John B. Quinn

Widely known as a respected litigator, John B. Quinn and the 1,000-plus lawyers in the global business litigation firm he founded are frequently involved in high-profile cases and issues. Not quite 18 months ago, he and co-counsel filed an antitrust suit against the PGA Tour on behalf of several top professional golfers and, later, LIV Golf, the Saudi-funded competitor pros wanted to play for. Jones v. PGA Tour Inc., 5:22-cv-04486 (N.D. Cal., filed Aug. 3, 2022).

The litigation quickly calmed down as the principles negotiated to reach a deal.

This year, Quinn is representing Shein, the booming fast-fashion retailer from China, in several antitrust and copyright lawsuits between it and Temu, the large, online discount marketplace, which also is based in China. One piece of litigation was filed in Washington in the summer. Whaleco Inc. v. Shein US Services LLC, 1:23-cv-11596 (D. D.C., filed July 14, 2023).

He and his firm are among the lawyers in leading roles defending Hyundai Motor America and Kia America Inc. in numerous lawsuits and class actions that claim flaws in some of the carmakers’ leave them too easy to steal. In Re: Kia Hyundai Vehicle Theft Litigation, 8:22-ml-03052 (D.C. Cal., filed Dec. 22, 2022).

“These [cars] are totally compliant with federal law, and we believe that federal law preempts the claims that have been asserted,” Quinn said about the cases.

In mid-November, the judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation tentatively approved a $200 million settlement for individual owners whose cars were stolen. But Quinn said lawsuits brought by cities and other plaintiffs have not been settled.

One of Quinn’s partners, Steven G. Madison, is leading the defense for Hyundai and Kia in the courtroom, but Quinn said he has been very involved in the litigation.

Another large, national case the firm is handling is litigation by military members and veterans who blame their hearing loss on allegedly faulty military earplugs made by a 3M subsidiary. A federal judge in Florida is overseeing the multidistrict litigation, and that’s where Quinn went early last year to try a bellwether case. He won a jury verdict for his plaintiff, he said. In Re: 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, 3:19-md-02885 (N.D. Fla., filed April 3, 2019).

In the spring, Quinn is set to try a multimillion-dollar trade secrets theft case in arbitration against a former employee of a company owned by Patrick Soon-Shiong. The Los Angeles medical inventor and billionaire investor is a frequent client.

Quinn has also continued to expand his law firm. It has opened offices in Dubai and Abu Dabi in the UAE and is considering one in Singapore, he said.

— Don DeBenedictis