Ian Kanig

Ian Kanig is a trial and appellate litigator with over a decade of experience winning cases for plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts. Ian has handled a broad array of matters—from white-collar criminal defense to First Amendment advocacy—and now focuses on commercial and consumer disputes for technology companies that involve cutting-edge issues about the internet, smart devices, apps, and e-commerce. His approach to litigation prioritizes deep thinking, crisp writing, and a tactical command of civil procedure. Ian has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for Civil Litigation (Plaintiff and Defense) and a Best Lawyers Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation.

Ian has also cultivated an impactful pro bono practice, advocating for voting rights and incarcerated persons. He secured a large six-figure settlement for an inmate who was the victim of staff sexual abuse and retaliation at a federal prison in California, which led to an Associated Press investigation that ultimately resulted in the criminal indictment of several prison officials. He authored an amicus brief in the California Supreme Court advocating for strict limits on the use of pretrial detention on behalf of the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network. He has frequently worked alongside the ACLU in constitutional litigation challenging executive overreach, including in its challenge to the Trump administration’s “Muslim ban” and various matters for its Voting Rights Project.

Before joining Keker, Van Nest & Peters, Ian clerked for Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. During law school, he was an extern for Judge Susan Y. Illston and in the Pro Se (Civil Rights) Department of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Ian lives in the historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco with his wife and spends time outside of work cycling, running, hiking, and attending concerts throughout the Bay Area.