Biography
Mr. Kappes has been a partner in the firm since 1997, and has extensive trial and pretrial experience in a variety of commercial litigation matters. Mr. Kappes has represented clients in complex cases involving general civil litigation, trade secrets, professional malpractice, insurance bad faith litigation, qui tam actions, Business and Professions Code Section 17200 actions, SOX proceedings and unfair competition litigation. His experience includes jury trials, bench trials, single and panel arbitrations, administrative hearings, as well as writ proceedings. Mr. Kappes has argued cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, and the Third District Court of Appeals. He has also represented clients in employment-related issues, including advisory matters, trade secret audits, contracts, discrimination, whistleblower cases and wrongful termination litigation.
Mr. Kappes has an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Education
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law (1986)
B.A., Butler University, summa cum laude (1983)
Admissions
- California
- District of Columbia
- Texas
Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California