Biography
My experience includes more than 125 weeks of trial in complex high-value cases in federal and state courts and regulatory administrative trials throughout the United States. In 2001, I opened my own practice to help clients resolve complex disputes and to address fundamental civil wrongs. Based near Silicon Valley, I have handled intellectual property matters in different high-tech sectors including telecommunications, wireless technology, security systems industry, and computer software.
Big Firm Experience
Before founding Fergus, A Law Office, at the end of 2001, I practiced for 22 years as a trial lawyer in one of the top 30 national law firms, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, LLP. I was one of that firm's senior trial partners and managed their largest litigation group while maintaining an active trial practice in bet-the-company cases.
Small Firm Attention
Because I am a sole practitioner, all my clients get the benefit of my 29 years of experience, my attention to their problem and prompt responsive communications. Since opening my San Francisco office, I have represented plaintiffs and defendants at trial or in settlements that resolved complex litigation including intellectual property matters.
Practice Areas
- Energy
- Mass Tort
- Intellectual Property
- Bankruptcy
Education
- New York University School of Law, New York, New York
- LL.M. - 1981
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: With Honors
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
- J.D. - 1979
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: With Honors
- Honors: Moot Court Champion
- Stanford University, Stanford, California
- B.A. - 1976
- Honors: With Honors
Past Positions
- Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP, Associate, 1980 - Present
- Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP, Partner, 1986 - Present
- Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP, Managing Partner, Products Liability, Insurance Coverage, Environmental and Anti-trust practice group, 1996 to 2000
Current Employment Position
- Attorney
Bar Admissions
- California
- Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Honors
- AV Peer Rating (Martindale-Hubbell)
Pro-Bono Activities
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Federal Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, 2006 to 2008
Published Works
- Designing a Mass Tort Case Management System National Law Journal, July, 1986
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Member
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- State Bar of California, Member
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Member
Representative Cases
- In re Western Asbestos, 313 B.R. 456 (Bkrptcy N.D. Cal. 2004)(settled after trial for $1.2 billion)
- In re J.T. Thorpe, Case No. LA02-14216BB (Bkrptcy. C.D. Cal. 2006)(settled after trial for $250 million)
- In re Thorpe Insulation, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, Case No. LA07-19271BB (settled after trial for $750 million)