Daniel J. Bergeson is the founding partner of Bergeson, LLP. Mr. Bergeson’s expertise encompasses all aspects of a business trial practice with an emphasis in securities, commercial, and intellectual property litigation. He has conducted numerous trials in both California and Delaware courts, as well as over 40 investigations on behalf of special litigation committees and audit committees. He has extensive experience in representing officers and directors before the SEC, DOJ, and other government regulatory agencies. Mr. Bergeson has litigated cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States. In addition, Mr. Bergeson has represented numerous executives regarding complex compensation and benefits issues, including the preparation of employment agreements and separation agreements, as well as litigating these issues both in court and through the arbitration process.
Mr. Bergeson is among an elite group selected for inclusion in the 2008 through 2024 editions of Best Lawyers in America in the specialties of intellectual property law, commercial litigation, and corporate law. He was selected by Best Lawyers as “2020 San Jose Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – Securities” and “2013 San Jose Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – Intellectual Property.” Mr. Bergeson is also consistently listed among Silicon Valley’s Top Attorneys in San Jose Magazine, and has been named as one of the Best Lawyers in the Bay Area by Bay Area Lawyer Magazine. He has been named by Benchmark Litigation as a 2019 -2023 California Star. He has received the highest peer review rating for ethical standards and legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell for the past twenty years. Mr. Bergeson also has been named to the 2004 through 2023 “Northern California Super Lawyers®” list as compiled by Law & Politics. In addition, this is the fifth consecutive year that Mr. Bergeson has been selected to America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®.
Mr. Bergeson is the past President of the Board of Governors of The Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), Northern California Chapter. He is the co-founder of Ascolta Ventures, LLC, an early stage venture capital firm, which he co-founded with Michael Abbott, formerly a senior partner with Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers. Mr. Bergeson was also a co-founder of ASI, an early stage venture capital firm which he co-founded with Al Shugart, the co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Seagate Technology and member of the Computer Museum Hall of Fame. Mr. Bergeson is also on the Board of Advisors of DOOR, a company focused on solving various housing problems through non-linear housing equity vehicles. Further, he serves on University of Michigan Law’s Development and Alumni Relations Committee (DARC).
Education:
- Stanford University Graduate School of Business – EPGC (2012)
- University of Michigan ( J.D., 1982)
- The Honors College at Michigan State University (B.A., 1978), summa cum laude,
Phi Beta Kappa
Updated Sep 2023
