Professional Biography
James Hardin is a seasoned employment attorney with over 25 years of experience representing employers and employees throughout California. His extensive experience litigating and trying cases on both sides of the "v" gives James a unique ability to understand the very different pressures, perspectives, and interests of both employers and employees in litigation, as well as a deep knowledge of the substantive legal and strategic issues presented in the cases before him.
Education
- 1999 – J.D. – UCLA School of Law
- 1993 – B.S. – University of California, Santa Barbara
Professional Experience
- Hardin Law Group, APC – Attorney – Pres. - 2015
- Pacific Trial Attorneys – Attorney – 2015 - 2011
- Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson – Attorney – 2011 - 2010
- Call, Jensen & Ferrell – Attorney – 2010 - 2001
- Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker – Attorney – 2000 - 1990
Additional Background
Admissions
- Bar – Nov 24, 2025 – California, 1999
- Court – Nov 24, 2025 – California State Courts
- Court – Nov 24, 2025 – US District Court, Central District of California
- Court – Nov 24, 2025 – US District Court, Northern District of California
- Court – Nov 24, 2025 – US District Court, Southern District of California
- Court – Nov 24, 2025 – US District Court, Eastern District of California
- Court – Nov 24, 2025 – US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Affiliations
- Orange County Business
- Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
- California Employment Lawyers Association
- Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
Awards
- California Super Lawyers – 2023 - 2025
- Best Law Firm and Best Lawyer – 2018 - 2024
- America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigator – 2017 - 2022
- Elite Lawyer – 2023
- Top 100 Employment Attorney in California, National Advocates
- Top 100 Lawyer, Distinguished Attorney Magazine
- Top 100 Labor and Employment Lawyer, American Society of Legal Advocates
- Top Attorneys, OC Metro Magazine
- Super Lawyers 6x – Rising Star
Publications
- California Trade Secret Litigation, Practice Guide – 2015
- Mastering the Deposition – 2015
- Key Defense Strategies in Trade Secrets Cases – 2014
- Surveys can boost trademark suits – 2014
- Some indefinite promises are enforceable, it seems – 2013
- Trademark Tacking surprise – 2013
- Unravel the 'confusion' over hearsay in trademark litigation – 2013
- California's Business Judgment Rule Is Not a Defense for Corporate Officers – 2013
- Internal affairs': an elusive doctrine – 2013
- Pleading And Identifying Trade Secrets In Calif. – 2013
- Trade secrets are key in customer list cases – 2013