Biography
Bo Pearl is a Chambers-ranked, first-chair trial partner in Weil’s Complex Commercial Litigation practice and a member of the Firm’s Entertainment, Sports and Media practice, based in Los Angeles. A generalist litigator with an impressive winning record in high-stakes litigations, Bo is nationally recognized for his expertise in antitrust, First Amendment, intellectual property, and entertainment matters. He regularly leads large trial teams in his clients’ most important disputes and has secured many substantial nine-figure victories over the course of his nearly 30-year career.
A wide range of distinguished clients regularly call on Bo to secure favorable outcomes in high-profile matters. From helping obtain a $1.25 billion monopolization settlement for Advanced Micro Devices, quickly undoing a bet-the-business federal trade secret injunction for a fintech provider, and getting Grammy-nominated star Kesha back to work in the midst of long-running litigation with Dr. Luke, Bo’s breadth of expertise and national reputation are clear.
These and many other of his notable victories have generated significant headlines in the legal and business press. For example, in 2024, on the eve of trial, Bo led his team to dismissal of two certified class monopolization class actions brought against Align Technology (makers of Invisalign) in an important case involving the right of firms to interoperate with commercial partners of their choosing. The high profile, zero-dollar defense judgment netted Bo and his team The American Lawyer “Litigator of the Week” runner-up honors. The Recorder hailed him as a “Giantslayer” for his work in the Kesha/Dr. Luke litigation. In 2021, The American Lawyer and Law360 recognized Bo for saving a fintech provider from a devastating preliminary injunction that threatened its viability, a complete turnaround victory that also garnered “Top Defense Verdict” honors by the Daily Journal. Bo also is regularly included in the prestigious Variety Legal Impact Report, which lists the most influential entertainment attorneys in the country.
Representative Experience*
Bo has led large teams of lawyers in industry-transformative litigation, including:
Technology
As noted earlier, in 2024, Bo won dismissal of two certified class monopolization class actions against Align Technology on the eve of trial in a significant case implicating interoperability rights.
Bo crafted and executed a comprehensive antitrust litigation and regulatory strategy that propelled Advanced Micro Devices’ ascension in the microprocessor industry. The campaign involved a worldwide monopolization suit and related worldwide and domestic regulatory investigations, resulting in a $1.25 billion settlement and wide-ranging injunctive relief. The historic settlement was one of the largest single-plaintiff recoveries ever reported, and the settlement capped a series of litigation and regulatory wins around the world, including the European Commission issuing a $1.4 billion fine against Intel.
Bo also led a large team representing Agilent Technologies in trade secret litigation against former employees accused of misappropriating valuable DNA synthesis trade secrets, resulting in a $22.5 million cash settlement for Agilent.
Sports
Bo led the team representing a leading boxing promoter in antitrust litigation that opened up sports broadcasting to free and open competition. The litigation led to the distribution of prime time boxing from multiple promoters across networks and platforms.
Bo also represented champion boxer Ryan Garcia in litigation with Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Productions.
Bo represented Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao before the Fifth Circuit, where he argued an appeal of a successful terminating sanctions motion and prevailed in a per curiam opinion.
Media & Entertainment
Bo is presently representing Creative Artists Agency in a pending litigation with Range Media Partners in one of Hollywood’s highest profile disputes.
Bo led the representation of pop star Kesha Sebert in litigation that ultimately propelled her return to the studio for the Grammy-nominated Rainbow album. The litigation raised historic challenges on behalf of artists seeking to record free of abusive working conditions.
Bo led the defense of several idea theft cases involving tentpole properties like Zootopia and The Last Samurai resulting in full defense verdicts for his studio clients.
Bo obtained dismissal of a defamation claim for a Real Housewives of Orange County star on anti-SLAPP motion.
Bo represented a motion picture studio in a price fixing and price discrimination suit brought against seven movie studios regarding revenue sharing in the home video industry.
Other High-Profile Experience
- Obtained $78 million settlement for Beach Point Capital Management in a fraud and breach of contract action, including payment of all attorneys’ fees.
- Obtained a $450 million plaintiff-side settlement for an aviation client in a contractual dispute.
- Obtained a $67 million plaintiff-side settlement for a manufacturer in a contractual dispute.
- Obtained an $8 million plaintiff-side settlement for a manufacturer in a distributor termination and copyright infringement suit.
- Obtained a complete dismissal for Samsung in the Lithium Ion Batteries Antitrust Litigation.
- Represented a 14-year-old Salvadoran child in oral argument at Ninth Circuit and obtained new trial and successful reversal of deportation order.
- Won summary judgment for the defendant in $40 million fraud, trade secret, and trademark action against a leading water product manufacturer.
- Won full dismissal of a $80 million suit alleging tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, prima facie tort, and willful misconduct against a group of investment funds in New York Supreme Court.
- Obtained the full dismissal of antitrust claims versus a leading airplane parts manufacturer on a motion to dismiss.
- Represented a “Big Four” accounting firm and led a briefing team of several major law firms. Achieved dismissal of a $500 million corporate fraud suit at the pleading stage.
*Includes matters handled prior to joining Weil
Bo is consistently recognized by leading industry publications as a preeminent trial attorney. In addition to the headlines and accolades referenced earlier, he is ranked as a “Leading Lawyer” by Chambers USA for General Commercial Litigation in California, where clients have praised his “excellent courtroom presence,” adding that he can “create rapport with the bench.” He is described by Legal 500 as a “versatile litigator with a strong track record in landmark antitrust cases.” Legal 500 currently recommends Bo for Merger Control and Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions - Defense, and he has also been recommended for First Amendment Litigation and Media and Entertainment Litigation. Lawdragon 500 currently recognizes Bo on its “Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers” and “Leading Litigators in America” lists. In 2023, he was named by the Century City Bar Association as its “Antitrust Lawyer of the Year.”
Prior to joining Weil, Bo was a partner at two other leading international law firms. Since 2024, he has served as a Fellow of the American Bar Association, an invitation offered to fewer than 1% of licensed attorneys. Bo also currently serves as a Board Member for the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. He has been a Board Member at the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Greater Los Angeles (2013-present) and served as its Board Chair from 2017-2019. He additionally serves on the Georgetown University Law Alumni Board.