About Arturo
Arturo J. González: Trusted Commercial Litigation & Trial Lawyer in San Francisco
Arturo J. González is a highly respected and experienced commercial litigation and trial lawyer based in San Francisco. As Chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Commercial Litigation and Trial Practice Group and a former co-chair of our Litigation Department, Mr. González specializes in high-stakes, bet-the-company litigation, consistently delivering exceptional results for his clients. He’s renowned for his strategic thinking, meticulous preparation, and persuasive courtroom advocacy – skills honed through decades of successfully defending complex cases at the highest levels.
Mr. González has a proven track record of victory, having spearheaded three trials where the plaintiffs sought over $1 billion in damages. Notably, he successfully defended Cypress Semiconductor Corporation against Silvaco Data Systems in a significant trade secrets case, demonstrating his ability to navigate intricate intellectual property disputes. In another landmark case, he represented a national bank in a complex class action trial, ultimately prevailing on all claims but one, with the California Supreme Court affirming the bank’s position.
His third billion-dollar case involved representing a former member of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum board of directors who was sued for fraud by the Oakland Raiders. The jury returned a compelling defense verdict, highlighting Mr. González’s ability to craft and execute a winning strategy, even in challenging circumstances. Beyond these major cases, Mr. González has secured four verdicts exceeding $10 million, including a $10.8 million jury verdict in a breach-of-duty and trade secrets case, where the court found multiple defendants willfully acted. He also achieved a $36.3 million verdict in a highly complex trial involving medical robotics, successfully arguing willful misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract.
Mr. González’s legal expertise extends to a range of commercial litigation matters. He consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of complex legal issues and a dedication to achieving the best possible outcome for his clients. Judges have consistently praised his exceptional trial skills: “the quality of written work product…was of the highest level,” and “the trial advocacy skills were superior,” describing his skills as “phenomenal.”
Recognized as a leading litigator, Mr. González has been repeatedly honored for his contributions. He was honored in The National Law Journal’s 2009 “Winning” Special Report, recognizing him among the country’s top 10 trial lawyers. From 2010-2014, he was selected as one of the country’s top 30 trial lawyers by Legal 500 US, where he was described as “[i]ncredibly impressive on his feet, great storyteller to the judge and jury, highly experienced,” and a “great leader.” Chambers USA also recommends Mr. González as a general commercial litigator, noting that he is “[a] great advocate who quickly establishes a rapport with judges and juries.” He has been named by Daily Journal as one of California’s Top 100 leading lawyers (2006-2012), and is a recommended lawyer by Best Attorney USA (2008-2014).
Practice Areas:
Mr. González’s areas of expertise include:
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Awards & Recognition:
Mr. González’s accomplishments have been widely recognized, including:
- Lawyer of the Year: Bet-the-Company Litigation (San Francisco – 2022)
- Recognized: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Recognized: Commercial Litigation, Recognized: Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Recognized: Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2008
- Listed among the “50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal (2008)
- Named one of the nation’s top 45 lawyers under the age of 45 by The American Lawyer (2003)
- Selected by The National Law Journal as one of the nation’s top 40 lawyers under the age of 40 (1995)
Education & Credentials:
- Bar Admissions: Admitted to the bar in California.
Affiliations:
Mr. González is an associate with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and he previously served as the 2010 President of the Bar Association of San Francisco.
