San Francisco, CA. Nixon Peabody LLP has appointed highly lauded senior litigation partner Robert A. Weikert to lead the AmLaw 100 law firm’s San Francisco office, where attorneys work with a diverse range of clients—from startups to iconic brands—across corporate/transactional, intellectual property, real estate and construction, labor and employment, and litigation practice areas.
“Rob and his practice have long been integral to the growth of our presence in the Bay Area, helping to establish a culture of innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship that parallels the vibrancy of San Francisco’s business community,” said Stephen D. Zubiago, CEO and managing partner of Nixon Peabody. “Rob has been an active member of that community for many years, and we look forward to his leadership driving the continued success of the San Francisco office as we build new and existing client relationships and attract top talent.”
In addition to his role leading the San Francisco office, Rob will maintain his robust commercial litigation practice. Rob represents clients from a wide spectrum of industries in complex, high-stakes disputes, with a particular focus on intellectual property matters, including licensing, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and digital media–related cases. He works with a number of high-profile clients, providing counsel and representation in all types, and through all stages, of dispute resolution, including at trial and in the appellate courts.
During his nearly 15 years at Nixon Peabody, Rob has held a variety of leadership roles, most recently completing in 2021 his seventh year as co-leader of Nixon Peabody’s largest practice group, Complex Commercial Disputes. He has also served on the firm’s Policy Committee. Rob is ranked as a leading California lawyer for trademark enforcement and litigation by the World Trademark Review 1000 and recommended in The Legal 500 United States for Intellectual Property—Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters). Rob has also been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” since 2009 by the publishers of the Northern California Super Lawyers magazine.
As San Francisco office managing partner, Rob succeeds Karen D. Ng, the first Asian American woman to lead one of Nixon Peabody’s offices when she assumed the role in 2019. During her tenure, Karen was instrumental in the office’s move to a dynamic and modern space in the heart of the Financial District that reflects the firm’s culture of collaboration and innovation. She will continue her practice as a nationally renowned employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) attorney.
“While the pandemic has changed how and where we work, it has not impacted our ability to provide first-rate service to our clients or to attract top-flight talent to our team,” said Rob. “We have a wonderful and dedicated group of people in the San Francisco office. It will be a privilege to work with them in this new position, and I look forward to building on our successes as we continue to expand the office.”
Rob received his law degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Among other things, he has been a member of the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee since 1999, having served on the board of directors and executive committee and as the ethics compliance officer. Prior to joining Nixon Peabody in 2008, Rob spent his entire career at the former Thelen LLP law firm.
