Awards & Rankings 04.10.24
Pillsbury’s International Arbitration Group Again Included in GAR 100 Guide as Top International Arbitration Practice
Source: Global Arbitration Review
[Vern displayed] a good balance of tenacity and decency. The jury liked him. The judge liked him. He had, and has, all of the qualities of a very effective trial attorney.
Vernon Granneman, a Pillsbury Litigation partner and skilled trial lawyer, has extensive experience litigating technology, intellectual property and commercial disputes, and handling parallel criminal proceedings.
Vern has tried five jury trials to verdict in state and federal court as first chair or co-first chair. He has tried more than 15 bench trials to judgment and has tried more than 15 binding arbitrations to final award. He litigates trade secret, copyright, trademark/trade dress, patent and unfair business practice cases, and advocates for clients in provisional relief and preliminary injunction proceedings. Vern regularly handles matters involving proprietary business methods, theft of sensitive information, shareholder disputes and enforcement of confidentiality agreements.
Representative Experience
- Co-led Canal Plus Technologies’ defense in a shareholder dispute regarding a Put Option Agreement and set-top box technology valuation. Won a favorable verdict following a three-week federal court jury trial.
- Obtained a defense win for Hughes Network Systems in a commercial dispute involving prototype development of next-generation satellite communications technology following a three-week jury trial.
- Served as lead counsel for Medical Group Insurance Services against The Hartford in the successful prosecution of a two-week arbitration trial for declaratory and injunctive relief, establishing the client’s insurance business ownership rights.
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- Represented client in four-day international arbitration trial of commercial dispute involving fixed wireless internet access systems (International Centre for Dispute Resolution, an AAA affiliate – San Francisco).
- Litigated four-week jury trial on trademark infringement (U.S. District Court – San Jose).
- Litigated five-week jury trial of product liability claims (San Francisco County Superior Court).
- Served as member of trial team in 35-day property tax controversy administrative trial involving major Bay Area petroleum refinery.
- Represented client in two-week JAMS arbitration trial of disputes arising out of breach of commercial real estate development agreement (JAMS – San Jose).
- Defended numerous lawsuits against a major bank, arising out of the insolvency and bankruptcy of a large agricultural borrower.
- Represented multiemployer pension trust funds in federal trial court and arbitration proceedings, including more than five arbitration trials.
- Defended an out-of-state bank and real estate investment trust in major litigation relating to construction of a 120-unit condominium development in San Jose.
Professional Highlights
- Recognized by Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC), Commercial Litigation (2021).
- Chairs the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley’s Litigation Committee and served on the organization’s board from 2003 – 2015.
- Regularly serves as a pro tem settlement judge and as an arbitrator in court-annexed arbitration proceedings for the Santa Clara County Superior Court.
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- Served as a faculty member and lecturer on numerous litigation training programs sponsored by Pillsbury and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
- Associations
- Santa Clara County Bar Association
Education
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J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, 1978
cum laudeB.A., History, Santa Clara University, 1975
cum laude
Admissions
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California
Courts
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California