Bob Stumpf is Of Counsel in the firm's San Francisco office.
Bob's principal areas of practice are commercial litigation and appellate law. His commercial litigation practice focuses upon financial institution litigation, real estate litigation, securities litigation, contract and partnership disputes, bankruptcy litigation, and other types of complex commercial litigation.
For more than 20 years, Bob was a Certified Specialist in Appellate Law.
Reported Appellate Decisions
Abdullah v. U.S. Security Associates, Inc. (9th Cir. 2013) 731 F.3d 952
Baxter v. California State Teachers' Retirement System (2017) 18 Cal.App.5th 340
Derek Andrew, Inc. v. Poof Apparel Corp. (9th Cir. 2008) 528 F.3d 696
Applied Equipment Corporation v. Litton Saudi Arabia, Ltd. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 503
Blaser v. California State Teachers' Retirement System (2019) 37 Cal.App.5th 340
Campbell v. Parker-Hannifin Corporation (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 1534
Comeaux v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company (9th Cir. 1990) 915 F.2d 1264
Davis v. Birr, Wilson & Co., Inc. (9th Cir. 1988) 839 F.2d 1369
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation v. Sovereign State (9th Cir. 1977) 557 F.2d 683
Finch v. Brenda Raceway, et al. (1994) 22 Cal.App.4th 547
Gee v. Southwest Airlines (9th Cir. 1997) 110 F.3d 1400
Glover v. BIC (1992) 6 F.3d 1318
ICF Kaiser Engineers, Inc. v. Superior Court (1999) 75 Cal. App. 4th 226
Jackson & Perkins Co. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Board (1978) 77 Cal.App.3d 830
Mart v. Severson (2002) 95 Cal.App.4th 521
Metropolitan Philip v. Steiger (2000) 82 Cal. App. 4th 923
Protestant Episcopal Church v. Barker (1981) 115 Cal.App.3d 599
Santisas v. Goodin (1998) 17 Cal.4th 599
Sartor v. Superior Court (1982) 136 Cal.App.3d 322
Snyder v. Marcus & Millichap (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1099
Software Design & Application, Ltd. v. Hoefer & Arnett, Inc. (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 472
Stockton Citizens for Sensible Planning v. City of Stockton (2010) 48 Cal.4th 481.
Union Safe Deposit Bank v. Floyd (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 25
Westly v. U.S. Bancorp (2003) 114 Cal.App.4th 577
Xuereb v. Marcus & Millichap (1992) 3 Cal.App.4th 1338
Yuba City Unified School Dist. v. California State Teachers' Retirement System (2017) 18 Cal.App.5th 648
Representative Engagements
Represented a national retailer in the California Supreme Court in a successful challenge to land use rulings.
Represented a Silicon Valley firm in a successful petition to the California Supreme Court establishing the principle that a contracting party cannot be held liable in tort for interfering with its own contract.
Represented a national bank in a case in the California Supreme Court that clarified the scope of the "litigation privilege" under California law.
Represented a national commercial brokerage firm in the California Supreme Court in an action that clarified the nature and scope of contractual attorneys fees.
Represented a major real estate development corporation in the successful resolution of a homeowner/class action dispute involving more than 150 residences.
Represented a national bank in a class action alleging unlawful sharing of customer information.
Represented The Hillman Company, a major private corporation, in lender liability litigation involving a leveraged buy-out between the two largest dairies in California.
Represented several commercial brokerage firms in numerous cases involving the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets and "raiding" of employees and clients.
Represented a national bank in prosecuting a trade secret claim against a former employee.
Represented an Indonesian development corporation in a complicated jurisdictional dispute leading to dismissal of all claims.
Represented Southwest Airlines in appellate litigation concerning the scope of preemption under the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.
Represented Cessna Aircraft Company in appellate litigation concerning the scope and interpretation of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994.
Represented a regional bank in a lender liability dispute involving the bank's largest commercial credit.
Represented a national accounting firm in the successful resolution of major litigation involving a failed oil syndication empire.
Represented a technology company in obtaining affirmance of a federal court dismissal based upon separation of powers and "state secrets" doctrine.
Represented a commercial brokerage firm in establishing principle that a contractual attorneys fees clause can include both tort and contract claims.
Represented the FDIC in obtaining affirmance on the appeal of a multimillion-dollar judgment against the founder of a major Southern California bank.
Represented McKesson HBOC, a San Francisco-headquartered public company, in litigation leading to a $3-million refund of sales taxes.
Represented Westinghouse and numerous regional companies in connection with labor litigation and arbitration disputes.
Represented American Hospital Supply Corporation in the successful reversal on appeal of a $2-million judgment.
Represented a New York-based investment firm in the successful reversal on appeal of a $1.6-million judgment.
Represented officers and directors of a high-tech public company in a derivative action dispute arising out of hard-fought proxy litigation.
Represented a commercial brokerage firm in the successful reversal of a punitive damage award and other damages on appeal.
Represented brokerage firms and claimants in more than 30 arbitration hearings before the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Represented Parker Hannifin, a Fortune 500 manufacturer, in a successful reversal on appeal of a $6-million damages award.
J.D., University of California, Hastings, 1976, Order of the Coif
M.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1971
A.B., Harvard College, 1970, magna cum laude
California
Frandzel Award for Superior and Noteworthy Assistance by an Outside Counsel to the California Banking Industry, Western Bankers Association, 2020
Lawyer of the Year – Appellate, Best Lawyers, 2021
Best Lawyer in America, Best Lawyers, 2008-2026
Northern California Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2007-2021, 2023-2025
Board member, Membership Chair, and Fellow, American and California Academies of Appellate Lawyers
Chair, California State Bar's Appellate Law Advisory Commission (2013)
Member, California Academy of Appellate Lawyers
Member, Board of Governors, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (1998-2013)
Chair, Financial Institutions Committee of The State Bar of California (2012)
Chair, San Francisco Bank Attorneys Association (2010)
Chair, Appellate Practice Section, San Francisco Bar Association (2002-2004)
Mediator, First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco
Practitioner Advisor, Appellate Advocacy Program at UC Berkeley School of Law (1995-present)
Pro Tempore Judge, San Francisco Superior Court (1992-present)
Member, California Supreme Court Historical Society (2002-present)
Moderator, "The Future of Law Practice 2027," American Academy of Appellate Lawyers Fall Meeting (October 2017)
Panelist, "Presiding Justices Roundtable," Bar Association of San Francisco (December 2014)
Speaker, "Top Ten Things Trial Lawyers Like, Don't Like and Really Don't Like About Securities Experts," Securities Experts Roundtable (August 2014)
Speaker, "Consumer Bank Litigation: A Fearsome Frolic from Fair to Faulty, Flawed to Fearsome," San Francisco Bank Attorneys Association (September 2009)
Moderator, "Procedures and Pitfalls In the First District Court of Appeal," Bar Association of San Francisco (May 2009)
Panelist, "Petitions For Review in the California Supreme Court" (with Associate Justice Ming Chin), State Bar of California (September 2008)
Speaker, "Oral Argument: Lessons Learned," First District Court of Appeal Professionalism Series (February 2008)
Panelist, "90 Days After Trial: The No Person's Land of Civil Litigation," San Francisco Bar Association (April 2007)
Panelist, "How Not To Lose Your Appeal In The Trial Court," State Bar Litigation/Appellate Section (January 2007)
Panelist, "Everything You've Always Wanted To Know About Petitions For Review In The California Supreme Court" (with Associate Justice Joyce Kennard), Bar Association of San Francisco (2002)
Speaker, "Valuing Corporations Under Section 2000 of the Corporations Code," California Society of Certified Public Accountants, (2004)
Moderator, Appellate Practice in the First District Court of Appeal (Bar Association of San Francisco) (1999, 2002, 2005)
Co-Chair, ALI-ABA Professional Skills Course: "Litigating Damages in a Commercial Case: How to Argue and Win!" Presented by the American Law Institute/American Bar Association in San Francisco, California (2003)
Panelist, "Appellate Review of Punitive Damages Awards," Bar Association of San Francisco (2004)