Bruce Wessel is a litigation partner. He has extensive experience trying cases in California state and federal court and before arbitration tribunals.

Mr. Wessel is named in Best Lawyers in America and has been selected for inclusion in Southern California "Super Lawyers" by Los Angeles Magazine in every year the list has been published.

Mr. Wessel currently chairs the firm's Administration Committee.

Representative Matters

IP Litigation

Mr. Wessel has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in patent matters. He prevailed on all issues in Globetrotter Software, Inc. v. Elan Computer Group, Inc., 362 F.3d 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2004) where he represented Globetrotter in the trial and appellate courts.  The Legal 500 2008 directory of U.S. lawyers recognizes Mr. Wessel's expertise in the field of patent and copyright litigation.  In 2001, Cyber Esquire magazine named Mr. Wessel one of the top sixteen lawyers on the West Coast involved in new media law. The article stated: “Wessel adeptly handles complex litigation on Internet and other technology related matters.”  Mr. Wessel has litigated trademark cases in federal and state court.  A book on a trademark case he litigated for eToys described his lawyering in the case as "wonderfully creative." Wishart & Bochsler, Leaving Reality Behind: etoy v. eToys.com & Other Battles to Control Cyberspace (2003).

Entertainment

Mr. Wessel has represented entertainment companies in disputes involving contract rights, accounting, and intellectual property. He represented the defendant in Hollywood Screentest of America v. NBC Universal, 151 Cal. App. 4th 631 (2007), the first California appellate decision affirming the entry of summary judgment in an idea theft case on independent creation grounds.

Libel & Defamation

Mr. Wessel has represented newspapers, law firms, and companies sued for libel and defamation. He has litigated matters under California’s anti-SLAPP statute and was defense counsel in Dove Audio v. Rosenfeld Meyer & Sussman, 47 Cal. App. 4th 777 (1996), a leading anti-SLAPP appellate decision.

Bankruptcy

Mr. Wessel represented a group of eight television stations in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding against an advertising agency and prevailed after trial and on appeal. The appellate decision is Focus Media, Inc. v. National Broadcasting Co., 378 F.3d 916 (9th Cir. 2004). He has tried two cases in bankruptcy court involving patent licenses and bankruptcy.

Arbitration

Mr. Wessel has handled arbitration proceedings through decision conducted under the rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), the International Chamber of Commerce ("ICC"), and the International Center for Dispute Resolution ("ICDR").

Redistricting and Political Law

Mr. Wessel has represented the California State Senate, the California Democratic congressional delegation, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the City of Los Angeles in redistricting litigation. While in law school, he served as a member of the State of Connecticut congressional redistricting commission. Also while in law school, he was an assistant to the court-appointed Special Master for the redistricting of Puerto Rico.

Other Experience

Before law school, Mr. Wessel was a Coro Fellow in Los Angeles, ran a successful congressional campaign in Connecticut, worked in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, and served as a speechwriter for the Chairman of the Board and CEO of Pacific Life. 

Mr. Wessel has served on the Board of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America ("CCFA") since 1994, and was Chapter President from 1997 to 2000. From 1999 to 2002, he was a member of the National Board of Directors of CCFA. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Bet Tzedek Legal Services.

Mr. Wessel was a law clerk for the Honorable Edward Rafeedie, United States District Court Judge for the Central District of California.

Professional Activities

• Member of the Litigation Section and the Antitrust and Unfair Competition Section of the California Bar Association and the Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association; has served as a member of the Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the California Bar Association Litigation Section's Committee on Jury Instructions.

Bar & Court Admissions

• 1984, California
• Central, Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of California; Ninth, Fifth and Federal Circuits