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Robert A. Brundage

Robert A. Brundage

Partner
Phone:408-961-4511

For over 30 years, Robert Brundage has practiced commercial litigation, emphasizing appellate law, complex motions and jury instructions. He has defended major motor vehicle, motorcycle and railroad locomotive manufacturers, leading to several of the leading product-liability precedents in California. Outside of product liability, he has represented employers, financial institutions, and a foreign government, among other major clients. 
 
Robert’s experience spans diverse cases, including product liability, business disputes, class actions, employment disputes, federal preemption and other topics. He has represented clients before the U.S. Supreme Court, numerous U.S. Courts of Appeals, the California Supreme Court, most every district of the California Courts of Appeal, federal courts throughout California and multiple state courts.
   
Robert is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, where he served four terms as chair of the Appellate Practice Committee and now sits on the Amicus Curiae Committee. He routinely handles appeals for major motor vehicle manufacturers. Additionally, Robert regularly updates motor-vehicle clients on appellate law developments.

Outside of work, Robert enjoys international and U.S. travel, cooking, photography and gardening.

Bar Admissions

  • California, 1992

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • Supreme Court of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Education

  • Harvard College, B.A., 1988

    manga cum laude

    Major: Biochemistry

  • University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1991
    Order of the Coif

Professional Associations

    • American Bar Association
    • Bar Association of San Francisco
      —Appellate Section
    • International Association of Defense Counsel
      —Chair, Appellate Practice Committee
      —Past Chair, Yancey Memorial Award Committee
      —Vice Chair, Amicus Curiae Committee
      —Product Liability, Diversity and Inclusion, and Employment Law Committees

Recent News, Events and Blogs


Speaking Engagements

  • "Recent Verdict and Legal Trends," Co-Presenter, ABA TIPS Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference, April 2023 
  • “An Appealing Comparison: Basics Of How Commercial Cases Are Appealed In Different Countries' Court Systems,” Presenter and Moderator, IADC Appellate Practice Committee Webinar, May 2022
  • "Class Action Litigation from the Automotive Perspective," Co-Presenter, Webinar, October 2018
  • "2018 Doing Business in the Golden State - Business Litigation in the California Supreme Court," Co-Presenter, Webinar, May 2018
  • "2017 Technology May-Rathon: Drivers, Start Your Firewalls: Automotive Cybersecurity," Co-Presenter, Webinar, May 2017

Publications

  • "Article III Standing to Appeal in Federal Court: What Business Lawyers Need to Know," Co-Author, IADC Defense Counsel Journal, October 2024
  • "Appellate Practice Standard of Review," Author, IADC Committee Newsletter, June 2017
  • "Don't Get Thrown Out on Your Derriere: Common Mistakes in Establishing Federal Subject-Matter Jurisdiction," Author, Defense Counsel Journal, April 2016
  • "Court Holds That Out-Of-State Witnesses Need Not Travel to California for Deposition," Author, Lawflash, August 2011
  • "Supreme Court Holds That Arbitration Agreements Prohibiting Consumer Class Arbitrations Are Enforceable," Author, Lawflash, April 2011
     

Clerkships

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Hon. John T. Noonan, Law Clerk, 1991 – 1992