Biography
James Azadian is a Member in Dykema's Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. offices, and serves as the co-leader of the firm’s Appellate and Critical Motions Practice. Professor Azadian has represented clients in hundreds of appeals and writ proceedings in a wide spectrum of cases, presenting over 70 oral arguments in state and federal appellate courts across the country. With a strong reputation for creativity and success in cutting-edge and high-profile appellate litigation, he is sought after by corporate clients throughout the nation to take the lead in cases that are expected to have an immense impact on the law. Providing strategic consultation in high stakes cases at all stages of litigation, Professor Azadian frequently serves as embedded appellate counsel, assisting pre-trial and trial teams to secure victory in the trial court and setting up the case for success on appeal. He was appointed by the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit to serve as the current Chair of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Board. The Chief Judge also appointed Professor Azadian to serve as the Chair of the Ninth Circuit Appellate Lawyer Representatives and the Law Clerk Resource Working Group. He earlier served two terms as a member of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Committee on Rules of Practice and Internal Operating Procedures. Professor Azadian is widely published and frequently cited as a leading authority on appellate advocacy. He has served as the principal editor and contributing author of the Ninth Circuit’s Appellate Lawyers’ Practice Guide. Following law school, Professor Azadian served as a law clerk to Ninth Circuit Judge Consuelo Maria Callahan and District Judge Ricardo Manuel Urbina of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He joined Pepperdine as an adjunct professor in 2009, when he co-taught an appellate advocacy course with Dean Kenneth Starr. Professor Azadian has also taught courses in Law and Economics at UCLA, the Supreme Court Practicum at Northwestern University School of Law, and Legal Ethics at USC. Throughout his career, Professor Azadian has received numerous professional accolades. In the past few years, The Daily Journal recognized him as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Attorneys in California. He was also recognized as one of Pepperdine University's inaugural 40 Under 40 Honorees. The American Lawyer named Professor Azadian as a West Trailblazer, recognizing that he has “moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Los Angeles Business Journal named Professor Azadian as a Leader of Influence. And he is nationally recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America®.