Robert A. Van Nest

Van Nest is leading a multi-firm defense team representing four technology giants in antitrust litigation brought by a class of tech workers.

The class argues that Adobe Systems Inc., Apple Inc., Google Inc. and Intel Corp. colluded to keep worker pay artificially low and deliberately avoided poaching employees from each other in a lawsuit closely tracked in Silicon Valley.

Van Nest helped spearhead a proposed $324.5 million settlement between his clients and class representatives that was submitted to the court in May. An expert for the tech employees had previously projected the companies caused $3 billion in damages to the class.

U.S. District Judge Lucy H. Koh in San Jose rejected the deal in August because it did not provide enough money to claimants. In Re: High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation, 11-2509 (N.D. Cal., filed May 23, 2011).

"The defendants strongly disagree with Judge Koh's order but recognize that the case will move forward," Van Nest said. "This is a high-profile case with a lot of good lawyers and the lawyers are working together to overcome the plaintiffs' claims."

Van Nest is also a leading lawyer in patent and copyright litigation. He practices regularly at the state and federal court level and frequently argues before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

"I love the challenge of learning about new technology. I love the variety of being around different courts around the country," Van Nest said. "I have a great team helping me on all cases. It's all good."

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