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 (2016-2024)
  • 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

Copyright Law for Influencers and Brands: How Content Creators and Companies Hiring Them Can Navigate Copyright Law for a Successful Partnership

In recent years, the advent of the social media “influencer” has revolutionized advertising. Companies often partner with influencers to market their products, hoping to tap into the influencer’s devoted audience. Likewise, influencers create certain content...

Read More
News

Burdened by Debt, Savvy SF Office Owners Get Creative

Restructuring, insolvency, and creditors rights partner Gary Kaplan provided expert commentary in The San Francisco Standard article, "Burdened by Debt, Savvy SF Office Owners Get Creative." In the article, Gary explained that in most cases...

Read More
News

JPMorgan Chase Accuses TransUnion of Stealing 'Trade Secrets'

Intellectual property practice chair Eugene Mar provided expert commentary to American Banker for the article "JPMorgan Chase Accuses TransUnion of Stealing 'Trade Secrets'." In the article, he said: "By filing this as a trade...

Read More
Publication

New PFAS Federal Drinking Water Standards Create Major Liability and Litigation Risk

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has released a final regulation setting individual drinking water maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for five per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These MCLs are incredibly stringent due to EPA’s stated concerns...

Read More
News

Farella Braun + Martel Earns San Francisco Green Business Recertification

Read More
Publication

Court Reinstates CPPA Enforcement Authority and Confirms No Delay Necessary for Enforcement of Future CCPA Regulations

A recent appellate decision has made clear that the regulations promulgated under California’s groundbreaking consumer privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)), are ripe...

Read More
Publication

California Regulation of Charitable Fundraising Platforms: Part I - Definitions

Welcome to  EO Radio Show - Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . In episode 76, I introduce the provisions of California's Charitable Fundraising Platforms law (Gov. Code, § 12599.9). These rules are relevant to all...

Read More
Event

Unplugged: The Renewable Energy Speaker Series - The IRA's Environmental Justice Incentive Programs

Join Farella Braun + Martel and the Environmental Law Institute for the relaunch Unplugged: The Renewable Energy Speaker Series with Farella’s John Ugai and guest speakers Miana Campbell with U.S. Department of Energy, Maria Castillo with...

Read More
News

Farella Awards 2024 Diversity Scholarships to Bay Area Law Students

Farella Braun + Martel’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Belonging Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2024 Diversity Scholarship grants totaling $45,000 to Bay Area first-year law students Marcus Albino, Saamia Haqiq...

Read More
Publication

Where Are We Now, Following Maui County, Sackett, and the Latest EPA Guidance?

The last few years have seen significant developments in our understanding of the reach of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). (Indeed, “reach” here can be interpreted literally and figuratively.) The two issues plaguing...

Read More