Keker van Nest and Peters
Firm overview:
Respected San Francisco litigation boutique Keker Van Nest & Peters packs a dispute resolution punch in California, and nationwide, that belies its size. For over 40 years, the firm has tried and litigated complex, high-stakes civil and criminal cases throughout the nation.
The firm prides itself on its willingness, and ability, to take on the tough, make-or-break cases, where companies, products and careers depend on the result. This stance naturally leads to the courtroom, or settlement negotiations, where the firm’s trial lawyers are in their element.
Keker Van Nest & Peter helps its clients, leading global innovators and product developers like Google, Genentech and Comcast, deal with IP disputes of every type.
In patents, the firm has achieved favourable results that include defending Netflix and Roku in a US International Trade Commission (ITC) complaint; serving as trial counsel for Electronic Arts in a multi-patent case; and representing Qualcomm in an ITC investigation instigated by Nvidia.
Team overview:
Nationally recognised trial lawyer Robert Van Nest frequently handles high-stakes cases for clients such as Google, Qualcomm, and American Honda. Van Nest’s practice broadly covers complex business litigation and intellectual property. He has tried cases involving patent infringement, securities fraud, trademarks, commercial contracts and antitrust.
Key matters:
- EcoFactor v Google
Robert Van Nest is part of the team representing Google in its closely-watched patent dispute with EcoFactor.
EcoFactor sued Google for patent infringement in 2020, arguing that Nest thermostats misused its patented methods for reducing energy usage. In 2022, a jury determined that Google had infringed one patent and awarded EcoFactor over $20 million in damages.
In May 2025, a rare en banc Federal Circuit overturned the verdict and ruled that Google was entitled to a new trial to determine damages. The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal of the decision.
- Strava v Garmin
Keker, Van Nest & Peters and Faegre Drinker represented Strava in a dispute with Garmin over patents covering ‘segments’ and heatmap features.
Strava filed a lawsuit seeking to ban the sale of certain Garmin watches and bike computers, alleging infringement of its patented fitness software technology. The suit was voluntarily dismissed in October 2025.
Clients:
Google, Strava
