The San Francisco Examiner profiled founding partner John Keker after naming him a San Franciscan of the Year for his fearless defense of justice and civic integrity. In the feature, Keker reflected on his long career as one of the nation’s most respected trial lawyers and his firm’s decision to challenge the Trump administration’s attacks on law firms and the rule of law.
“Democracy is not a state of being. It’s an act,” he said in the Q&A interview.
Keker, Van Nest & Peters was among the first firms in the country to issue a statement condemning the administration’s actions and calling on others “to resist the erosion of the rule of law.” Keker co-authored an editorial in The New York Times urging lawyers to stand up for democratic principles. Keker and the firm drew widespread recognition and support from members of the legal community and citizens across the country speaking out for professional courage and integrity.
“We had a lot of people who said, ‘We want to work at your firm, or we want to hire your firm, because we want lawyers who are fighters, not the people who are going to cave to some cretin like Donald Trump,’” said Keker. “We got a huge amount of kudos from people who wanted to help, wanted to join in.”
Keker also spoke about his Marine Corps service and how it shaped his approach to fear and advocacy, emphasizing that courage is an essential trait in both combat and the courtroom.
“A lot of practicing law is dealing with fear, and service in the Marines helps you deal with fear. After being in combat, other things don’t seem quite as scary as they might otherwise,” he said.
Keker detailed his connection to San Francisco, a city he has called home for more than five decades, and what it means to embody its spirit and values.
“Being a San Franciscan means living in one of the most beautiful places in the world,” he said.
Read more about the 2025 San Franciscans of the Year.