving law firm". The Hill. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  78. ^ "Brett M. Kavanaugh: Selected Primary Material". Congressional Research Service. July 17, 2018.
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