LOS ANGELES, June 10 -- When Silicon Valley's biggest companies face a trial they cannot afford to lose, they call Robert Van Nest. California is now talking to him about taking the other side of the table.

Van Nest, a partner at Keker, Van Nest & Peters, met with California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office on Friday to discuss representing the state, and potentially others, in a lawsuit to block Paramount's $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, The Hollywood Reporter reported, citing sources familiar with the talks. No final decision has been made, but a filing is expected within roughly a month, with New York, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Connecticut and Tennessee among the states discussing joining.

The hire un...