Interview with Daniel Petrocelli

Daniel Petrocelli , Partner, O’Melveny & Myers

Daniel Petrocelli's Website

In a rare interview, Daniel Petrocelli discusses his role at the center of 2 of America’s most publicized trials in the last 10 years, 1) Representing former Enron Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling as well as 2) Representing Fred Goldman, the father of murder victim Ron Goldman, in a wrongful death civil suit against O.J. Simpson. Petrocelli successfully argued the case, in spite of Simpson’s 1995 acquittal in the related 1994 criminal murder case, and a jury awarded the Goldman family $8.5 million dollars in damages. His book about the case, Triumph of Justice: The Final Judgment on the Simpson Saga (1998), written with co-author Peter Knobler, became a national bestseller.

Dan is Chair of O’Melveny & Myers’ General Trial and Litigation Practice, a member of the firm’s Policy Committee, and a member of The American Lawyer’s 2004 “Litigation Department of the Year.” He is a frequent national commentator on trials and other legal issues, as well as a featured speaker on legal issues at business groups, bar and judges associations, and citizens groups.
Illustrative Trial Experience

– Won judgment defeating alter ego liability in trial for multinational energy company
– Won dismissal of case with prejudice in trial for international entertainment and media company
– Represented legendary music mogul in successful trial for malicious prosecution
– Won multi-million dollar judgment for fraud and punitive damages for well-known professional athlete
– Won multi-million dollar judgment for worldwide apparel company
– Won multi-million dollar judgment for major film and distribution company
– Won judgment for fraud and punitive damages in pro bono suit involving AIDS virus
– Won judgment for estate of well-known industrialist defeating claims exceeding $400 million

Howard B Miller , Case Manager

Howard B Miller's Website

Howard B. Miller, Esq. is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). In the course of his extensive litigation career, he has represented plaintiffs and defendants in all areas of civil litigation. Because of his experience representing diverse clients, from individuals to small businesses, and being on the boards of and representing public companies, he has a rare perspective from having been on all sides of conflicts and disputes. For the past 16 years, he has evaluated, managed and handled major cases in all areas of intellectual property, including copyright and entertainment, trademarks and trade secrets and patent litigation. He also has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation; consumer class actions; and real estate litigation, transactions and financing, as well as environmental law.

The wide range of clients, roles and substantive matters provides Mr. Miller with unique, invaluable insight into case evaluation and high-stakes litigation. His intense focus in settlement is to calmly seek resolution by empathizing with the needs, understanding and goals of those involved. His command of substantive law is extensive. He was for many years a professor at the USC Gould School of Law, where he taught classes on civil procedure, contracts, real property, antitrust, securities and international law. He also is well-known for having taught for over 20 years in a leading California bar review course. He lectures and speaks frequently on intellectual property and international legal issues, most recently in Beijing; Shanghai; Seoul; Hyderabad; Bangalore; New Delhi; Ulaanbaatar; Washington, D.C.; Toronto; London; and Berlin.

Mr. Miller is a past President of the State Bar of California. He has been at the center of the California legal profession since he began his career as law clerk to Justice Roger J. Traynor of the Supreme Court of California.