Mendoza, Jose Luis

John P. McNicholas is a founding partner of McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, Los Angeles, California.  He counts among his clients the Vatican, Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers, former U.S. Congressman Andrew J. Hinshaw, Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, former L.A. Dodger pitcher, Carlos Lopez and the late movie mogul, King Vidor.

McNicholas received a bachelor's degree in history from U.C.L.A in 1958 and attended Loyola Law School in Los Angeles (1958-1962) before entering private practice in 1963.

McNicholas, a recognized leader of the trial bar since 1963, counts more than 150 jury verdicts and 20 reported appellate decisions. He has won jury verdicts and settlements in copyright infringement, breach of contract, medical malpractice, pharmaceutical, and aviation cases.

A Fellow of the American College Trial Lawyers (admission by invitation only) and a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (also by invitation only), McNicholas also holds the rank of Diplomate in the American Board of Trial Advocates and served as President of the Los Angeles Chapter in 1995.  That same year he also received the chapter's first Civility Award.  He is certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in civil trial advocacy (National Institute of Trial Advocacy).

McNicholas served as Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (1991-1997).  In 2001, he received the school's prestigious Board of Governor's Award for outstanding contributions to society, the practice of law, and service to Loyola Law School.  He has served on its Board of Overseers since 2008.  In 2009 he received honorary membership in Loyola Law School's chapter of the Order of the Coif, the national legal honor society.

In 2002, he was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California by the Los Angeles Daily Journal.  That same year, the Los Angeles City Council presented McNicholas & McNicholas with a citation for the firm's many contributions to the City of Los Angeles.  Since 2005, Los Angeles Magazine annually has named him as one of its Super Lawyers in Southern California, and as one of the Top 100 Plaintiff's Lawyers, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.  Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition has named him to its list of the top attorneys in business litigation since 2008.

McNicholas served on the State Bar Judicial Nominees Evaluation ("Jenny") Commission (1999-2002), the Review Committee of the Jenny Commission (2005-2008) and its chair (2007-2008), the Board of Governors (2005-2008), Vice President of the State Bar (2007-2008), and currently the Committee of Bar Examiners, which he chairs.  He also sits frequently as a temporary judge in Los Angeles Superior Court.  McNicholas was also Lawyer Representative on the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (1989-1992).

McNicholas is a frequent lecturer and panelist on litigation, procedure, evidence and related trial subjects for programs sponsored by The State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and other trial bar associations.