James Pettis is a member of the Product Liability, Class Action and Commercial Litigation Client Service Groups.

Mr. Pettis’ litigation practice concentrates on complex and multidistrict aviation-related product liability actions throughout the United States and its territories, Canada, and Europe. He also regularly defends manufacturers and premises owners in mass toxic-tort litigation involving asbestos, benzene, and beryllium exposure claims. Mr. Pettis has handled hundreds of asbestos matters for several aerospace manufacturers and premises owners in state and federal courts throughout the country, including serving as national and regional counsel on behalf of numerous companies. He also provides guidance to companies responding to government investigations, including those conducted by the NTSB and OSHA.

Mr. Pettis represents financial institutions in both federal and state courts in loan origination and wrongful foreclosure disputes. He also represents commercial clients in claims involving trade secrets and labor disputes. He provides business counseling, particularly for start-up and new businesses, regarding best practices and intellectual property issues.

Mr. Pettis has presented a CLE-accredited lecture on pre-certification motions in class actions and authored articles on the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, Death on the High Seas Act, and the Sophisticated User Defense. He is also co-chair of the Recruiting Committee for the Santa Monica office.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Pettis served as a plane captain in the U.S. Navy at NAS Whidbey Island and aboard the USS Carl Vinson, where he received the National Defense Medal.