John R. De La Merced

Partner

Practice Areas

Education

  • B.A., cum laude, Political Science, University of California, Riverside
  • J.D., UCLA School of Law
    • Asian Pacific American Law Journal, Volume 19 Chief Articles Editor

John De La Merced is a Partner at Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP and is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation group, representing clients in a broad range of business, intellectual property, and real estate disputes in federal court, state court, and arbitration. John's experience encompasses all aspects of the litigation process, including managing client matters, drafting operative pleadings and responses, law and motion practice, discovery, mediation and settlement, and serving as trial counsel in arbitration and trial. Additionally, John regularly advises clients on pre-litigation strategy, including early mediation and settlement, and works with clients to develop litigation avoidance strategies that are consistent with their business objectives.

Since joining the firm, John has been instrumental in securing favorable results on behalf of the firm and its clients, whether through serving as trial counsel in various arbitration and court proceedings, or by resolving matters through mediation or settlement. Understanding that litigation is a team effort, John prides himself in ensuring that clients appreciate how the facts of their case intertwine with the relevant legal issues. John’s strong attention to detail and thoughtfulness in analyzing the law provide his clients with the confidence of knowing that they have an advocate in their corner who is truly looking out for their interests.

Prior to joining the firm, John was an associate at an international law firm where he represented clients in complex trust and estate litigation and commercial litigation matters.

An active member of the community, John is a former president of the UCLA Law Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA), the oldest and largest local association of Filipino-American lawyers in the United States, and continues to serve on the Board of both organizations. Previously, John served as a member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association Board of Governors and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County Board of Governors. John also mentors current and future law students, as well as junior attorneys in the Southern California area.

  • Has represented clients in a variety of contentious matters, including breach of contract claims, fraud claims, breach of fiduciary duty claims, intellectual property disputes, partnership disputes, real estate disputes, judicial dissolution, and other complex commercial disputes in federal and state court, and in arbitration proceedings before JAMS and AAA.
  • Served as co-trial counsel in a successful two-week arbitration proceeding on behalf of a pharmaceutical company against its former partner in a bet-the-the company case dealing with claims of breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and declaratory relief.
  • Successfully represented a celebrity chef and a business partner in a multi-million dollar dispute against a third partner alleging claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract.  The matter settled on the eve of the final arbitration hearing.
  • Served as co-trial counsel in a bench trial in state court defending against an action for judicial dissolution.
  • Admitted to practice law in the State of California
  • Judicial Extern to the Honorable S. James Otero, United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • Judicial Extern to the Honorable R. Bruce Minto, Los Angeles Superior Court
  • Thomson Reuters Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2020-2023)
  • Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2022 “Leader of Influence: Minority Attorneys”
  • Speaker on CLE Panel entitled “Arbitration: A How-To-Guide” at JAMS, Downtown Los Angeles

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