An experienced trial lawyer and litigator, Manuel Cachán is Co-Head of the firm’s Trials Practice Group. He has served as trial counsel in various significant and high-profile matters, including:
as co-lead counsel for Monsanto in a case brought by a woman claiming that use of the herbicide Roundup caused her non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Following a five month trial, a California jury rejected the claims entirely, returning a defense verdict on all counts. The verdict in Stephens v. Monsanto is the second defense verdict in the Roundup mass tort litigation. All prior trials with plaintiffs who claimed to have personally applied Roundup resulted in verdicts against Monsanto ranging from $80 million to over $2 billion. “Bayer wins second straight verdict in a Roundup cancer case.,” Reuters December 9, 2021;
as first-chair trial counsel for Johnson & Johnson in a three-week jury trial in Oklahoma City state court alleging that exposure to Johnson’s Baby Powder causes mesothelioma. Following jury deliberations but before a verdict had been reached, the matter was resolved on favorable terms.
Manuel has been recognized by The American Lawyer, which has named him “Litigator of the Week” and “Runner-Up Litigator of the Week”; the Los Angeles Daily Journal, which included him in its list of “Top 20 Under 40” lawyers; Benchmark Litigation, which has designated him a “Local Litigation Star” for Los Angeles, a “California Litigation Star” and a “National Practice Area Star” in product liability; Law360, which named him to its list of “Top Lawyers Under 40 in the Nation”; and Minority Corporate Counsel magazine, which listed him as one of twelve diverse “Rising Star” attorneys nationwide.
In the last several years, Manuel has represented Fortune 500 companies before federal and state courts around the country in breach-of-contract litigations, securities and banking actions, product liability lawsuits, professional malpractice cases, and suits brought under California’s Unfair Competition Law. Examples include:
Manuel has for many years taken an active role in the legal community. He has previously served as a member of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE) of the State Bar of California, which evaluates all candidates under consideration for a judicial appointment by the Governor. He is President of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) in Los Angeles.
Manuel is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He was a Fulbright Fellow before enrolling in law school. Prior to beginning private practice, Manuel served as law clerk to the Honorable Arthur L. Alarcón of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Manuel is the son of Cuban exiles and is fluent in Spanish.
cum laude
magna cum laude
Fulbright Fellow, Spain
The Alliance for Children’s Rights, Board of Directors
Association of Business Trial Lawyers (Los Angeles Chapter), President
Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation of the State Bar of California (JNE), Former Commissioner, 2013-2016
Mexican-American Bar Foundation, Honorary Trustee
Chancery Club of Los Angeles, Member
Pacific Council on International Policy, Member
Public Counsel, Board of Directors
American Lawyer, Litigator of the Week
Benchmark Litigation, National Litigation Star 2020-2022
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Los Angeles Daily Journal, "California’s Top 20 Under 40"
Law360, "Rising Star in Banking Law”
Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Diversity and the Bar "Rising Star"
Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2008-2014
The Legal 500 United States: General Commercial Disputes 2019-2020
The Legal 500 United States: Corporate Investigation & White-Collar Criminal Defense