Sidley Austin has recruited the head of McDermott Will & Emery’s Los Angeles litigation practice as it continues to grow in Southern California. 

Jon Dean has joined Sidley’s commercial litigation and disputes practice in Los Angeles after 18 years at McDermott, before which he practised at Quinn Emanuel as a prosecutor. 

Dean focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation matters, including patent and trade secrets cases, antitrust actions, securities matters, unfair competition cases, trademark disputes, employment actions and healthcare matters. Last year he successfully defended Airbnb against allegations brought by the Coastal Protection Alliance that it had violated the California Coastal Act. 

Dean has also represented clients in connection with civil and criminal government investigations, including by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jon to our Southern California team,” said Rollin Ransom, managing partner of Sidley’s Los Angeles office and co-leader of the global commercial litigation and disputes practice. “Jon is well known in Los Angeles, and his nearly 30 years of connections to LA-based and national clients will strengthen our existing relationships and litigation offering across all industries.”

Dean’s arrival follows Sidley opening an office in San Diego, its fifth in California, earlier this month with a team of five partners including recent Cooley recruits Cindy Lovering and James Lu as well as M&A and ECVC partner Jon Olsen, who joined the firm in July from Goodwin Procter. In March the firm also recruited global finance Peter Burke in Century City from Paul Hastings, where he had served as vice chair of the firm’s Los Angeles office.  

Yvette Ostolaza, chair of Sidley’s management committee, told Bloomberg Law the firm intended to continue growing in California and build its capabilities across the US in areas including life sciences, healthcare, technology, emerging companies and financial institutions. 

The firm, which grew revenue to $3.1bn in FY23, has also been boosting its London bench, picking up five sponsor-side leveraged finance partners from Latham & Watkins earlier this month, led by Jayanthi Sadanandan and Sam Hamilton.