Callie A. Bjurstrom

Bjurstrom helped digital agency Cuker Interactive LLC secure a $12.4 million verdict against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in a trade secrets and breach of contract case.

The Arkansas jury found Wal-Mart was willful and malicious in the misappropriation of some trade secrets, which opens up the possibility of Bjurstrom and Cuker’s other lawyers recouping attorney’s fees and costs. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. v. Cuker Interactive LLC, 5:14-CV-05262, (W.D. Ark. April 21, 2017).

Wal-Mart had hired San Diego-based Cuker to help build a mobile responsive e-commerce website for its Asda Stores Ltd., said Bjurstrom. The retail giant initially filed a breach of contract suit against Cuker, and the digital agency later filed counterclaims. Bjurstrom said a particularly memorable moment at trial was when Cuker CEO Aaron Cuker testified that Wal-Mart executive Alex Alexander threatened to have his legal team destroy Cuker if they pursued return of their trade secrets.

“My client trusted Wal-Mart and had a business relationship they thought would be a long-lasting partnership,” said Bjurstrom. “Wal-Mart just betrayed them. We feel vindicated by the court and the jury in Fayetteville.”

Bjurstrom also represents the organizers of San Diego’s Comic-Con in a lawsuit alleging Salt Lake City’s similarly named event is not authorized to use the trademark “Comic Con.”

The case is headed toward trial, Bjurstrom said, and she will be the lead trial counsel for San Diego Comic Convention when it does. San Diego Comic Convention v. Dan Farr Productions LLC et al., 14-cv-01865 (S.D. Cal., filed Aug. 7, 2014). Bjurstrom has represented ZTE Corp. as its co-lead counsel in multiple high-stakes patent litigation matters and had success knocking out claims in the early stages.

In addition to handling courtroom matters, Bjurstrom serves as the co-leader of Pillsbury’s intellectual property practice. She said the practice is one of the firm’s most successful, and it continues to grow. She emphasizes collaboration among the practice’s members.

“It is not just about one person or the lead trial lawyer on a case, it is really about teamwork,” Bjurstrom said.

— Lyle Moran