Left to right: John Keker and Robert (Bob) Van Nest

For nearly 40 years, John Keker and Robert Van Nest have been building their trial-centric, single-office San Francisco law firm to navigate clients' toughest litigation matters. If this past year is any indicator, the model is working: The firm scored blockbuster IP defense wins for clients Google, Arista Networks and Pure Storage, and won a nationwide injunction barring the Trump administration from withholding federal funds from so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions.”

The firm's performance landed Keker, Van Nest & Peters The Recorder's 2017 Litigation Department of the Year award, as well a win in the IP subcategory and individual Giant Slayer and Groundbreaker awards for Keker and Van Nest respectively. The pair recently spoke with Ross Todd, San Francisco bureau chief for The Recorder and Law.com about the year's big wins, the firm's focus on high stakes litigation, and the challenges of being a trial firm in a time of diminishing trials.

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