Bet-the-Company Litigation Civil Rights Law Commercial Litigation Criminal Defense: White-Collar Litigation - Intellectual Property Litigation - Municipal
James "Jim" McManis
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1997 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
A member of the trial bar for over 50 years, Jim has unparalleled experience and skill in preparing and presenting cases for adjudication – whether by jury, judge, arbitrator, mediator or the parties themselves. He represents Silicon Valley companies with commercial, trade secret and intellectual property issues. Jim also represents individuals in a wide variety of matters, including civil rights actions, employment disputes, family law and criminal defense.
Overview
- German
- University of California Berkeley, J.D., graduated 1967
- Stanford University, BA, graduated 1964
- California, State Bar of California
- Advocacy Skills Workshop at Stanford University Law School - Faculty
- California Center for Judicial Education and Research - Teacher
- California State Bar's Task Force on Admissions Regulation Reform - Member
- Executive Committee of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL) - Secretary of International Relations
- Intensive Advocacy Program of the University of San Francisco Law School - Faculty
- Santa Clara County Superior Court - Judge Pro Tem
- Santa Clara County Superior Court - Special Master
- State Bar of California - Special Examiner
- University of California Berkeley Foundation - Board of Trustees
- University of California, Berkeley Law - Lecturer
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, and D.C. Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California
- German
- California, State Bar of California
- Advocacy Skills Workshop at Stanford University Law School - Faculty
- California Center for Judicial Education and Research - Teacher
- California State Bar's Task Force on Admissions Regulation Reform - Member
- Executive Committee of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL) - Secretary of International Relations
- Intensive Advocacy Program of the University of San Francisco Law School - Faculty
- Santa Clara County Superior Court - Judge Pro Tem
- Santa Clara County Superior Court - Special Master
- State Bar of California - Special Examiner
- University of California Berkeley Foundation - Board of Trustees
- University of California, Berkeley Law - Lecturer
- University of California Berkeley, J.D., graduated 1967
- Stanford University, BA, graduated 1964
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, and D.C. Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar, San Jose (2020)
- Litigation - Intellectual Property, San Jose (2014)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Litigation - Municipal
- Civil Rights Law
Awards:
- Trailblazers West, The American Lawyer, 2021
- Berkeley Law 2019 Citation Award
- The Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year, Criminal Defense, White Collar, 2020
- California Trailblazer Award, The Recorder, 2020
- Equality Trailblazer Award, The National Law Journal, 2019
- Elite Boutique Trailblazer, The National Law Journal, 2018 and 2020
- Litigation Trailblazer Award, The National Law Journal, 2018
- James Madison Freedom of Information Award, Northern California Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ NorCal), 2018
- California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award (Civil Rights), 2017
- The Daily Journal Top 100 Lawyers in California, 2016, 2017, 2018
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2015
- The Best Lawyers in America® for 28 consecutive years in the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Litigation - First Amendment; Litigation - Intellectual Property; and Litigation - Municipal.
- Member of the award winning team "The Best in Family Law", The Recorder (2010-2019)
- Asian Pacific Bar Association of Silicon Valley's Beacon Award for Diversity, 2015
- Northern California Super Lawyers (2004-2023)
- Named one of Top 100 in Northern California Super Lawyers (2009-2018)
- Honored with the Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley's Philanthropist of the Year Award, 2016
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Pro Bono Award, 2015
- Received with his spouse, Sara, the Trustees Citation from the University of California, Berkeley Foundation for "outstanding achievement in a major fundraising program"
- Honored with the Philip J. Berelson Award for Generous Philanthropy
- Named to the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity, Santa Clara County Bar Association, and accepted, on behalf of McManis Faulkner, the Bar's Unsung Heroes Award
- Honors- Honorary Bencher of the Honorable Society of King's Inns, the oldest institution of legal education in Ireland
- Honors- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers (membership limited to top 500 trial lawyers in U.S.)
- Honors- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Honors- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Honors - Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Honors- Fellow, Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals
- Honors- Academy of American Poets
- Honors- Lifetime Charter Member of Best Attorneys of America
News & Media
Additional Information
Case History
Cases
- Successfully petitioned for and retained rehearing en banc.
Successfully petitioned for and retained rehearing en banc. The ruling form the panel of 11 Ninth Circuit judges overturned a three-panel decision of the Ninth Circuit, mandating that the firm's client should be awarded the vast majority of her attorney's fees.
- Obtained landmark California Supreme Court ruling.
Obtained landmark California Supreme Court ruling which set statewide precedent for public records disclosure. The Supreme Court unanimously held that when public employees use personal accounts to communicate about the conduct of public business, those writings may be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.
- Obtained the first ever court order requiring the federal executive branch to remove a person wrongly included on a post-9/11 terrorist watchlist.
Obtained the first ever court order requiring the federal executive branch to remove a person wrongly included on a post-9/11 terrorist watchlist. The client was a Malaysian former Stanford Ph.D. student who was erroneously watchlisted and barred from returning to the United States. After eight years of litigation and trial, our client's name was fully cleared.
- Achieved a six-figure verdict for an African-American investigator with the San Jose City Attorney’s office in a civil rights action arising out of police misconduct against the plaintiff and his family.
Achieved a six-figure verdict for an African-American investigator with the San Jose City Attorney’s office in a civil rights action arising out of police misconduct against the plaintiff and his family.
- Obtained a verdict in excess of $600,000 in an employment action against the City of San Jose arising out of the wrongful termination of the City's African-American fire chief.
Obtained a verdict in excess of $600,000 in an employment action against the City of San Jose arising out of the wrongful termination of the City's African-American fire chief.
- Defended Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey animal trainer Mark Gebel.
Defended Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey animal trainer Mark Gebel (son of the legendary Gunter Gebel-Williams) on a charge of elephant abuse, resulting in an acquittal following a trial in which no defense evidence was presented.
- Successfully defended at trial a will contest of a Silicon Valley CEO and subsequently represented the plaintiff on appeal in a related case involving precedent-setting anti-SLAPP suit litigation.
Successfully defended at trial a will contest involving the estate of a Silicon Valley CEO and subsequently represented the plaintiff on appeal in a related case involving precedent-setting anti-SLAPP suit litigation.
- Represented a Silicon Valley executive on felony charges of molesting his children following a bitter divorce. The client was acquitted on all counts.
Represented a Silicon Valley executive on felony charges of molesting his children following a bitter divorce. The client was acquitted on all counts.
- Obtained an $86 million judgement for a Fortune 500 technology company in bitterly contested commercial litigation.
Obtained an $86million judgement for a Fortune 500 technology company in bitterly contested commercial litigation.
- Ibrahim v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Security, 912 F.3d 1147 (9th Cir. Jan. 2, 2019).
Ibrahim v. U.S. Dep't of Homeland Security, 912 F.3d 1147 (9th Cir. Jan. 2, 2019).
- County of Santa Clara v. Super. Ct. (Atlantic Richfield, et al) (2017) .
County of Santa Clara v. Super. Ct. (Atlantic Richfield, et al) (2017) .
- People v. ConAgra Grocery Prodcuts Co. (2017) 17 Cal.App.5th 51.
People v. ConAgra Grocery Prodcuts Co. (2017) 17 Cal.App.5th 51.
- City of San Jose v. Superior Court (Smith) (2017) 2 Cal.5th 608
City of San Jose v. Superior Court (Smith) (2017) 2 Cal.5th 608
- Ibrahim v. Department of Homeland Security (N.D. Cal. 2014) 62 F.Supp.3d 909
Ibrahim v. Department of Homeland Security (N.D. Cal. 2014) 62 F.Supp.3d 909
- Ibrahim v. Department of Homeland Security (9th Cir. 2012) 669 F.3d 983
Ibrahim v. Department of Homeland Security (9th Cir. 2012) 669 F.3d 983
- County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (Atlantic Richfield Co.) (2010) 50 Cal.4th 35,235 P.3d 21, 112 Cal. Rptr. 3d 697
County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (Atlantic Richfield Co.) (2010) 50 Cal.4th 35,235 P.3d 21,112 Cal. Rptr. 3d 697.
- County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (2009) 171 C.A. 4th 119.
County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (2009) 171 C.A. 4th 119.
- Ibrahim v. Department of Homeland Security (9th Cir. 2008) 538 F.3d 1250
Ibrahim v. Department of Homeland Security (9th Cir. 2008) 538 F.3d 1250
- County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (Atlantic Richfield Co.) (2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 1140
County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (Atlantic Richfield Co.) (2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 1140
- County of Santa Clara v. Super.Ct. (Atlantic Richfield, et al) (2006) 137 Cal.App.4th 292.
County of Santa Clara v. Super.Ct. (Atlantic Richfield, et al) (2006) 137 Cal.App.4th 292.
- Kephart v. Genuity, Inc. (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th 280
Kephart v. Genuity, Inc. (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th 280.
- Sutter's Place v. Superior Court (2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 1370
Sutter's Place v. Superior Court (2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 1370
- Jasmine Networks, Inc. v. Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. (2008) 76 Cal.Rptr.3d 172.
Jasmine Networks, Inc. v. Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. (2008) 76 Cal.Rptr.3d 172
- State Board v. Superior Court (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 951.
State Board v. Superior Court (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 951.
- Jasmine Networks v. Marvell (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 794.
Jasmine Networks v. Marvell (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 794.
- Zhao v. Wong (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1114.
Zhao v. Wong (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 1114.
- Fenwick & West v. Superior Court of Santa Clara County (1996) 43 Cal.App.4th 1272.
Fenwick & West v. Superior Court of Santa Clara County (1996) 43 Cal.App.4th 1272.
- Estate of Wong (1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 1198
Estate of Wong (1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 1198.
- Stalberg v. Western Title Insurance Company (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 925.
Stalberg v. Western Title Insurance Company (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 925.
- Portman v. County of Santa Clara (9th Cir.1993) 995 F.2d 898.
Portman v. County of Santa Clara (9th Cir.1993) 995 F.2d 898.
- Wright v. City of Santa Clara (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d 1503.
Wright v. City of Santa Clara (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d.1503.
- Lazarro v. Larson; In re Romo (1987) 190 Cal.App.3d 279.
Lazzaro v. Larson; In re Romo (1987) 190.Cal.App.3d 279.
- People v. Pringle (1984) 151 Cal.App.3d 854.
People v. Pringle (1984) 151 Cal.App.3d 854.
- People v. Conner (1983) 34 Cal.3d 141.
People v. Conner (1983) 34 Cal.3d 141.
- Filmamatic Corporation v. General Electric Company (1980) 1980-1982 Trade Cas. (CCH) P63, 417.
Filmamatic Corporation v. General Electric Company (1980) 1980-1982 Trade Cas. (CCH) P63, 417.
Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.
Please use the print button to print this profile page.