Madhu Pocha, Managing Partner of O’Melveny’s Century City office, tackles litigation across a broad range of industries and legal disciplines as a member of the firm’s renowned trial practice. During his career, Madhu has defended companies and individuals facing novel and complex problems. Recent matters include a constellation of class actions concerning the cleanup of nuclear waste at the former Hunters Point Naval Base in San Francisco to restructuring litigation on behalf of the Government of Puerto Rico—the first time a US territory has gone through bankruptcy.
Madhu has led teams at all stages of litigation, including evidentiary hearings and trials. Recent wins include a jury verdict for American Airlines in a monopolization antitrust case in the Southern District of New York, and the successful restructuring of the majority of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s debt, including tens of billions in pension obligations held by the island’s main public employee retirement system.
Honors & Awards
- Named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s list of “Minority Leaders of Influence: Attorneys” (2021)
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow (2020)
- Recognized as a Southern California “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers as published in Los Angeles magazine (2018)
Admissions
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Education
- Columbia University, J.D.: James Kent Scholar; Executive Editor, Columbia Human Rights Law Review
- Yale University, B.A., Literature: magna cum laude; Calabresi Writing Prize; DeForest Oratory Prize
Professional Activities
Member
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers
- KCRW, Board Member
- Western Center on Law and Poverty, Advisory Board Member (2018-present)
- Feast, Board Member
- Minds Matter of Los Angeles, Board Member (2019-present)
