1302 El Camino Real Suite 175, Menlo Park, CA USA 94025
Experienced in more than 100 trials representing clients in high value lawsuits, Vince Parrett represents executives, founders, companies, and majority shareholders in sophisticated business litigation. He analyzes claims, protects rights, and tries cases related to breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and many other commercial disputes. Vince’s litigation experience also covers the spectrum of business disputes including shareholders’ actions, securities litigation, fraud, breach of stock agreements, breach of contract and defamation, and intentional interference with contractual relations.
As a trial-tested and ardent litigator, Vince has built a reputation for effectiveness before a jury and civility throughout the litigation process. He credits pretrial preparation and strong deposition skills for his ability to achieve clients’ goals in mediation, arbitration, and at trial.
Prior to joining the firm, Vince was a trial lawyer and partner in the Silicon Valley office of a California-based business litigation law firm. He began his career conducting trials as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General Corps at Naval Station Norfolk, the U.S. Navy's largest base in the world. Following his military service, he honed his civilian trial skills at well-known plaintiffs' firms in Manhattan and South Carolina where he focused on mass tort liability claims including the September 11 consolidated litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Big Tobacco, and lead paint litigation representing several major California counties and cities.
As part of his commitment to the legal profession, Vince is active in several legal organizations including the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Association of Business Trial Lawyers—Northern California, and The Honorable William A. Ingram American Inn of Court. Vince served as the 2020 chair of the Santa Clara County Bar Association's Civil Practice Committee. He provides pro bono services to the civil justice system including through his service in Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Vince was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2023 and 2024 in the area of Commercial Litigation. He was recognized as a Northern California "Super Lawyer" in 2023 and the four years immediately preceding for Business Litigation by Super Lawyers magazine and also honored as Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2014 by the social-impact organization Public Justice.
Experience
Successfully defended CEO of a start-up company enabling fans to buy, sell, and exchange event tickets for high-profile events, who was accused by former employee who claimed to be a co-founder seeking multi-million-dollar tort damages, including a substantial equity percentage in the company, during a sensitive fund-raising round from institutional investors. Case resolved successfully before litigation filed.
Successfully defended AT&T Inc. and DIRECTV in Stalians v. AT&T Inc. et al., in Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, involving claims of fraud under California consumer protection statutes including exposure to punitive damages. After being brought aboard as first-chair trial counsel three weeks before the case was set for trial and engaging in rigorous pre-trial briefing as well as motion in limine practice, the case resolved and was dismissed with prejudice.
*Successfully defended in a Santa Clara County Superior Court civil action a global multi-family office managing the finances of several of Silicon Valley’s most prominent executives, winning a dismissal of the entire case within forty-eight hours after deposing and impeaching the plaintiff’s expert witness.
*Served as trial counsel for the plaintiff – a purchaser of a high-tech manufacturing company in San Jose – in trying her claims of breach of contract against the sellers, two defendants, and concealment against one of the defendants, in a sharply-contested retrial in Santa Clara County Superior Court. Plaintiff claimed that the defendants failed to disclose accurate and complete information to her during due diligence before they sold the manufacturing company to her to inflate the purchase price for their own gain. This jury trial win was particularly challenging because plaintiff, represented by different counsel, had already lost four of her seven claims at a first jury trial that resulted in a mistrial on the remaining claims of concealment and breach of contract. In the retrial, after eight days of trial and several days of deliberations, secured a unanimous jury verdict of concealment and breach of contract against one of the defendants, and a jury verdict of breach of contract against other defendant. The jury awarded plaintiff damages in the amount of $577,600 against the defendants. Based on the attorney’s fees clause in the underlying contract, the defendants also agreed to pay an additional $775,000 to plaintiff for attorney’s fees and costs.
*Served as trial counsel for a prominent international litigation-funding company sued for rescission in Santa Clara County Superior Court, secured a victory for defendant after a six-week trial in Santa Clara County Superior Court in a complex case involving the intersection of litigation funding and champerty under international law.
*Served as trial counsel for a global corporate leader in semiconductor equipment services and its CEO. After leading expedited discovery involving more than a dozen depositions and navigating multiple ex parte applications and motions involving consolidation, continuance, amendment of the pleadings, judgment on the pleadings, expedited discovery, expert discovery, and writs of attachment, among others, all cases were resolved successfully for the company and its CEO.
*Represented the CEO of a for-profit educational organization as a third-party witness, successfully quashed the subpoena against him to testify live at trial in Delaware after defending his deposition.
*Represented 11 California municipalities and counties for the People of the State of California, on a trial team that won $1.15 billion verdict.
*Served on a trial team of plaintiffs’ co-liaison counsel representing the largest number of September 11 wrongful death victims. Briefed, argued, and won motions in limine before Judge Hellerstein (SDNY) on federal preemption, conflicts of laws, and admissibility of evidence to prove damages recoverable against airlines and airport security companies.
*As first-chair lead trial counsel, won jury verdict in federal court against one of the largest tobacco companies in wrongful death tobacco case in 2013.
*Argued and won lead plaintiff hearing in securities fraud class action case in Chicago federal court.
*Argued and won motion to dismiss hearing in a supermarket chain case against opposing counsel, a former Vice Chancellor of Delaware.
*Deposed CFO of target company’s financial advisor on the deal. Case successfully resolved shortly thereafter.
*As co-lead counsel for co-lead plaintiff in securities fraud class action, deposed multiple Rule 30(b)(6) witnesses and defended deposition of CFO of client, one of the largest pension funds in Europe.
*Wrote winning amicus brief on behalf of an international humanitarian organization to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in support of the SEC’s Final Rule enforcing Dodd-Frank Section 1502 that requires corporations to disclose publicly their use of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
*Represented hundreds of American and Israeli terror victims in international litigation seeking to hold accountable terrorist financiers who allegedly supported dozens of terror attacks in Israel during the Second Intifada. Deposed central banking experts on corporate compliance regarding financial regulations, anti-money laundering procedures, and anti-terrorist financing practices.
*Experience gained by attorney prior to joining Kilpatrick
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Publication
New York University School of Law J.D. (1998)
Yale University B.A. (1994) Economics, cum laude
California (2005)
New York (2002)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. Supreme Court
The Honorable William A. Ingram Inn Of Court, Executive Committee, Membership Chair (2022-2023); Public Service and Outreach Pupillage Group, Member (2021-2023)
Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Northern California Chapter, Member
Santa Clara County Bar Association, Civil Practice Committee, Member (2016-2023), Chair (2020)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy – Deposition Course, Faculty Member
Eichler Swim & Tennis Club, Palo Alto, Board of Directors, Vice President (2018-2020), President (2021)
United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Lieutenant (1999-2003)
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