Scott S. Humphreys is a versatile litigator who regularly handles complex business, product liability, and intellectual property disputes for his clients and co-leads the firm's Cannabis, Psychedelics, and Emerging Therapies Team. Based in Los Angeles, Scott also has litigated high-profile media and entertainment matters. While his practice is centered in California state and federal courts, he also litigates cases nationally.
Scott understands the unique legal and business issues that in-house counsel face every day. He currently serves as outside general counsel to AJNA BioSciences, a biotech startup in the emerging psychedelic industry, where he was part of the founding team as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. In that role, he handled all company legal matters, including corporate governance; contract drafting and negotiations; IP protection; labor and employment issues; regulatory matters; international transactions; and fundraising and preparing the company for a potential IPO.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Complex Commercial Litigation. Represented clients in a variety of complex matters, including a $1 billion-case involving a defunct car racing enterprise, a 1,000-plus-plaintiff toxic tort action, a trade secret case involving a space rocket startup, and complex franchisee litigation.
- Toxic Tort and Products Liability. Defended Fortune 500 companies and smaller clients in various product liability cases, including Proposition 65 claims. Representative clients for toxic tort cases include ExxonMobil, E.I. du Pont de Nemours, and Corteva Agriscience. Representative clients for products liability cases include DuPont, Subaru of America, and BMW of North America.
- Intellectual Property. Defended and prosecuted a wide variety of intellectual property cases, including trade secret, false advertising, unfair competition, trademark, and copyright infringement matters. Representative clients include Allstate Insurance, Dun & Bradstreet, The Daily Mail, and the Irvine Company.
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Scott maintains an active pro bono docket. He has handled cases for the National Conference of Black Mayors, prosecuted a federal civil rights action against a city police department, represented undocumented immigrants in obtaining U-Visas reserved for victims of criminal activity, and prosecuted claims on behalf of a tenant who was wrongfully evicted from rent-controlled housing.
Judicial Clerkships
Hon. Ronald E. Nehring, Utah Supreme Court, 2010-2011
Professional Activities
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Ballard Spahr Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council
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Credentials
Education
University of Colorado Law School (J.D. 2009)
University of Colorado Law Review
Public Service Pledge Recipient
University of San Diego (B.A. summa cum laude, 2004)
Member, Phi Beta Kappa
Admissions
California
Colorado
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
District of California, Central District
District of California, Eastern District
District of California, Northern District
District of California, Southern District
District of Colorado