Partner

San Francisco

Direct: 415.227.0900

Office: 415.227.0900

pbertrand@buchalter.com

Bar Admissions

California

Overview

|

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 Top Lawyer rating by San Francisco Magazine and a Judicial AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell in 2020, and was recognized as a Top Rated Lawyer in Commercial Bankruptcy, Creditor-Debtor Rights, Banking & Finance, and Commercial Litigation by American Lawyer Media in 2013 and 2014. He has been named one of Northern California’s Super Lawyers eleven times (2005–2006, 2008–2010, and 2014–2019), including the Corporate Counsel Edition (2009–2010), and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers in the Bay Area in Bankruptcy Litigation and Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law since 2009.

Mr. Bertrand has earned numerous prestigious honors throughout his career. In 2026, he was named Lawyer of the Year by The American Registry. In 2025, he was recognized as one of California’s Top Legal Elites, honored as a Lawyer of Distinction, listed among America’s Top Professionals, acknowledged as the Most Recognized Professional by the Top 100 Legal Registry, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Top 100 Lawyers. In 2024, he was selected as Attorney of the Year by Top 100 Lawyers Magazine. Earlier accolades include being named one of the Top 50 Most Fearless Attorneys, Lawyer of the Year by Who’s Who, and receiving Corporate America’s Legal Elite Award for Best Financial Solutions Practice Group – California in 2016, along with recognition as America’s Most Honored Professional.

  • 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.

Admissions

  • California
  • United States Court of Appeals 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

Education

  • The University of California College of the Law, J.D.
    • Served as Student Body President
  • University of California, B.A., Political Science, With Great Distinction

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Financial Institutions Litigation
  • Internet/E-Commerce
  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Trade Secret Disputes

Featured Content

Buchalter Attorneys Named 2026 Best Lawyers in America

Peter Bertrand Honored with Top 50 Fearless Attorneys Award by…

Peter Bertrand Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Top 100…

Buchalter Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers in America

View all News

Breaking the Chains: The Future of Restrictive Covenants in 2025

View all Insights