Waymaker LLP

Offices: Los Angeles

One of the nation’s premiere litigation and appellate boutiques, Waymaker excels at representing dynamic, sector-leading companies and entrepreneurs in complex commercial litigation, especially when the issues involve innovative or disruptive technology. Chambers-ranked in Commercial Litigation and FinTech (Band 1), the firm is lead counsel in some of the nation’s most important financial technology matters (often confidential) and federal prosecutions. The Los Angeles-based firm, honored by Daily Journal as one of California’s Top Boutiques in 2019, has a proven track record of helping innovators navigate complex and evolving legal frameworks. The firm’s attorneys are routinely recognized as industry leaders in FinTech, complex litigation, intellectual property and entertainment litigation, regulatory enforcement investigations, and white collar criminal defense.

Waymaker has demonstrated considerable success in complex technology cases, in matters on the cutting-edge of FinTech, blockchain, and cryptocurrency, in matters brought by federal authorities against those involved in the digital economy, as well as matters involving intellectual property and entertainment law. Waymaker represents Fortune 500 companies, fast-growing start-ups, entrepreneurs, and high-net worth individuals. Among its high-profile clients are the Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen, the digital currency exchange Kraken, and former Major League Baseball star Yasiel Puig.

At the appellate level, Co-Founding Partner Ryan Baker has argued and won precedent-setting cases ranging from California’s anti-SLAPP provision to First Amendment free speech to RICO and the interpretation of Copyright statutes related to television over the internet. Four years ago, the California Supreme Court unanimously decidedFilm.com Inc. v. Double-Verify Inc., agreeing with Baker and Managing Partner Scott Malzahn, representing FilmOn, that the state’s anti-SLAPP statute requires that courts consider the commercial context of speech in determining whether a defendant’s speech is protected.

Twice selected a Law360 MVP in FinTech and Chambers-ranked in FinTech Band 1, Partner Brian Klein was named by Daily Journal one of the Top 100 Lawyers in California 2022, while Ryan Baker has twice been named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Business Journal. With a practice focusing on commercial litigation and FinTech matters, Scott Malzahn, a member of the trialteam in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, which struck down California’s ban on same-sex marriage, is president of the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, Equality California. Partner Keri Curtis Axel practices white-collar criminal and government enforcement defense and is a former federal prosecutor and SEC enforcement attorney. Co-Founding Partner Jaime Marquart frequently brings suit against some of the nation’s largest corporations and has obtained favorable confidential settlements against some of the largest telecommunications and banking institutions in the world. Admitted to practice in New York and California, Teresa Huggins represents clients in litigation in both state and federal trial and appellate courts, with an emphasis on intellectual property and FinTech matters. Donald Pepperman has broad experience in antitrust, intellectual property, and a wide array of class actions. Four of the firm’s seven partners are graduates of Harvard Law School.

Founded 17 years ago as Baker Marquart, the firm rebranded as Waymaker at the beginning of 2021, reflecting the firm’s diversity and inclusion.