James R. Sigel

James Sigel is a partner in the Appellate and Supreme Court practice group.

James has handled appeals in many areas of law, including class actions, securities, false advertising, antitrust, and environmental regulation. He has briefed dozens of appeals in federal and state appellate courts throughout the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Second, Seventh, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits, and the New York and California state courts.

James has had ten oral arguments in the Ninth Circuit and the California appellate courts. His successful oral argument in the Ninth Circuit resulted in a victory for his client UPS in False Claims litigation that had been ongoing for more than a decade. Among his other victories, he defeated a class action against a leading consumer electronics corporation, secured a win for a major beverage company defending against a monopolization claim, and prevailed in another antitrust claim involving an alleged conspiracy in the shipment industry. James also maintains an active pro bono practice, having briefed and argued appeals involving constitutional, criminal, and immigration issues.

James graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was a Notes Editor of The Harvard Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Economics.

Before joining Morrison and Foerster, James clerked on the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Sonia Sotomayor from 2014 - 2015. Before the Supreme Court, James clerked for Judge David Tatel on the D.C. Circuit, Justice Goodwin Liu on the California Supreme Court, and Judge Stephen Reinhardt at the Ninth Circuit.

Representative Matters

• U.S. ex rel. DeFatta v. UPS (15:22)
  (9th Cir.) Successfully argued and briefed appeal securing dismissal of False Claims Act lawsuit.
• John Russo Industrial Sheetmetal, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles Department of Airports
  (California, First District Court of Appeal) Argued and won judgment for airport authority in case challenging purported debarment of contractor.
• Kearney v. Foley & Lardner LLP (11:22)
  (9th Cir.) Argued and won victory in appeal ending long-running dispute over school district’s taking of private property.
• First Advantage LNS, Inc., et al. v. LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Inc.
  (New York Appellate Division, First Department) Secured victory in significant contract dispute involving business acquisition.
• Doe v. Kelly (0:00)
  (9th Cir.) Argued and secured affirmance of preliminary injunction requiring the federal government to improve conditions of confinement in Border Patrol detention centers.
• Lower Elwha Klallam Indian Tribe v. Lummi Nation
  (9th Cir.) Won reversal for the Lummi Nation, reclaiming its historic treaty rights.
• AFMS v. United Parcel Service and FedEx
  (9th Cir.) Prevailed in significant antitrust case, defeating claims against client UPS.
• Bank v. Uber Technologies, Inc.
  (2d Cir.) Obtained dismissal of a Telephone Consumer Protection Act suit on the ground that the call was political speech.