Callahan & Blaine

At Callahan & Blaine, our talent pool is deep. Each month, we publish our “Attorney Spotlight” where we look past the briefcases to see what makes the men and women of Callahan & Blaine tick. How have we won over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements? It’s a team effort of hard work, dedication, experience and savvy litigation. Today, meet Trial Attorney, Josh Marx!

The Basics:

Name: Josh Marx

Position: Trial Attorney

Birth city: Valley Center, CA

Current city: Laguna Niguel, CA

Law school: UC Irvine for undergrad, UCLA School of Law

Attorney Q&A:

Q: What attracted you to the legal field?
A: I had a mentor who was lucky enough to argue two cases before the United States Supreme Court. Knowing someone personally that was able to argue (and win!) precedent setting cases at the highest level made me realize that it was possible for me to enter the legal professional and with any luck have the same kind of impact.

Q: Was there anyone along the way who mentored or influenced your work?
A: I was lucky to have a number of mentors, including my first legal mentor Bob Foster of the California Attorney General’s Office, Paul Barba an attorney in Tustin who employed me in my first legal job while in college, and a federal district court judge who took me on as a full time extern while in law school.

Q: What do you think sets Callahan & Blaine apart from the rest?
A: As a firm with a single-minded focus on litigation, every resource is at our disposal to get the best possible result for our clients. Many lawyers call themselves litigators, but the attorneys here are truly trial attorneys. It’s that depth of experience that sets Callahan & Blaine apart from the rest.

Q: Tell us about a case that you are particularly proud of (or was interesting).
A: A recent case I am particularly proud of was working closely with a local manufacturer who had a senior employee allegedly steal trade secrets and open a similar company engaging in unfair competition. Within weeks, I won a restraining order issued by the court, which gave immediate relief to the manufacturer client. I then negotiated a highly favorable result at mediation. Ultimately, our client received significant settlement proceeds and an enforceable mechanism to stop future unfair competition by the defendant, and all without our client having to spend years in litigation.

Q: What are the things you wish you knew as a junior associate that you know now?
A:

• Most cases are a marathon, not a sprint. While initial motions and hearings are important, always keep the eyes on the prize of the final result.
• Always videotape depositions – the deponent’s expressions convey much more than a transcript ever can.
• Work hard and be aggressive, but always be civil to a fault. The legal community is small and your reputation with judges and opposing counsel is critically important.

Just for fun:

Favorite TV show: Tiger King

Family Facts: Two daughters aged 5 and 7, and my wonderful wife of 11 years.

Guilty Pleasure: Filippi’s Pizza from San Diego.

No. 1 Bucket List Item: Seeing Carole Baskin prosecuted

Dogs or Cats: Tiger person

Dream vacation: Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park

Favorite High-Profile Case: Joe Exotic and his ongoing appeals

Favorite Fictional Lawyer: Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law

Stay tuned for next month’s Attorney Spotlight, where we will meet another talented Callahan & Blaine attorney! Our law firm represents corporate, professional and entrepreneurial clients of all sizes. To find out more about our distinctive approach to advocacy and dispute resolution in complex litigation, contact us at the Callahan & Blaine offices in Santa Ana.