Biography

As a trial lawyer, Tom Mayhew has represented a broad range of clients in every form of high-stakes dispute, in federal and state courts, domestic and international arbitrations, SEC administrative proceedings, and criminal cases.

Tom’s clients hire him for judgment and creativity, not because he specializes in any one area of business litigation. He becomes a specialist in the facts and law of their particular situation, and then leverages his particular strengths in strategy and pragmatic problem-solving, and coming up with the best solution for a client’s current issue or case, rather than applying a playbook or cookie-cutter approach. His intellectual curiosity means he loves learning the complexities of different business contexts so that he can crystallize and teach the concepts to decision-makers in language that is simple, relatable, and understandable.

Tom represents a number of leading consumer brands, ranging from bottled water to cosmetics to appliances to premium chocolate, wine, and alcoholic beverages. He serves as lead counsel in consumer class action litigation across the country – especially in California, New Jersey, and New York, where so many of these cases are brought – and has litigated over 30 class actions involving claims of false advertising or labeling, pricing/antitrust violations, and other allegedly “unfair’ and “unlawful” business practices.  When the situation requires it, he is as comfortable on offense as defense, representing companies in business-vs.-business claims involving product or technology development, supply chain disruption, and co-manufacturing problems, or in investment or internal corporate disputes and interactions with regulators.

Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2016-2023)
  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star (National, 2023), California - Litigation Star (2012-2023)
  • Super Lawyers, Northern California (2006, 2008, 2011-2018)

Memberships and Affiliations

  • President, Northern California Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (2017)

Firm Highlights

Publication

Trends Guest Editorial: Wildfires and Wineries

Link to the article in Gradient's Trends  Spring 2023 newsletter. Recurring wildfires in the Napa and Sonoma Counties of California have created a set of niche problems for the surrounding wineries, on top of...

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News

Farella Braun + Martel Earns Mansfield Certification Plus Status

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News

Patrick Loi Selected to MCCA Sources of Success Program

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Publication

Nonprofit Basics: Meeting Minutes Best Practices

Welcome to  EO Radio Show – Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . This episode focuses on documenting decisions made at meetings of a nonprofit organization's board of directors or trustees. While everyone who attends a...

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Event

Bisnow: San Francisco State of the Market

At Bisnow's San Francisco State of the Market event, Ashley Breakfield will moderate the panel "Revitalizing San Francisco: Reconfiguring the city for a hybrid world, reimagining downtown, and uplifting the economy." Click  here  for more information and to...

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Publication

Office-to-Housing Conversion: State and Local Efforts to Revitalize the Downtown

Originally published in The Registry . As office vacancies soar in traditional downtown areas like San Francisco’s Financial District, state and local officials are moving quickly to adopt incentives they hope will bring people...

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Publication

Uncorking Accessibility: How Winery Websites Can Meet ADA Compliance Standards

Vanessa Ing and Kelsey Mollura discuss "Uncorking Accessibility: How Winery Websites Can Meet ADA Compliance Standards." The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities...

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News

Big Tech Breathes Sigh of Relief After Justices' Terror Rulings

Erik Olson spoke to Law360 for the article "Big Tech Breathes Sigh of Relief After Justices' Terror Rulings," covering the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to review whether Section 230 insulates online platforms from...

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News

Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Farella Braun + Martel Lawyers, Practices

Farella Braun + Martel is pleased to announce that Chambers USA has recognized 16 lawyers and six practice areas in the legal directory’s 2023 edition. Individual California and Western U.S. Rankings: Sarah Bell &ndash...

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Publication

Nonprofit Basics: Federal Tax Filing Deadlines and Penalties

Welcome to  EO Radio Show – Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . This episode focuses on the importance of meeting the federal tax filing deadlines that apply to charitable organizations. Most charitable organizations that are...

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