After more than twenty years with Bergeson, LLP, John W. Fowler retired from Bergeson, LLP in 2024.
Jay’s practice focused on commercial, tort, and environmental litigation. During his more than 50 years of practice, he completed over 35 trials, arbitrations, and administrative adjudicative hearings. Jay is among a handful of attorneys who have tried to conclusion environmental tort claims for personal injury and property damages as well as cases involving air pollution, groundwater contamination, and maritime oil spills.
A highlight of Jay's trial practice is his leadership of the Bergeson trial team in obtaining a $15.5 million judgment for Lam Research Corporation against Dallas Semiconductor Corporation in a breach of contract case. At the time, it was one of the largest verdicts in a Commercial Code case in California.
In another matter, Jay successfully defended a dock owner, LP Corporation, against a ship owner’s claim for indemnity for the cost of cleaning up one of California’s most expensive maritime oil spills. The U.S. District Court for the Norther District of California ruled that LP had zero fault for the collision and oil spill, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed.
A graduate of Harvard University and Berkeley Law, Jay was a longtime member of the William A. Ingram Inn of Court. His leadership in the legal community includes serving as the past Director and President of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (SCCBA) Law Foundation. He also served on SCCBA's Federal Courts Committee and Merit Selection Committee for U.S. Magistrate and Bankruptcy Judges.
Jay served as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and is the former Councilman and Mayor of the town of Moraga, California.