Skadden is pleased to announce that Manuel F. Cachán has joined the firm as a partner in the Litigation Group in our Los Angeles office. Mr. Cachán previously was a partner at another global law firm, where he co-headed the trial practice.
Mr. Cachán has represented numerous companies in complex, high-profile litigation before federal and state courts across the country, including:
- Monsanto, as lead or co-lead counsel in Riverside, California, and St. Louis, Missouri, state courts, on claims that had previously resulted in verdicts from $80 million to over $2 billion. The jury rejected the claims in their entirety in both trials. The Missouri ruling ranked second on Courtroom View Network’s list of the Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts of 2022;
- Johnson & Johnson in a favorable ruling at trial in Los Angeles, California, and a complete defense verdict in St. Louis, Missouri, which ranked second on Courtroom View Network’s list of the Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts of 2017; and
- Wells Fargo Bank, NBCUniversal and KNBC-TV, Rysher Entertainment and Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company in jury trials involving securities and banking actions and breach-of-contract and age discrimination claims.
Mr. Cachán has been recognized by The American Lawyer as a Litigator of the Week; Benchmark Litigation, which designated him a Local Litigation Star, a California Litigation Star and a National Practice Area Star; and the Los Angeles Daily Journal, which included one of his trial victories as a Top Defense Verdict of 2021. Additionally, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association named him a 2022 Rainmaker.
“Manuel’s experience winning complex and highly visible trials will provide tremendous value to our clients,” said partner Peter B. Morrison, co-head of the West Coast litigation practice. “Paired with our existing litigation talent, Manuel will further enhance our ability to represent clients at every stage of a dispute, from pretrial resolution to verdict. We are thrilled that Manuel has joined the Skadden team.”
“I have worked with several Skadden attorneys over the years, and have been incredibly impressed by their creativity, tenacity and collaborative spirit,” said Mr. Cachán. “I am excited to become part of this team, which has earned a reputation for excellence and zealous advocacy in their clients’ most critical matters.”
“Manuel joins us at a very exciting time, as we mark the firm’s 40th anniversary in Los Angeles,” said partner Jason Russell, head of Skadden’s Los Angeles office. “His courtroom prowess and contributions to the community make him an ideal addition to our team and fortify our history of trial luminaries who have been a hallmark of this office since 1983.”
In addition to his litigation successes, Mr. Cachán has long played an active role in the legal community. He served as a member of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation of the State Bar of California, and he is the immediate past president of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers in Los Angeles. Mr. Cachán sits on the boards of Public Counsel and the Alliance for Children’s Rights. He also is an honorary trustee of the Mexican-American Bar Foundation and a member of the Chancery Club of Los Angeles and the Pacific Council on International Policy.
Mr. Cachán earned his A.B. from Harvard University (magna cum laude) and his J.D. from Harvard Law School (cum laude). He was a Fulbright Fellow in Spain before enrolling in law school. Prior to beginning private practice, Mr. Cachán served as law clerk to the Hon. Arthur L. Alarcón of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A fluent Spanish speaker, he is the son of Cuban exiles.