Michael J. Perez
Top rated Business Litigation attorney in San Diego, California
Pérez Vaughn & Feasby Inc.
Practice areas: Business Litigation, Civil Litigation, Class Action & Mass Torts; view more
Licensed in California since: 1990
Education: University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Call today:
619-343-2698
Pérez Vaughn & Feasby Inc.
600 B StreetSuite 2100
San Diego, CA 92101 Visit website
As a trial lawyer at Pérez Vaughn & Feasby Inc., located in San Diego, California, Michael J. Perez represents clients in complex litigation matters, with a focus on business litigation, civil litigation defense, class action and mass tort defense, employment litigation defense and intellectual property disputes. Known for his extensive courtroom experience, he has handled a wide range of high-stakes cases on behalf of businesses and individuals.
Mr. Perez has tried more than 70 civil and criminal jury trials, achieving a record without a loss. His litigation career includes securing a $188 million jury verdict in 2007 in a defamation case, widely regarded as one of the largest defamation verdicts in American history. This result underscores his ability to manage complex cases and present compelling arguments before a jury.
Besides trial work, Mr. Perez is recognized for his strategic approach to litigation, combining thorough preparation with a deep understanding of procedural and substantive law. He is adept at navigating all stages of litigation, from initial case assessment through trial, and is committed to delivering effective representation tailored to each client’s needs.
Mr. Perez earned his Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University in 1987 and his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, in 1990. He was admitted to practice in California in 1990 and in Texas in 2021. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California.
Active in the legal community, Mr. Perez is the founder of Twenty-Nine: Eleven Maternity House and serves as a master of the William B. Enright Inn of Court. He is also a faculty member with PLI and a past president of both the California La Raza Lawyers Association and the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association.
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Civil Litigation: Defense, Class Action/Mass Torts: Defense, Employment Litigation: Defense, Intellectual Property Litigation, InternationalFocus areas
Class Actions, Employment Discrimination, Employment Law - Employer, Non-Compete Agreements, Retaliation, Toxic Torts, Trade Secret, Wrongful Termination
- 20% Business Litigation
- 20% Civil Litigation: Defense
- 20% Class Action/Mass Torts: Defense
- 20% Employment Litigation: Defense
- 10% Intellectual Property Litigation
- 10% International
First Admitted: 1990, California
Professional Webpage: https://pvflaw.com/our-partners/michael-perez/michael-j-pere...
Bar / Professional Activity
- La Raza Lawyers
- Lawyers Club of San Diego, Past Member, Supporter
- Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, Past Member, Supporter
- San Diego Bar Association Ethnic Minority Relations Committee, Past Member
- YMCA of San Diego, Supporter
- UCSD Hispanic Scholarship Council, Former Chair, Supporter
- San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, Past President
- California La Raza Lawyers Association, Past President
- MLK, Jr. All People’s Breakfast Committee, Former Chair
- San Diego Human Relations Committee, Former Commissioner
- PLI Law Institute, Faculty Member
- Master, William B. Enright Inn of Court, 1991 to Present
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Jose Ramiro Garza Cantu v. Billy R. Flanigan - Jury trial in the Eastern District of New York resulted in a $188,000,000 verdict for our client, a Mexican businessman in the oil industry., 2007
- Arriba Limited v. Petroleum Workers Union of the Republic of Mexico - Jury trial in Texas State Court, Houston, TX, resulted in a verdict in excess of $1,000,000,000, which amount includes accumulated interest. Matter pending before Court of Appeals for the Fourteenth District of Texas., 2014
Representative Clients
- Sony Electronics Inc.
- Darden Restaurants
- Genuine Parts Company (NAPA)
- San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Former Criminal Law Specialist
Pro bono / Community Service
- San Diego Human Relations Commission
- Red Cross of San Diego, Supporter
- Volunteers in Parole, Inc., Former Volunteer
- H.I.S. Ministries, Tecate, Mexico
- Carrefour, Haiti - Medical Clinic, Church Partnership, Orphanage
- Twenty-Nine: Eleven Maternity Home
Educational Background
- Stanford University, B.A., Biology and Psychology (Dual Honors), 1987
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - International Law Section of the State Bar of California, Author, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, State Bar Of California, 2002
- Faculty Member, California Trial Advocacy, 2010 to Present, Faculty, Practising Law Institute, Trial Lawyers
Honors
- San Diego’s Top Lawyers (Numerous Consecutive Years)
- All People’s Breakfast Chair honoring Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2006)
- “50 People to Watch,” San Diego Magazine, 2002
- “40 under Forty,” San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, 2004
- California Daily Journal for 2007 Defamation Verdict
- Forbes Magazine for 2014 Verdict against the Petroleum Workers Union of the Republic of Mexico
- Attorney of the Year, San Diego LRLA
- AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
Industry Groups
- Banking
- Defense Contractor
- Developers
- Energy Utility
- Government Contracts
- Municipalities
- Oil & Gas
- Restaurant
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2026