Rex S. Heinke, a seasoned appellate litigator, has briefed hundreds of appeals, writs and substantive trial court motions in nearly every facet of civil law. He has made more than 150 appellate arguments in federal and state courts throughout the country. These cases have involved a wide range of federal and state issues.
Rex is regularly called upon to defend clients in some of their most hotly contested matters, often requiring a constant adjustment of strategies and arguments to respond to evolving interpretations of the law. He has extensive experience before the California Supreme Court, the California Courts of Appeal and the 9th Circuit as well as other federal circuit and state supreme courts.
He has served as lead counsel in numerous complex litigations before the nation’s highest courts, playing a significant role in some of the most closely watched cases and landmark decisions that have affected businesses across the country.
Rex has also served as lead trial and appellate counsel on behalf of newspapers, magazines, television networks, motion picture studios, websites, and entertainment production and distribution companies in First Amendment, intellectual property, entertainment, media, and Internet disputes.
He has lectured on media, entertainment, Internet, intellectual property, advertising, constitutional, and appellate law for programs presented by many professional and educational organizations, and he has also written numerous articles on these issues. He is the author of Media Law (BNA).
Experience:
- More than 150 appellate arguments in federal and state courts throughout the country.
- Co-head of Akin Gump’s nationally-renowned Supreme Court and Appellate practice.
Representative Work:
- Represented a large retail company in the New York Court of Appeals and the 2nd Circuit in challenges to tipping policies; summary judgment for client was affirmed on all claims. Also obtained a reversal of a more than $100 million judgment against the same company for alleged tipping violations.
- Represented a major insurance company in the California Supreme Court and the 9th Circuit securing rulings that there was no insurance coverage because no claim for disparagement was pleaded.
- Represented one of the world’s leading casual dining restaurant companies, in a wage-and-hour class action. In a long-anticipated ruling that resolved the legal standards to be applied to California meal period and rest break class actions, the California Supreme Court ruled that employers must provide employees with meal breaks, but are not obligated to ensure that they do no work during such breaks. For more information about this landmark case, see here.
- Represented a large accounting firm in successful 2nd Circuit and 9th Circuit dismissals of class action claims and orders compelling arbitration of the plaintiff’s individual claims challenging classification of accountants.
- Represented a major insurance company in the 7th Circuit obtaining a complete reversal of a $27 million judgment for defamation and violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
- Represented a major transit authority in constitutional challenges to its restrictions on advertising on its buses and trains, defeating four TRO’s/preliminary injunctions.
Affiliations:
- Past Member, Task Force on Multijurisdictional Practice, California Supreme Court.
- Past Member, Board of Governors, California State Bar.
- Past President, Los Angeles County Bar Association.
- Member, Executive Committee, Litigation Section, California Lawyers Association.
- Member, Board of Directors, Bet Tzedek.
- Member, Board of Directors, Children’s Law Center.
- Member, Board of Directors, Topsy Foundation.
- Past Member, California Judicial Council.
- Past Member, Task Force on Judicial Nominees and Evaluation Committee, California State Bar.
Education:
- B.A., University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1971
- J.D., Columbia Law School, 1975
Clerkships:
- U.S.D.C., Eastern District of Louisiana
Bar Admissions:
- California
Cost
Rate : $$$