Renowned First Chair Brings Substantial Trial Practice to Pillsbury’s San Francisco Office

“He is a well-known and respected trial attorney and represents many major technology companies, top brand holders and entertainment clients,” said San Diego partner Callie Bjurstrom, the co-leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice. “Intellectual property is among Pillsbury’s busiest practices and Ken brings yet more firepower to the group.”

Keller represents clients in a wide array of patent, trademark, trade dress, trade secrets, copyright, licensing, breach of contract and unfair competition litigation. In addition to litigating cases involving issues pertaining to the industry, he also advises producers, directors, screenwriters and composers with transactional issues. During his career, he has tried more than 75 cases to verdict in state and federal courts throughout the U.S. In addition, he tried the first case to verdict under the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Super Lawyer in Intellectual Property Litigation.

“I am very excited about the prospect of growing my practice here at Pillsbury,” Keller said. “I look forward to strengthening the firm’s intellectual property litigation practice, in particular life sciences, and adding to the firm’s impressive trial capabilities in the San Francisco office.”

Firm Chair David Dekker added: “Ken’s arrival further enhances our standing as a go-to trial firm that takes cases to verdict and wins them. His experience as a first chair trial attorney adds substantial heft to our 200 lawyer litigation team and complements our industry leading trademark and copyright practice in San Francisco.”

In addition, Christopher Stretch will join Pillsbury as Special Counsel in San Francisco. He has extensive experience in complex litigation that includes high stakes patent cases before the district courts and the ITC, inventorship disputes, antitrust claims, trade secret misappropriation and all types of intellectual property disputes.

Stretch clerked for the Honorable Edward A. Panelli of the California Supreme Court, was an associate at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, and a partner at Day Casebeer Madrid & Batchelder LLP before he joined Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in 2007. He joined Keller Sloan Roman LLP as Special Counsel in 2013.

Today’s news comes on the heels of the addition of intellectual property partners Howard Wisnia and James Conley to the firm’s San Diego office. It also follows the IP practice’s recent victory for digital agency Cuker Interactive, LLC against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. After three years of litigation, Bjurstrom led a team that secured a unanimous jury verdict in favor of Cuker on numerous trade secret claims. The jury awarded Cuker $12.4 million in damages and made a finding that the misappropriation was willful and malicious, permitting the recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs.

About Pillsbury

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international law firm with offices around the world, and a particular focus on the technology, energy & natural resources, financial services, real estate & construction, and travel & hospitality sectors. Recognized by Financial Times as one of the country’s most innovative law firms, Pillsbury and its lawyers are highly regarded for their forward-thinking approach, their enthusiasm for collaborating across disciplines and their authoritative commercial awareness. For more information, visit www.pillsburylaw.com.