Giles Judd
Senior Managing Associate
- Commercial Litigation and Disputes
- Consumer Class Actions
- Product Liability and Mass Torts
- State Attorneys General and Local Enforcement
Biography
GILES JUDD focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, defending clients in multidistrict litigation, class actions, product-related disputes, consumer protection matters, business torts, and regulatory/compliance issues in both state and federal courts. He has particularly deep experience working with scientific and medical experts in high-stakes matters, collaborating with specialists in environmental fate and transport, chemistry, toxicology, and epidemiology, as well as physician experts across key clinical disciplines.
Giles advises clients on all phases of litigation strategy, from expert identification and retention through deposition and trial preparation, and is skilled at translating complex technical and scientific records into clear, evidence-based themes that inform client decision-making and overarching risk narratives. His work also includes pre-litigation counseling, including domestic and cross-border product safety incident assessment and regulatory intake.
Before joining Sidley, Giles served as an extern for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California Appellate Division, assisting in preparing appeals for Ninth Circuit review and supporting trial work, and as a law clerk with the Contra Costa County Office of the Public Defender. Prior to law school, he taught at a Title I high school in Metro Atlanta. Giles is also an accomplished composer and musician who has toured internationally.
Giles advises clients on all phases of litigation strategy, from expert identification and retention through deposition and trial preparation, and is skilled at translating complex technical and scientific records into clear, evidence-based themes that inform client decision-making and overarching risk narratives. His work also includes pre-litigation counseling, including domestic and cross-border product safety incident assessment and regulatory intake.
Before joining Sidley, Giles served as an extern for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California Appellate Division, assisting in preparing appeals for Ninth Circuit review and supporting trial work, and as a law clerk with the Contra Costa County Office of the Public Defender. Prior to law school, he taught at a Title I high school in Metro Atlanta. Giles is also an accomplished composer and musician who has toured internationally.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Defending a chemical company in national multidistrict litigation alleging exposure and environmental contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” including expert coordination and development.
- Represented a major media services provider in defense of a high-value dispute involving contract performance and carriage obligations, defeating an early injunctive motion, securing significant anti-SLAPP dismissals, and shaping litigation strategy that ultimately led to voluntary dismissal without substantive production of confidential materials.
- Defended a life insurance company in three putative class actions alleging breach of contract and other claims arising out of cost of insurance provisions in insureds’ policies.
- Defended a life insurance company against RICO, breach of contract, fraud, and state law unfair competition allegations in a nationwide class action involving the design, marketing, and sale of fixed index annuities, and successfully obtained dismissal.
- Obtained settlement for a large debt collection agency in a consumer protection action brought by the Washington state attorney general over purported attempts to settle on time-barred debts.
- Defended two corporate entities against a 91-count indictment for alleged environmental crimes, resulting in the dismissal of a number of counts.
- Defended a large telecommunications corporation against an Arizona-based financing company alleging breach of contract and breach of guaranty agreements.
- Represented a large apparel company in a number of intellectual property disputes, both in federal court and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, to protect its marks against infringement and dilution.
Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.
Community Involvement
Membership & Activities
- Member, San Diego County Bar Association
- Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Los Angeles
- Member, American Bar Association
Pro Bono
- Representing a nonprofit charter school and its displaced students and families in a landlord-tenant lease dispute following one of the worst natural disasters in California history, the 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County.
- Assisted the ACLU of Louisiana in its Justice Lab initiative, which provides free civil representation for victims of alleged police brutality and misconduct.
- Successfully defended a tenant in an unlawful detainer dispute which was improperly motivated by the tenant’s membership in a protected class.
Credentials
Admissions & Certifications
- U.S. District Court, E.D. of California
- U.S. District Court, N.D. of California
- U.S. District Court, C.D. of California
- U.S. District Court, S.D. of California
- California
Education
- UCLA School of Law, J.D., 2017, cum laude
- Georgia State University, M.A., 2009, summa cum laude
- Oglethorpe University, B.A., 1999, summa cum laude