Dawn Sestito

Companies and educational institutions trust Dawn Sestito as their go-to outside counsel, relying on her to guide them through all manner of sensitive disputes, from arbitrations and regulatory inquiries to class-action claims and bet-the-company litigation. Drawing on her own wide-ranging commercial litigation experience and leveraging the expertise of O’Melveny specialists, Dawn builds the right teams and brings the right resources to achieve the best outcomes for clients across a range of industries.

As a member of the Firm’s Colleges & Universities practice, Dawn has extensive experience counseling and defending educational institutions, including in matters involving Title IX, Clery, and allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Dawn also represents some of the world’s largest companies, defending them against claims including product mislabeling, breach of contract, employment discrimination, and public nuisance—an emerging legal battleground where she has extensive experience. The Daily Journal recognized Dawn’s success representing clients in matters ranging from patent disputes to major environmental litigation, honoring her as one of California’s “Top 20 under 40” attorneys in 2015.

A respected leader within the firm, Dawn serves as Managing Partner of O’Melveny’s Los Angeles office. She previously served in several other leadership roles, including as the firm’s Southern California Litigation Regional Head, as head of the Associate and Counsel Review Committee, and as a member of the Partner Compensation Committee.

• Representing several colleges and universities facing Title IX and Clery Act sexual assault issues, including investigations and audits by US Department of Education as well as litigation brought by students, former students, and employees
• Secured dismissal of more than a dozen putative class actions and other claims asserted against a national retail grocery chain, including claims involving consumer protection, Proposition 65, unfair competition, breach of contract, and interference with contractual and prospective economic relations; other cases ongoing
• Defeated class certification for major international oil and gas company in ongoing litigation stemming from accidental release at refinery
• Won summary judgment in putative antitrust class action for major international oil and gas company
• Representing companies across a range of industries on consumer-protection, environmental, employment, and antitrust investigations by state agencies, including the attorneys general of California and other states
• Represented major international oil and gas company in a contract dispute with a private party; secured favorable verdict after bench-trial, including attorneys’ fees and spoliation sanctions; decision upheld on appeal by state supreme court and Ninth Circuit
• Represented major international oil and gas company in a dispute with state over oil and gas development; defended client in two administrative hearings, two successful state court appeals, an appeal to state supreme court, and multiple separate related lawsuits; cases ultimately settled
• Represented major international oil and gas company in litigation with federal and state governments over natural resource damages resulting from an oil spill; governments ultimately abandoned request to reopen amount of damages