Jonathan E. Sommer is a partner at Lubin Olson & Niewiadomski LLP in San Francisco, California, where he handles complex matters such as anti-SLAPP motions, securities fraud, business torts and contract disputes. In addition, he has taken on cases involving partnership disputes, trade secret theft, mergers and acquisitions, accounting malpractice, patent licensing, unfair competition and insurance coverage, as well as real estate issues that pertain to land use and landlord-tenant disputes.

Mr. Sommer graduated cum laude from Williams College in 1992 with his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and later enrolled at The University of Texas School of Law. During his time in law school, he was the associate editor of the Texas Law Review and part of the Order of the Coif. He received his Juris Doctor with honors in 1997. The same year, he became licensed to practice in Texas, and later in California. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

With over 25 years of experience, Mr. Sommer is an adept and diligent attorney who adapts well to any changing situation. He is judicious when representing his clients, anticipating and preparing them for whatever development may arise. He is also no stranger to high-pressure environments, as he has gone up against some of the biggest hedge fund and investment banks in the world, with a transcript of his deposition of a hedge fund manager published in its entirety in The New York Times.

In a landmark ruling, Mr. Sommer represented Overstock.com, alleging that investment banking companies Merrill and Goldman Sachs engaged in market manipulation by intentionally naked short selling his client’s stock. He was able to obtain a reversal of order granting summary judgement against Merrill, and later settled for $20 million.