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.
McCoy v. Alphabet Inc. and Hammerling, et al. v. Google LLC
We successfully defended Google in two putative class action lawsuits filed in the Northern District of California asserting privacy, contract, and consumer law claims regarding Google’s alleged data collection practices related to Android smartphones. After we successfully moved the court to compel the first case to arbitration, the case was filed a second time with different named plaintiffs. We moved to dismiss the second case and secured a complete dismissal with prejudice of all claims in the lawsuit. The Ninth Circuit affirmed our trial court win.
Netgear v. Asustek Computer
We represented Netgear, a preeminent provider of computer networking products, in pursuing false advertising and unfair competition claims against a competitor for violating FCC regulations in the sale of Wi-Fi 6E routers.
V.P. v. William Martinez et al.
We helped our pro bono client bring claims against the federal government and prison guards related to sexual abuse and retaliation she experienced while incarcerated at a federal correctional institution in Dublin, Calif. We ultimately obtained a significant settlement for our client. Her case also drew the government’s attention to widespread wrongdoing at the federal facility, which was eventually closed following criminal indictments against prison officials.
08/15/2024
The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America featured 25 KVP attorneys. Read more
01/17/2023
Keker, Van Nest & Peters is pleased to announce that the firm has elevated associates Bailey Heaps, Katie Lynn Joyce, and Chris Sun to Partners, and Kristin Hucek and Ian Kanig to Of Counsel, effective January 1, 2023. Read more
May 01, 2020
A group of Lyft drivers in California lost their latest bid to convince a state court judge to immediately reclassify them as employees with paid sick leave to help fight the spread of Covid-19. Read more
May 01, 2020
San Francisco Superior Judge Ethan Schulman denied a motion that would have reclassified Lyft drivers as employees, so that they can reap the state’s paid sick leave, agreeing with a federal judge who found that such a ruling would jeopardize drivers' access to federal coronavirus relief. Read more
June 19, 2017
Facebook Inc. asked a California federal judge on Monday to toss a putative class action alleging the company misled advertisers with false consumer viewing metrics. Read more
February 06, 2017
KVP attorneys and the ACLU are suing to block the Trump Administration’s Executive Order banning immigration and revoking visas for people from seven Muslim-majority nations. Read more
Note, “Sustainable Capitalism Through the Benefit Corporation,” 64 Hastings L.J. 863 (2013)