
Peter G. Bertrand is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Trade Secret and Employee Mobility and Wine Industry Practice Groups. Mr. Bertrand’s practice, which is national in scope, focuses on the representation of financial institutions and companies in the areas of litigation, bankruptcy and creditor rights law. He also specializes in cases involving intellectual property, trade secrets, unfair business competition and employment related claims, and he has substantial experience in representing financial institutions in lender liability actions, interbank disputes and claims involving directors and officers.
Mr. Bertrand has prepared and participated in a number of specialized programs involving bankruptcy, creditors’ rights (secured and unsecured), provisional and post-judgment remedies, high tech commercial law, commercial paper and employment law issues. He is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section and has lectured extensively as part of educational programs geared toward financial institutions throughout the United States.
Mr. Bertrand has been selected as America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators since 2020. He also received a 2020 Top Lawyer rating by the San Francisco Magazine, as well as 2020 Judicial AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell and has been selected as a Top Rated Lawyer in the areas of Commercial Bankruptcy, Creditor-Debtor Rights, Bank & Finance and Commercial Litigation by American Lawyer Media in 2013 and 2014. He has been selected as one of Northern California’s Super Lawyers eleven times (2005-2006, 2008-2010 and 2014-2019) and was also selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer, Corporate Counsel Edition from 2009 to 2010. Mr. Bertrand has been recognized by Best Lawyer in America and Best Lawyers in the Bay Area in the areas of Bankruptcy Litigation and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law since 2009. He is also a recipient of Corporate America’s 2016 Legal Elite Award, Best Financial Solutions Practice Group – California. He has also been voted as America’s Most Honored Professional by The American Registry. Recently, Mr. Bertrand was selected as 2024 Attorney of the Year for the Top 100 Lawyers Magazine.
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19
Dec
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Peter Bertrand Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Top 100 Lawyers Magazine
Firm News
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Buchalter is pleased to announce Shareholder Peter G. Bertrand has been honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Top 100 Lawyers Magazine “Hall of Fame attorneys” […]
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15
Aug
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers in America
Awards
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Buchalter, is pleased to announce that 99 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Best Lawyers was founded […]
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17
Aug
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers in America
Awards
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Buchalter is pleased to announce over 80 of the Firm’s lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Best […]
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18
Aug
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2023 “Best Lawyers in America”
Awards
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The firm is pleased to announce over 60 Buchalter lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers […]
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19
Aug
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2022 “Best Lawyers in America”
Awards
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The firm is pleased to announce that several lawyers have been included in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers was […]
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20
Aug
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2021 “Best Lawyers in America”
Awards
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The firm is pleased to announce that several lawyers have been included in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers was […]
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13
Jul
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Peter Bertrand Selected as America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators
Awards
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Buchalter is pleased to announce Chairman of the Board Peter Bertrand has been selected as America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® for 2020. America’s Top […]
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15
Aug
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2020 “Best Lawyers in America”
Awards
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The firm is pleased to announce that 24 lawyers have been included in the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers was […]
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26
Jun
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers and “Rising Stars”
Awards
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Eight attorneys in the Firm’s San Francisco and Sacramento offices were named 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys have attained a high degree of […]
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15
Aug
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2019 “Best Lawyers in America”
Awards
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Administrative/ Regulatory Law Terese A. Mosher Beluris Banking and Finance Law Anthony R. Callobre Robert J. Davidson Robert A. Zadek Douglas R. Prince Bankruptcy and […]
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15
Aug
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Buchalter Attorneys Named 2018 “Best Lawyers in America”
Awards
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August 15, 2017 Terese A. Mosher Beluris— Administrative / Regulatory Law, Commercial Litigation Bernard D. Bollinger, Jr.— Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and […]
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18
Aug
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Buchalter Nemer Attorneys Named 2017 Best Lawyers in America
Awards
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Buchalter Nemer is proud to announce the following attorneys have been named 2017 Best Lawyers in America: Peter G. Bertrand– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ […]
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08
Jul
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Buchalter Nemer Attorneys Named 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers and “Rising Stars”
Awards
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Ten attorneys in the firm’s San Francisco office were named 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys have attained a high degree of peer recognition […]
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18
Aug
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Buchalter Nemer Attorneys Named 2016 Best Lawyers in America
Awards
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Peter G. Bertrand– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law/ Bankruptcy Litigation Bernard D. Bollinger, Jr.- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization […]
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07
Jul
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Buchalter Nemer Attorneys Named 2015 Northern California Super Lawyers and “Rising Stars”
Awards
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Eleven attorneys in the firm’s San Francisco office were named 2015 Northern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys have attained a high degree of peer recognition […]
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24
Oct
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Buchalter Nemer Attorneys Named 2014 San Francisco Top Rated Lawyers
Awards
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Buchalter Nemer is proud to announce that 14 attorneys in its San Francisco office have been named “2014 San Francisco Top Rated Lawyers.” The recognition […]
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18
Aug
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Buchalter Nemer Attorneys Named 2015 Best Lawyers in America
Awards
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Buchalter Nemer is proud to announce the following attorneys have been named 2015 Best Lawyers in America: Peter G. Bertrand – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor […]
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03
Jul
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Buchalter Nemer Attorneys Named 2014 Northern California Super Lawyers and “Rising Stars”
Awards
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Eight attorneys in the firm’s San Francisco office were named 2014 Northern California Super Lawyers. These attorneys have attained a high degree of peer recognition […]
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Presentation
Peter Bertrand to Speak at the Attorney-Certified Public Accountants Conference
July 3rd, 2009
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- Co-lead counsel in month-long trial representing publicly traded heavy equipment manufacturer based in Korea. Obtained seven-figure breach of contract and fraud judgment. Proved alter ego liability regarding defendants’ founders. Obtained full defense judgment on all counter-claims.
- Secured a multi-million dollar award, covering attorney fees, in an arbitration tied to a Silicon Valley debt fund partnership. The dispute encompassed unfair competition and contract disagreements. The arbitrator confirmed our right to punitive damages, supported by clear and convincing evidence, along with entitlement to non-monetary damages like emotional distress and reputational harm.
- Represented a major semiconductor company in a trade secret theft case which ultimately resulted in a complete defense jury verdict for the client. Plaintiffs were seeking an eight-figure recovery but received nothing in the action.
- Represented a financial institution against breach of contract, conversion, intentional misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation claims for which plaintiffs were seeking damages in the amount of an eight figure claim. At the conclusion of a seven-week jury trial, obtained a complete defense verdict for the client, as well as a seven-figure recovery on the client’s cross-claim.
- Represented a financial institution in trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition and employee raiding case. Obtained a preliminary injunction and permanent injunction prohibiting the defendants from doing business with any person or entity solicited by use of client’s confidential data, and a $47 million settlement in favor of the client.
- Represented company in the title industry in a trade secret misappropriation, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition and employee raiding case. Obtained a preliminary injunction, and after a 3-1/2 month jury trial, obtained a multi-million dollar award in favor of client, including an order requiring defecting employees to repay portions of wages and bonuses received while engaging in unfair competition.
- Represented a financial institution in the defense of lender liability case asserting in excess of $15 million in damages in U.S. District Court. Successfully obtained a dismissal with prejudice of the action on a motion to dismiss.
- Represented a financial institution in the film finance industry in IFTA arbitration. Obtained a $20 million compensatory damage award, a six-figure award of sanctions for discovery abuses against the Defendants and counsel, and a recommended $10 million award of punitive damages.
- Represented financial institution in defense of a $50 million lender liability and RICO claims for aiding and abetting a Ponzi scheme and obtained dismissals in both the federal district court and state courts.
- Represented a corporate client in the defense of a trade secret and breach of fiduciary duty case and obtained a six-figure recovery by way of settlement on counterclaim for defamation, trade libel and unfair competition.
- Represented corporate client in the prosecution of a trade secret and unfair competition case and obtained a preliminary injunction which required immediate turnover of misappropriated data, a prohibition on doing business with customers through the use of client’s confidential data, and requiring the defendants to cooperate in correcting misleading statements which implied the defendants were a continuation of, or affiliated with client’s business.
- Represented a financial institution as lead participant in connection with a major bankruptcy in which total secured debt exceeded $750 million with multiple lending tiers, including warehouse lines, mezzanine lenders, residual lines of credit, and significant priority disputes in both pre- and post-bankruptcy planning and litigation. By virtue of our representation, a chapter 11 plan was confirmed under which, among other things, the participants’ recovery improved by over $10 million.
Mr. Bertrand earned his J.D. from The University of California College of the Law, San Francisco in 1979, where he also served as the student body president. He received his B.A. in Political Science with great distinction from the University of California, Berkeley.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Additional Specialties
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Financial Institutions Litigation
Internet/E-Commerce
Intellectual Property Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Trade Secret Disputes