“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” – Albert Einstein
I am a problem solver who happens to be a lawyer.
Whether representing companies or individuals, in civil or criminal matters, I begin every relationship by asking the same three questions: (1) what are the issues my client is facing (legal and otherwise); (2) what are my client’s primary concerns and strategic goals; (3) how can I help my client achieve their desired resolution as efficiently as possible? In some cases, resolution can only be achieved through aggressive litigation tactics, while other cases require a more subtle touch – and, of course, most cases require a little of both. Having tried seven cases in various forums, four as lead counsel, I know how to help my clients avoid litigation, set their cases up for a successful pretrial resolution, or win at trial.
During my 25 years of practice, I have advised on, litigated, and tried all manner of commercial disputes, while specializing in contract disputes, trade secret misappropriation, data privacy, unfair competition, and legal malpractice. I have trial experience in both federal and state court (including five jury trials), as well as binding arbitration.
I maintain a robust pro bono practice, primarily representing wrongfully convicted prisoners in habeas corpus proceedings, individuals whose civil rights have been violated, and criminal defendants. I am also on the Board of Directors of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.
But what I enjoy most about my practice is guiding my clients through difficult situations and helping them obtain the best possible result. I look at every case with fresh eyes, while also drawing upon my deep reservoir of experience. Because that’s what problem solvers do.
Cases of Note
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McGah v. Davis
We represented limited partnership owners of the Oakland Raiders in a breach of fiduciary duty action against the team's general partner, Al Davis. The suit sought to confirm our client's…
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Law Firm v. Former Client
We helped an Am Law 100 law firm obtain payment for legal services in connection with a successful infringement lawsuit against a rival company. After obtaining a multi-million dollar writ…
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Hui v. C-Cube Microsystems, Inc.
We represented a semiconductor design company in an employee class action alleging violations of Section 17200 surrounding the valuation of employee stock options. After dissecting an extremely complicated merger and…
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Riot Games v. Shanghai Moonton Technology Co. Ltd.
We represented Moonton, in a lawsuit filed in the Central District of California by Riot Games, which claimed Moonton’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang infringed its copyrights in several elements of…
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Plaintiffs v. Real Estate Investors
We defended certain real estate investors against alter ego claims, in both state and federal court. These alter ego claims were brought in an effort to hold our clients personally…
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United States Department of Justice v. LCD Panel Company
We represented a Taiwanese manufacturer of liquid crystal display screens in a massive price-fixing investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division.
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Commercial Real Estate Company v. Real Estate Development Company
We represented a commercial real estate company in a claim for a commission and defended the company against a cross-complaint. The court sustained the demurrers to the cross-complaint without leave…
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Digital Media Company v. Internet Video and Computer Hardware Company
We served as lead counsel for a leader in digital media streaming solutions. Our client asserted trade secret misappropriation and related patent claims concerning video place-shifting technologies. The matter was…
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American Medical Response Inc. et al. v. Paramedics Plus, et al.
We defended Paramedics Plus from American Medical Response’s (AMR) claims of anticompetitive unfair business practices. After losing the competitive bidding process for Alameda County’s emergency medical services transportation contract to…
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Former Client v. Law Firm
We won a complete defense verdict for our multinational law firm client, and three individual law firm partners, in a malpractice claim arising out of patent litigation in the ITC…
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Medidata Solutions v. Veeva Systems
We won a rare judgment as a matter of law fending off a $450 million trade secret claim against Veeva Systems in New York federal court. Competitor Medidata Solutions sued…
News & Events
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17 Keker Partners Named Among Lawdragon’s Leading Litigators for 2027
Seventeen Keker, Van Nest & Peters lawyers have been named among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America for 2027. The annual guide recognizes lawyers’ exceptional work in handling disputes in areas inclu…
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KVP Partners Recognized in 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
The 2025 edition of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America featured 13 KVP partners.
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The Am Law Litigation Daily: Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout Outs
Two Keker, Van Nest & Peters teams were named among The Am Law Litigation Daily’s Litigators of the Week Runners-Up for their back-to-back trial wins.
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Skilled in the Art With Scott Graham: Judge Rakoff Weighs in on Trade Secrets and Specificity
Circumstantial evidence of misappropriation won’t cut it in the absence of specificity, he rules in life sciences SaaS case. It’s a win for Keker, Van Nest & Peters.
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Pharma software company Veeva beats back Medidata trade secrets lawsuit
Veeva Systems Inc on Friday persuaded a judge to throw out a lawsuit by pharmaceutical software rival Medidata Solutions Inc alleging it stole trade secrets worth hundreds of millions of dollars, representative…
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Khari Tillery Interviewed for GoFundMe’s Podcast: True Stories of Good People
The podcast features people the that have made a difference in other peoples’ lives, in this episode a Keker pro bono client who was exonerated after being wrongfully convicted.
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Updated Medical Science Frees Wrongfully Incarcerated Father
The California Superior Court in Sacramento today granted a writ of habeas corpus overturning the 2002 murder conviction of Zavion Johnson. Mr. Johnson spent nearly 17 years in California state prison after he …
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Keker & Van Nest Elevates Three Attorneys to Partner
We are pleased to announce the elevation of Simona Agnolucci, Sharif Jacob and Khari Tillery to partner.
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Keker & Van Nest Named Top Litigation Boutique
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.
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Claim Order Nixes Part Of Prolifiq Patents As Indefinite
Gene Paige, Christa Anderson and their KVN team convinced a federal judge to invalidate patents as indefinite because they do not provide information about what falls outside the claims.
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Keker & Van Nest Wins Jury Verdict for Paramedics Plus
Christa Anderson and her team’s jury verdict helps Paramedics Plus retain their emergency transportation contract in Alameda County.
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Keker & Van Nest Wins Unanimous Jury Verdict, Preserves Healthy Competition in California
The case concerned California’s Predatory Pricing Statute (Business & Professions Code § 17043).
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Keker & Van Nest Wins Pro Bono Discrimination Case on Behalf of Sikh Federal Employees
Sikhs now allowed to serve as federal security officers with articles of faith intact.
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Presentations
- “Federal Court Boot Camp,” Pincus Professional Education, May 2015
- “Walk the Walk – Diversity Within the Legal Profession,” California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP), Jan 2015