For more than 30 years, we have been a “go to” firm for legal practices and lawyers facing substantial liability from claims of legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and malicious prosecution in California and throughout the country. We also have an impressive track record of successfully representing accounting firms accused of professional negligence.
Although we are able to resolve most claims involving lawyers or accountants out of court, some do make it to trial. We have extensive experience in state and federal courts around the country. That trial expertise, coupled with our experience handling complex civil and criminal matters, gives Keker, Van Nest & Peters a unique advantage when representing lawyers, law firms, and accounting firms. In short, we have achieved extraordinary results for these clients.
When other lawyers and professionals turn to us for representation, we appreciate the necessity to act quickly and discreetly to defend them in the court of law and the court of public opinion.
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 and Delaware. The plaintiffs had alleged more than a dozen individual acts of malpractice and sought $60+ million in damages. After a hard-fought two-week arbitration before a retired federal judge in New York, the arbitrator issued an award in our clients’ favor.
Following a week-long arbitration, we secured a complete defense verdict for our law firm client in a malpractice action arising from a $30 million unsuccessful real estate deal involving a large vineyard development and a sustainable community west of Sacramento. We defeated all of the plaintiffs’ asserted claims and the client was awarded $210,000 in unpaid attorney’s fees on its counterclaim.
The plaintiffs alleged our client, the plaintiff's former attorneys, were negligent. After we successfully transferred the case to Sacramento Superior Court and revealed key facts about the plaintiff during discovery, the case settled before trial for a small fraction of the demand.
We successfully defended at trial an Am Law 50 law firm and one of its former partners against a $100 million claim. The plaintiff alleged malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty related to estate planning. After an eight-week trial in California state court, we won a complete victory.
Plaintiffs brought a malicious prosecution case and a malpractice case against a leading international law firm. The cases stemmed from the demise of the plaintiff's company, an Alaskan company specializing in environmental clean-up. On behalf of the law firm, we successfully resolved both cases.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated our client, a prominent plaintiff’s lawyer, in connection with the federal criminal investigation of his firm's historical payment of referral fees in class action litigation. We negotiated a very favorable plea deal before charges were filed.
We defended a law firm in a legal malpractice lawsuit connected to an underlying patent infringement action. The case involved complex intellectual property issues, in addition to issues relating to legal representation and performance. The plaintiff sought $75 million, plus trebling for willful patent infringement and punitive damages. However we resolved the case for a settlement of only $800,000.
We secured the dismissal of legal malpractice claims brought against our client, a prominent international law firm. Two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs hired our client to assist with the negotiation and sale of their technology company in exchange for cash and stock in the acquiring company. After the deal was finalized, the acquiring company's stock dropped sharply. The entrepreneurs sued our client and two of its partners. We mounted an aggressive defense that convinced opposing counsel to dismiss the case with prejudice with no payment or other concession by our clients.
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
Keker & Van Nest will host the conference, “Real Claims—Hard Lessons,” which will focus on three new recent ALAS claims. Read more
Steve Hirsch earned the prestigious CLAY award by winning a federal court judgment in the Heller Ehrman bankruptcy that makes it easier for clients to hire lawyers and for lawyers to switch firms. Read more
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
Elliot Peters will serve on the "Identification and Management of Cases Almost Certainly Destined for Trial" panel. Read more
Elliot Peters told attendees at the American Bar Association’s National Legal Malpractice Conference that law firms there are some instances when they should insist on their day in court. Read more
A federal judge ruled the Heller Ehrman bankruptcy estate has no claim to profits earned from client business former partners brought with them to new law firms. Read more
Laurie Mims shares how partners should address their increased legal liability. Read more
Laurie Mims will speak at the American Bar Association program. Read more
The firm receives top rankings for bet-the-company, intellectual property, criminal defense, securities, commercial, legal malpractice, and appellate litigation. Read more
Dan Purcell will present before the Bar Association of San Francisco. Mr. Purcell represents companies and individuals accused of professional misconduct, fraud, or racketeering. Read more
Ben Hur and Chris Kearney knock down class certification, protecting their client from millions in damages. Read more
John Keker, Robert Van Nest and Susan Harriman win "Lawyer of the Year" for IP, Patent Litigation and Legal Malpractice respectively. Read more
Susan Harriman will speak at the ABA's 2011 Fall National Legal Malpractice Conference, the preeminent forum on lawyers’ professional liability issues and developments. Read more
Keker & Van Nest partners were recognized in more than ten categories, including bet-the-company litigation, criminal defense, and intellectual property litigation. Read more
For the third time in a row, Mr. Ragland has protected an AmLaw 100 law firm from malpractice litigation. Read more
Daniel Purcell presents the steps every lawyer can take to reduce the risk of malpractice liability. Read more
Representing a prominent international law firm, Keker & Van Nest partner Steven Ragland convinced opposing counsel to drop the case. Read more
Elliot Peters, Steven Ragland, Susan Harriman and John Trinidad use knowledge of the developing law involving malpractice claims against patent lawyers to win summary judgment. Read more
Keker, Van Nest & Peters is ranked as a Tier 1 firm in Best Lawyers' national law firm rankings.
Susan Harriman was named the 2012 "Lawyer of the Year" for Legal Malpractice.
The Recorder named Elliot Peters a 2010 Attorney of the Year, highlighting his work on behalf of an AmLaw 100 firm.
Susan Harriman, Elliot Peters and Robert Van Nest have been honored for their work in Legal Malpractice Law by The Best Lawyers in America.