Brian Melton is a nationally recognized lead trial lawyer who regularly tries and wins bet-the-company cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. He sits on the Executive Committee at Susman Godfrey – the nation’s premier litigation boutique – and the only law firm where he has practiced since graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law School and clerking for Federal District Court Judge Tom Stagg.
Melton has secured several momentous wins throughout his career and has established himself as trusted counsel and a sought-out trial lawyer for clients and colleagues alike. In fact, a streak of three trial wins in an 18-month period led the National Law Journal to name him a “Winning Litigator” in 2017.
Melton’s landmark victory for Beats headphone designer, Steven Lamar, in a nationally followed breach of contract lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics over the design of the now iconic beats headphones was covered from coast to coast, with outlets such as New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter, NY Daily News, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict for Lamar in California federal court. Melton later spent time convincing the Judge to double the value of the judgment to $52 million – at which point Apple settled the case for a confidential amount. Law360 featured the story in their “How They Won It” series and The Recorder also ran a feature story on Melton and his significant role in this case.
Later that year, Melton won an injunction for pro bono client Team Fuerza, a local Hispanic soccer team, which was being railroaded out of the giant United Premier Soccer League. Melton got the team back in the league and received an apology from the UPSL President.
Notably, Melton is a West Point graduate, who served as an infantry officer, attaining the rank of captain. While serving his country, Melton commanded two platoons, and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division. Melton graduated as the Honor Graduate of Ranger School, the Army’s elite leadership training course.
