BCLP Expands Commercial Disputes Practice with New Partner in LA Office

Global law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) today announced that Jean-Claude “J.C.” André has joined the firm as a partner within the Commercial Disputes Practice Group, residing in the firm’s Los Angeles office. André will co-lead the firm’s Appellate & Supreme Court Group alongside St. Louis Partner Barbara Smith.

André joins from Sidley, where he was the West Coast head of the firm’s national Supreme Court & Appellate Practice. He has experience with numerous high-profile matters addressing complex constitutional questions, statutory and regulatory interpretation, jurisdictional concerns, preemption, class-certification, sovereign immunity and discretionary appellate review.

André has personally briefed or argued hundreds of distinct appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, various U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, the California Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeal. This includes dozens of briefs and three arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, and more than 100 briefs and 40 arguments before the Ninth Circuit. He is a frequent author, presenter and teacher on matters involving the Supreme Court and appellate advocacy.

Prior to working at Sidley, André served as an assistant United States attorney and as the appellate chief at the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of California, which is the country’s largest federal district.

“I look forward to joining BCLP’s Commercial Disputes Group, and in particular to leading the Appellate & Supreme Court Group with Barbara,” André said. “The firm’s global scope and connectivity benefit clients, and I am excited for this opportunity.”

“J.C.’s background and experience will be a huge asset to our clients. We are pleased to welcome him to the firm,” said Partner Lee Marshall, global department leader of the Litigation & Investigations Practice. “Our national Appellate Practice is an important part of our platform and we are excited to see it grow under J.C. and Barbara’s leadership.”

“We are happy to welcome J.C. to our firm,” Smith said. “His experience will not only enhance our growing Appellate Practice, it will bolster our Commercial Disputes Practice overall. His experience with complex legal issues, coupled with his professional leadership in this area, will be an excellent addition to our team and provide additional depth for our clients in important appellate matters.”