Layne H. Melzer | Rulings.law

Judge Layne Hamilton Melzer received his B.A. summa cum laude, National Dean’s List, Phi Kappa Phi, and Beta Gamma Sigma from California State University, Northridge in 1984 and his J.D. order of the coif with an American Jurisprudence Award from University of California, Davis School of Law in 1987 where he was a Moot Court Board Member. After passing the California bar in 1987, he joined Rutan and Tucker LLP as an associate, becoming partner in 1994. While in private practice, he focused on complex business litigation including areas such as class actions, real estate, unfair business practices, false advertising/consumer claims, public agency-related matters, and internal corporate or partnership disputes. He led the firm’s Executive Committee, served as co-general counsel for the firm, and was the Chair and founder of the firm’s class action and unfair competition practice group. He held a certification from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, was a Master at the American Inns of Court, and was a member of the American Bar Association and Orange County Bar Association. He was appointed to the bench in 2016 by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and is a republican.

Awards

Chief Legal Officer Circle of Excellence Award, Brother International Corporation, 2010

Southern California "Super Lawyer"

AV® Preemininent™ rating with LexisNexis/Martindale Hubbell

Presentations

Consero Group, Corporate Litigation Forum (Fall 2015)

Class Action Roundtable, California Lawyer (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011)

Chief Legal Officer Exchange, Cyber Security Forum (Spring 2015)

Rutan In-House Counsel Lecture Series, Defending Class Actions (Fall 2014)

Consero Group, Corporate Litigation Forum (Fall 2014)

Orange County Bar Association, Corporate Counsel Section (Winter 2014)

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