Representative Trial & Motion Victories:

• Intellectual Property & Trade Secrets: Secured a jury verdict in the Alameda County Superior Court on behalf of a software company in a trade secrets misappropriation case. Represented Eat Just, Inc. in multiple trademark disputes involving vegetarian egg and cultivated meat products.
• Commercial Tort & Contract: Prevailed in a jury trial in the Napa County Superior Court regarding a contentious non-disparagement claim against DLA Piper.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution & Sustainability: Represented Terra Global Capital LLC in a high-value carbon credit fund dispute with anchor investor, a multibillion fund owned by TPG and represented by Reed Smith. Obtained dismissal of Delaware court proceeding filed by investor based on contractual arbitration clause; ultimately secured a favorable settlement following proceedings in ICC arbitration.
• Consumer Class Action Defense: Successfully obtained a demurrer for PG&E in a high-profile class action regarding “smart meter” electromagnetic sensitivity claims.
• Antitrust & Monopsony Defense: Currently defending a crab buyer against high-stakes monopsony allegations involving an alleged conspiracy to fix purchase prices. He also successfully defended a corporate defendant against claims of algorithmic price-fixing, and represented Cypress Semiconductor in civil class action antitrust lawsuits involving SRAM memory chips.
• Shareholder & Financial Litigation: Prevailed on multiple motions to dismiss shareholder derivative complaints for CNET Networks, Inc. and successfully defended Bear Stearns in multiple shareholder class actions.
• Appellate & Employment: Obtained a significant writ of mandamus before the California Court of Appeal in a complex employment discrimination matter for Kaiser Permanente.

Global & Cross-Border Expertise

Phil delivers sophisticated counsel to international entities navigating the American legal system. His deep cultural fluency in East Asian markets allows him to bridge the gap between global business operations and U.S. litigation requirements.

• Supply Chain & OEM Disputes: Represented Cypress Semiconductor/Infineon in a high-stakes cross-border termination dispute involving a prominent Japanese Distributor. Separately, advises a major Japanese electronics manufacturer in multiple high-value supply chain disputes with American OEMs, providing strategic advice and representation to protect critical business interests.
• International Securities Defense: Represented a leading Chinese solar wafer manufacturer in complex shareholder litigation, internal accounting fraud investigations, and government enforcement matters.

Professional Pedigree

Before founding Putterman | Yu | Wang LLP, Phil developed his expertise at elite global litigation practices, including Latham & Watkins and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. He began his career as a Law Clerk to the Honorable John Feikens in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Education & Admissions

• J.D., University of Michigan Law School
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley
• Admissions: Supreme Court of California; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Ninth Circuits; U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of California.
• Languages: Fluent in Mandarin Chinese.