Jeffrey R. Makin focuses his practice on a wide range of general and complex commercial litigation, arbitration and compliance matters. He is a trusted advisor to boards of directors, audit committees, chief executive officers, and key executives on complex legal issues.  He handles matters in state and federal courts as well as international and domestic arbitrations administered by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS, and others. He has also represented clients regarding sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Before joining GRSM, Jeffrey was the Senior Vice President, Legal and Head of Litigation and Compliance at a publicly traded company. Jeffrey handled all litigation and arbitration matters, including, for example, consumer, commercial, transportation, construction, employment, and business claims, securities class actions, tax controversy, and regulatory matters and investigations. He also handled internal investigations, audits, compliance, and privacy matters.

Previously, Jeffrey was a Complex Litigation Partner in the Los Angeles office of a national law firm. He handled all types of complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts as well as international and domestic arbitration matters. He also represented private and sovereign clients in international arbitrations involving a wide range of disputes arising out of concession agreements, investment treaties, and other international agreements.

  • Represented clients in over one thousand single plaintiff and class action consumer matters, with favorable outcomes.
  • Represented clients in numerous securities class actions, with favorable outcomes.
  • Represented private and sovereign clients in international arbitration regarding disputes under investment treaties and national investment laws.
  • Represented clients in international arbitration regarding oil and gas disputes arising under petroleum concession agreements.
  • Successfully petitioned OFAC for the removal of various individuals and entities from Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons Lists.

  • California Contribution to DELOS Guide to Arbitration Places with Lee M. Caplan et al., 2018
  • Contributions to Alaska Native Village Corporation Association’s Newsletters, 2018-2019

  • Panel Presenter, Getting the Most Out of International Arbitration, Sponsored by International Law Section of the Utah State Bar, November 2024
  • Panel Presenter, A Look Ahead at Emerging Trends in Litigation at Corporate Litigation Forum, Organized by Consero, October 2021
  • Panel Presenter, Litigation Innovation: Learning from Our Experience, Corporate Litigation and Financial Services and Insurance Litigation Forum, Organized by Consero, May 2021
  • Panel Presenter, The Rules of Evidence in International Arbitration, University of Southern California Gould School of Law et al., March 2019
  • Presenter, Trans-Pacific Partnership, Taiwan-US Investment Conference, May 2016

Admissions

  • Utah
  • California
  • U.S. District Court, District of Utah
  • U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Central Districts of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Community Involvement

  • Association of Corporate Counsel, Mountain West Chapter
    • Board Member, 2024-2025
    • Secretary, 2024-2025
    • Program Committee Member, 2023-2024
  • Elementary School Community Council, Elected Position, 2020-2022
  • Sister Cities of Los Angeles, Board Member, 2018-2019
  • California International Trade Center, Advisory Board, 2018-2019

Education

  • J.D., University of Southern California Gould School of Law
    • Edward and Eleanor Shattuck Award for Significant Contributions to the Law School
    • Southern California Law Review, Volume 80, Editor-in-Chief
  • B.A., Political Science, Brigham Young University
    • Political Science Department Valedictorian
    • Sigma: Journal of Political and International Studies, Staff Editor, 2001-2002

Clerkships

  • The Honorable Michael W. Mosman, U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Honors

  • Daily Journal “Top 40 Under 40” Lawyers in California, 2018
  • Super Lawyers® Rising Star distinction, 2014-2019

Languages

  • Spanish