Overview
Jonathan S. Barrera is an associate in Glaser Weil’s Litigation Department, where he brings a strong foundation in complex commercial disputes and a track record of success in high-stakes litigation. He has experience representing clients in state and federal courts across the country, including California, New York, Texas and Florida, among many others.
Before joining Glaser Weil, Jonathan practiced at an Am Law 50 firm, where he served as lead counsel on a wide range of matters involving breach of contract/bad faith, fraud, consumer protection and ERISA claims. His litigation experience includes drafting and arguing dispositive motions, managing discovery, taking depositions and navigating procedural challenges in multi-jurisdictional cases. He has also successfully represented clients in arbitration and appellate matters, including a Ninth Circuit victory in a multimillion-dollar contract and fraud case. Jonathan’s background also includes significant work in healthcare-related litigation.
Jonathan’s legal experience also includes several impactful roles in the public sector and judiciary. He served as a judicial extern to the Honorable John A. Kronstadt of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, where he researched federal legal standards and assisted in drafting and editing court orders. As a certified law student with Loyola Law School’s Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic, he gained courtroom experience and contributed to appellate briefing in complex criminal matters. Jonathan also clerked in the Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, where he researched federal sentencing issues and constitutional claims. Earlier in his career, he held clerkships with the Crimes Against Peace Officers Section of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and an internship with the Los Angeles Superior Court, deepening his understanding of trial advocacy and criminal procedure.
A committed advocate for justice, Jonathan has a robust pro bono practice. He was honored with a CLAY Award from the Daily Journal for his work in an immigration case in which he secured his client a green card. In a separate matter, he helped his pro bono client secure a substantial federal settlement in a civil rights matter regarding an incident in which the client nearly lost his life.
Jonathan earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School, where he was a member of the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review and the Willem C. Vis East Moot Court team and was inducted into the St. Thomas More Law Honor Society. He holds a B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice from California State University, Northridge. He is fluent in Spanish.
Results
Jonathan’s notable experience includes his representation of:
- A food product manufacturer in a $5 million breach of contract and fraud suit; secured dismissal, affirmed on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.*
- A business in a six-figure breach of contract arbitration; obtained summary judgment in favor of the client.*
- A South American lumber distributor in a contract and fraud dispute; served as lead attorney, conducted all written and oral communications in Spanish and performed legal research on personal jurisdiction, contract and tort law.*
- A health insurance company in a six-figure ERISA suit; prevailed at summary judgment.*
- A health insurance company in two contract disputes; both suits voluntarily dismissed following motions to dismiss.*
- A pro bono client in a green card denial immigration case; recognized with a CLAY Award by the Daily Journal.*
*Denotes prior firm experience
Insights
News
Profiled, “Reformed and Ready to Fight ‘Rubber Stamp’ Denial of Lawful Residency,” Daily Journal, June 6, 2024.
Thought Leadership
Author, AB 32 is a Ban: California Takes the Right Approach But Must Still Take Further Action Against For-Profit Corporations in our Prison System, 55 Loy. L.A. L. Rev. 145 (2022).
Judicial Roles and Clerkships
Judicial Extern to the Honorable John A. Kronstadt, United States District Court for the Central District of California, 2021
Law Clerk, Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, 2020
Law Clerk, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, 2019
Judicial Intern, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2017
Services
Education
Loyola University Los Angeles School of Law, J.D., 2021
California State University, Northridge, B.A., 2017
Admissions
- California
Languages
- Spanish
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