Caroline N.Mitchell

Caroline Mitchell litigates complex commercial disputes with a focus on defending corporations in actions arising from events in foreign countries, including environmental, human rights, RICO, Alien Tort Statute, and fraud claims. She also defends clients against antitrust and unfair competition claims.

Caroline advises clients facing adverse actions from host governments. She frequently raises jurisdictional challenges to efforts to sue clients in unfavorable forums and advises clients on international discovery issues, including those arising under 28 U.S.C. 1782. Caroline was part of the team that defeated class certification and secured dismissal of a multibillion environmental claim. She has successfully defended clients against various slavery and kidnapping allegations. She served on the trial team in Bowoto v. Chevron Corporation, which was recognized by various legal publications as the defense verdict of 2008 in California. As part of that case, Caroline litigated difficult questions relating to choice of law, RICO, the Alien Tort Statute, jurisdiction, preemption, capacity, statute of limitations, and vicarious liability. She also cultivated key third-party witnesses. Caroline has represented clients in the oil, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, video game, health care, and floral industries in price-fixing, monopolization, and unfair competition lawsuits.

Caroline has successfully represented clients in pro bono matters, including veterans' benefit issues, prisoners' rights, medical care, race discrimination, discrimination based on HIV status, and discrimination based on disabilities. She is on the board of directors of the Family Violence Appellate Project, which facilitates pro bono representation of survivors of domestic violence in California's appellate courts.