Jonathan E. Hembree

Who says that you can’t be a young, experienced lawyer? What Jonathan lacks in years, he more than makes up for in experience. Prior to joining RW, Jonathan was a Reserve Deputy City Attorney in the criminal division of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, where he tried numerous cases to verdict. His experience in the City Attorney’s office taught him not only how to be quick on his feet, but also how to artfully navigate jury trials.

And Jonathan’s unique experience extends well beyond the courtroom. Not many lawyers can say that they drive a food bank truck in their spare time, but Jonathan’s desire to serve his community has literally put him behind the wheel for M.E.N.D., an organization that distributes more than a quarter of a million pounds of food a month to Los Angeles residents in need. Jonathan is a welcome addition to the Rose Walker trial team.

Professional Affiliations

  • State Bar of California
  • American Bar Association

Representative Experience

  • Julian v. US Airways, Inc.
    Drafted and won a favorable summary judgment in this aviation, multiple cause-of-action tort case in California state court based on the federal treaty, known as the "Montreal Convention."
  • Fletcher v. American Airports Corporation, et al.
    Obtained dismissal with attorney’s fees via Anti-SLAPP motion in this breach of contract eviction case in California state court.
  • Mr. Hembree has taken multiple jury trials to verdict during his previous employment with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division.
  • Mr. Hembree gained significant appellate experience while in law school clerking for Presiding Justice Joan Dempsey Klein of the California Court of Appeal, Second Division and interning with the California Attorney General’s Office.

Admitted to Practice

  • All courts in the state of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Education

  • University of California Davis School of Law, J.D., 2010
  • University of California Los Angeles, B.A., English, 2006

Publications

  • During Mr. Hembree’s clerkship with the California Court of Appeal he had the opportunity to heavily contribute to the research and drafting of the published opinion Etheridge v. Reins International California, Inc. (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 908, which involved interpretation of California Labor law on the practice of restaurant "tip pooling," including legislative history analysis and consideration of amicus briefing.


Community Involvement

  • Mr. Hembree has been a volunteer with M.E.N.D., a Los Angeles food bank charity, driving a truck route to pick up food donations from local supermarkets for the organization every weekend since 2010.