Jim Oliva is Managing Counsel and Litigation Department Lead for American Honda’s Intellectual Property Unit. In that role, Jim leads a team of IP attorneys responsible for patent, trademark and copyright matters throughout North America and Central America. One of his key responsibilities includes advising the company on matters pertaining to standard essential patents. Prior to that, Jim was Senior Corporate Counsel in American Honda’s Law Division, where he defended Honda in complex litigation matters, including all product related class actions filed against the company. Jim served as a key member of the company’s Takata litigation defense team, which involved the largest recall in automotive history impacting over 19 different vehicle manufacturers. Jim’s experience at Honda also has covered product liability lawsuits, as well as export and trade issues, and he provides legal advice to Honda affiliates in Japan, Mexico, Canada, China and the United Kingdom.

Jim began his legal career in 2001 at Morrison Foerster LLP. His practice focused on intellectual property, class action defense, and director and officer liability matters. Jim received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.