John Stanley

A skilled litigator and trusted advocate, Mr. Stanley has a proven track record of securing favorable outcomes in high-stakes litigation. His practice focuses on catastrophic personal injury cases and complex business disputes, where he tenaciously represents individuals, businesses, and nonprofit entities facing significant legal challenges.

Recently named a 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, Mr. Stanley is recognized for his dedication to his craft and the high regard in which he is held by his peers. Over the past year, he has secured multiple successful settlements, including obtaining $5 million for a personal injury plaintiff in a case of disputed liability—demonstrating his ability to navigate complex legal matters and deliver outstanding results.

After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego, Mr. Stanley obtained his juris doctor from Pepperdine Law School, where he also received a certificate in dispute resolution from the prestigious Straus Institute. He served on the staff of the Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary and was published in its pages. During law school, he gained invaluable experience as an extern for federal district judge Valerie Baker-Fairbank and as an intern at the U.S. Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, where he assisted with the Division’s legal challenge of a corporate merger. Following law school, he deepened his insight into California civil practice while working in the chambers of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stuart Rice.

Before joining Callahan & Blaine, Mr. Stanley practiced at a large regional firm’s Irvine office, where he defended Fortune 500 companies in high-profile product liability and other complex litigation matters spanning multiple jurisdictions. His experience includes handling shareholder derivative actions, breach of fiduciary duty claims, contract disputes, and high-value personal injury and wrongful death cases. His strategic litigation skills have led to consistent positive resolutions, including large settlements or plaintiffs and case dismissals and settlements that significantly mitigate defendant clients’ exposure.

Some of his notable successes include:

• Obtaining summary judgment and, through strategic discovery enforcement, recovering attorneys’ fees for a construction industry client in a multi-plaintiff vehicle collision case, eliminating all liability for the corporate defendant.
• Defeating summary judgment and securing a favorable settlement for a small business client sued by a much larger competitor in a case that threatened the company’s survival.
• Using precise motion practice and discovery timing to force the voluntary dismissal of a breach of contract lawsuit against an energy industry client facing substantial exposure.
• Successfully resolving high-profile cases of a sensitive nature for a large, publicly traded company facing public and regulatory scrutiny.

Mr. Stanley served as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps from 2005 to 2009, deploying to Iraq and throughout the Pacific. He brings his sense of duty, discipline, and strategic mindset to every case, ensuring his clients receive uncompromising representation in their most critical legal battles.