John Mittelbach, Special Counsel — Watstein Terepka LLP

Special Counsel

John Mittelbach

Complex commercial litigation, class actions, and appeals, for clients who cannot afford to lose. An operator's instinct, paired with a clerk's precision.

First in Class
Emory Law School
Editor in Chief
Emory Law Journal
11th Circuit
Federal Clerkship
Founder
Counsel to Startups

John serves as Special Counsel for Watstein Terepka, bringing extensive experience in complex commercial litigation, class actions, appeals, and investigations. John’s practice includes over a decade representing clients in a variety of putative class actions. He has consistently obtained outstanding outcomes in those cases, including by dispositive published decision.

John is an entrepreneur who, in addition to working at elite law firms, has founded and owns several businesses. He brings this range of experience to serve as general and litigation counsel for entrepreneurs, family offices, and startups across a range of industries from AI to real estate.

Before he entered private practice, John had the privilege of serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Edward E. Carnes on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Before that, he graduated from Emory Law School, where he was first in his class and served as the Editor in Chief of the Emory Law Journal.

John worked with both WT founding partners before they knew each other at two firms thousands of miles apart. An unexpected road led to their reunion. As John puts it, “it is a pleasure to be here.”

Complex Commercial Litigation Consumer Class Action Defense Appellate Litigation Internal Investigations Outside General Counsel

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about John's practice, background, and admissions.

What does John Mittelbach practice?
John is Special Counsel at Watstein Terepka. He handles complex commercial litigation, class actions, appeals, and internal investigations, and serves as outside general and litigation counsel to entrepreneurs, family offices, and startups across industries from AI to real estate.
Where did John Mittelbach go to law school?
John earned his J.D. summa cum laude from Emory University School of Law, where he graduated first in his class and served as Editor in Chief of the Emory Law Journal. He holds a B.A. in History from the University of Michigan.
Did John Mittelbach clerk for a federal judge?
Yes. John served as a law clerk to the Honorable Edward E. Carnes on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Where is John Mittelbach admitted to practice?
John is admitted to practice law in California.

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