White Collar Criminal

Criminal enforcement has stepped up in recent years in the areas of securities and finance, antitrust, tax, foreign contracting and Food and Drug Administration regulation. Harsh penalties such as stiff fines and lengthy incarcerations are being sought and sometimes obtained against business executives.

We have unparalleled experience guiding individuals and corporations, large and small, through the treacherous waters of criminal investigations and trials. For more than three decades, white collar criminal defense has been a core part of our practice, and our attorneys have been nationally heralded as top practitioners in the field. Much of our criminal work results in favorable resolutions before a case goes to trial or becomes public.

Criminal enforcement has stepped up in recent years in the areas of securities and finance, antitrust, tax, foreign contracting and Food and Drug Administration regulation. Harsh penalties such as stiff fines and lengthy incarcerations are being sought and sometimes obtained against business executives.

We have unparalleled experience guiding individuals and corporations, large and small, through the treacherous waters of criminal investigations and trials. For more than three decades, white collar criminal defense has been a core part of our practice, and our attorneys have been nationally heralded as top practitioners in the field. Much of our criminal work results in favorable resolutions before a case goes to trial or becomes public.

Elliot Peters Named Among California's Top White Collar Lawyers

12/09/2021

The Daily Journal has named Elliot Peters among the Top White Collar Lawyers in California. Read more

'I take it personally every time': Keker's Elliot Peters on White-Collar Wins and Woes

12/09/2020

Elliot Peters is profiled in Jenna Greene's Legal Action Column in Westlaw Today Read more

Law360 California Powerhouse: Keker Van Nest & Peters

October 06, 2017

Longtime California trial staple Keker Van Nest & Peters LLP found success for a wide range of clients this year, winning a nationwide injunction against a presidential executive order, defending Arista Networks in a groundbreaking copyright suit and resolving a feud between two prominent San Francisco philanthropists. Read more

The DOJ's Cartel Enforcement Actions: What You Need to Know in 2017

June 21, 2017

Stuart Gasner will address policy and case developments, enforcement and other critical topics. Read more

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual White Collar Seminar

10/28/2016

John Keker's panel will address "The Myth and the Reality: Ethical Obligations & Strategies to Challenge Prosecutorial Abuse." Read more

Simona Agnolucci Named One of California's Top 40 Under 40 Lawyers

05/15/2016

Ms. Agnolucci works at the forefront of two hot and emerging litigation trends. Read more

Jan Nielsen Little and Susan Harriman featured in the Daily Journal’s List of Top Women Lawyers

04/20/2016

Ms. Little was recognized for standing between clients and the court of public opinion. Ms. Harris was applauded for her ability to break down the most complex legal issues into very precise slices, making the case easier for a judge and jury to digest. Read more

Walking the Line between Aggressive and Illegal Business Practices

08/22/2015

Stuart Gasner and his fellow panelists will address this critical topic at the CACJ's White Collar Seminar. Read more

Steven Ragland to speak at NACDL's 2015 West Coast White Collar Conference

06/17/2015

Steven Ragland will present Safeguarding Confidence: Ethical Strategies for Preventing and Addressing Privilege Problems Read more

International Cycling Federation Releases Cycling-Independent Commission Report

03/09/2015

Lance Armstrong and his attorney Elliot Peters comment on the report. Read more

White Collar Crime and Securities Enforcement

03/02/2015

Brook Dooley, Eric MacMichael, Matan Shacham and Katherine Lovett will cover the significant cases of 2014 and their impact. Read more

White Collar Crime and Securities Enforcement: 2014 in Review

01/23/2015

Brook Dooley and Eric MacMichael's article highlights some of 2014’s key developments in white collar practice, along with cases to watch in 2015. Read more

Aaron Swartz Was No Criminal

11/18/2014

Dan Purcell, one of Swartz' lawyers, writes about the spiteful and unreasonable charges that led to his suicide—and MIT's gutless support of his prosecutors. Read more

Justice System for White-Collar Defendants is Flawed Top to Bottom

11/17/2014

White-collar criminal defense and civil trial lawyer Stuart Gasner discusses how the justice system is skewed against the accused. Read more

How is the Venture Community Affected by the Criminalization of Trade Secret Law under the Economic Espionage Act?

11/04/2014

Stuart Gasner discusses how under the Economic Espionage Act, even the most run-of-the-mill trade secret case can be prosecuted as a criminal matter. Read more

The Internet’s Own Boy: A Discussion of U.S. v. Aaron Swartz and the Prosecution and Defense of Cyber-Crime

10/22/2014

Elliot Peters, who represented Aaron Swartz, will speak at this American Bar Association panel. Read more

Keker & Van Nest Named Top Litigation Boutique

10/15/2014

One name mentioned by virtually everyone the Daily Journal spoke to was Keker & Van Nest. Lawyers at some of the best firms in California said they model themselves after the litigation powerhouse. Read more

NACDL's 4th Annual West Coast White Collar Seminar

06/19/2014

Mr. Gasner will present "New Government Tools: NSA Issues, Warrantless Searches, and Evidence Gathering." Read more

Jan Nielsen Little and Susan Harriman Named Two of California's Top Women Lawyers

05/07/2014

Ms. Little was recognized for handling prestigious white collar litigation, and Ms. Harriman for defeating a high-stakes copyright case. Read more

Defending a Charles Ponzi or Bernie Madoff

04/12/2014

Elliot Peters will be a featured panelist at the California Bar's Eighteenth Annual Statewide Ethics Symposium. Read more

Lawyer Sleuthing Uncovers Copying in Expert Reports

04/03/2014

While litigating a high-profile criminal economic espionage case, Stuart Gasner and his team were able to exclude an expert witness who submitted a report with major sections identical to Wikipedia entries. Read more

John Keker and Jan Nielsen Little Win White Collar Criminal Defense Award from NACDL

02/03/2014

The award is presented to individuals who have made a profound impact on the field of white collar criminal defense advocacy. Read more

The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz

01/13/2014

Elliot Peters, who represented Aaron Swartz, speaks to filmmaker Brian Knappenberger for his documentary which will premier at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Read more

DuPont Trade Secrets Case Heads to Trial

01/06/2014

Stuart Gasner leads the defense in this high-profile economic espionage case. Read more

NACDL 2013 Conference - Defending the White Collar Case

10/25/2013

Steven Ragland will present "When There Are No Other Options: Dispositions Without Trials" at the annual conference Read more

John Keker Named One of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America

03/25/2013

The National Law Journal describes Mr. Keker as "among the most sought-after trial lawyers in the country. Read more

Trends in White Collar Crime and Securities Enforcement

03/13/2013

Brook Dooley and Eric MacMichael will discuss cases involving FCPA enforcement, antitrust, public corruption, intellectual property theft, insider trading, and securities enforcement in connection with the financial crisis. Read more

KVN Scores Another Victory in DuPont Trade Secrets Case

02/28/2013

In a victory for Keker & Van Nest, a magistrate judge ordered federal prosecutors to identify which documents - out of a huge trove of discovery produced - they plan to use at an upcoming criminal trial. Read more

Exec Granted $2M Bail In DuPont Trade Secrets Case

02/27/2013

Stuart Gasner, Simona Agnolucci and Katherine Lovett convinced a California federal judge to grant their motion for pretrial release. Read more

Elliot Peters Discusses Prosecutorial Overreach in Aaron Swartz Case

02/22/2013

NBC interviewed Mr. Peters about why the government went after Internet prodigy and activist Aaron Swartz for allegations surrounding computer hacking. Read more

Elliot Peters Discusses Internet Activist Aaron Swartz, Lance Armstrong, 'Prosecutorial Excess'

01/28/2013

In January, three of Mr. Peters' cases made national headlines. Read more

Steven Ragland Discusses Matthew Davies Medical Marijuana Case

01/16/2013

Despite the fact that Mr. Davies created a medical marijuana business in compliance with California state laws, the federal government has indicted Mr. Davies, and is seeking a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Read more

Keker & Van Nest Defends Medical Marijuana Businessman

01/13/2013

Elliot Peters and Steven Ragland's case highlights the growing clash between the federal government and those states that have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use. Read more

Premium Defense for Your VIP Client: Avoiding Pitfalls and Combatting Perceptions

11/15/2012

Elliot Peters will speak at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' annual meeting. Read more

5 Rules for Protecting Yourself in a White-Collar Criminal Investigation

11/14/2012

Eric MacMichael answers how to prepare for an increasing number of white-collar prosecutions. Read more

23 Keker & Van Nest Attorneys Named "Best Lawyers"

08/28/2012

The firm receives top rankings for bet-the-company, intellectual property, criminal defense, securities, commercial, legal malpractice, and appellate litigation. Read more

Keker & Van Nest Wins Top Rankings from Chambers

06/08/2012

Listed as Band 1 attorneys in white collar, commercial litigation and intellectual property. Read more

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers White Collar Crime Conference

06/07/2012 - 06/08/2012

Program Co-Chair Jan Nielsen Little will moderate "The Professional Edge: Working With (and Against) Experts." Read more

Jan Little Named Top Woman Lawyer

05/09/2012

For more than 25 years Ms. Little has handled high-stakes criminal investigations and trials and complex civil litigation for publicly-traded corporations, private companies, and senior executives. Read more

Federal Prosecutors Drop Investigation of Lance Armstrong

02/03/2012

John Keker, Armstrong’s lead lawyer in the case, said: “They made the right decision, and they made it on their own.” Read more

White Collar Crime Trends

10/27/2011

Stuart Gasner sheds light on why digital communications are increasingly getting executives in legal hot water, and provides practical advice on how to avoid this growing trend. Read more

How Not to Become a White Collar Criminal

09/22/2011

Stuart Gasner draws upon tales from fiction ("Bonfire of the Vanities") and real life (the Raj Rajaratnam insider trading case), to offer tips on writing and preserving e-mails, handling disgruntled employees, and dealing with prosecutors. Read more

The ABCs of D-efense in an E-lectronic Age: Ethics and Strategies

09/22/2011

Jan Nielsen Little to speak at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' Annual White Collar Seminar. Read more

17 Partners Selected for 2012 Best Lawyers in America

09/01/2011

Keker & Van Nest partners were recognized in more than ten categories, including bet-the-company litigation, criminal defense, and intellectual property litigation. Read more

Top Gun Defense Lawyer John Keker Joins Tomato Mogul's Legal Team

08/18/2011

Indicted tomato king has won the right to hire one of the sharpest legal minds – and one of the fiercest courtroom combatants – to help defend him in one of the biggest scandals to hit the U.S. food industry, writes The Sacramento Bee. Read more

John Keker and Elliot Peters Called "Defense Dream Team"

08/10/2011

In denying prosecutors' attempt to disqualify Keker & Van Nest from representing Frederick Scott Salyer in an alleged fraud and price-fixing case, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton said he believed that "the government has got nothing but altruism motivating its motion and its deep concern with fairness for Mr. Salyer. I believe that, but I also believe in the tooth fairy." Read more

Lance Armstrong Adds Keker & Van Nest to Legal Team

05/26/2011

John Keker and Elliot Peters previously won a major legal victory for the Major League Baseball Players Association against federal investigators in a doping case. Read more

John Keker Speaks at the National Institute on White Collar Crime

03/03/2011

Mr. Keker will speak on the panel "Lessons Learned from Recent Trials." Read more

John Keker and Jan Nielsen Little were awarded the NACDL's White Collar Criminal Defense Award in 2014.

Chambers lists Keker, Van Nest & Peters as one of the top white collar litigation firms in the country, and has individually recognized John Keker, Elliot Peters and Jan Nielsen Little as Leading Lawyers in White Collar Crime and Government Investigations.

John Keker, Robert Van Nest, Jan Little, Elliot Peters and Stuart Gasner are listed in the Best Lawyers guide for White Collar Criminal Defense.

Legal 500 described the firm as "peopled with a preponderance of outstanding trial lawyers ... the team excels at representing high-level company executives in criminal trials across the waterfront of offences including securities fraud and insider trading."