Kathleen F. Sherman
Associate
Business Litigation; White Collar Criminal Defense
kathy.sherman@berliner.com
408-286-5800
Ms. Sherman represents individuals and businesses in civil and criminal litigation at the state and federal levels, specializing in intellectual property disputes, complex commercial litigation, and white collar criminal defense.
Prior to joining Berliner Cohen, Ms. Sherman served as a research attorney for the San Mateo County Superior Court. She has also worked as a contract attorney for a criminal defense firm and clerked in the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County District Attorneys Offices. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Sherman worked as a Software Development Engineer, Software Project Manager, and Sales Representative in a variety of high-tech companies, including Hewlett Packard.
Education/Honors
- Santa Clara University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2005
- Recipient of full-tuition Dean’s Fellowship
- Witkin Achievement Awards: Advanced Criminal Law, Drug Abuse Law, and Property
- CALI Excellence for the Future Awards: Consumer Protection, Property, and Wills and Trusts
- University of Scranton, B.S., Computer Science and Mathematics, magna cum laude
- Recipient of full-tuition Presidential Merit Scholarship
Representative Cases
- Successfully defended executive of financial services company in federal felony jury trial against charges of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud; obtained hung jury, resulting in no-jail misdemeanor offer from prosecution
- Defended corporation and its CEO against claims of misappropriation of trade secrets contained in Java source code and misappropriation of corporate opportunities; obtained favorable settlement after aggressive technical discovery and motion practice
- Defended former restaurant owner in wrongful death case stemming from fire on premises after transfer to new owners; obtained release of liability for minimal settlement
- Obtained outright dismissal of state misdemeanor battery charge on behalf of student suffering from misdiagnosed mental illness
- Obtained outright dismissal of state misdemeanor petty theft charge on behalf of client suffering from untreated mental illness
- Obtained withdrawal of guilty plea and dismissal of case on behalf of non-resident client who pleaded guilty to state misdemeanor charge without being advised of his right to counsel or of the potential immigration consequences of his plea
Professional Admissions
- State Bar of California
- United States District Court, Northern, Eastern and Central Districts of California
- United States Bankruptcy Court of Northern California
Presentations
- YouTube: AAUW Connections Program, March 31, 2011. Topic: "Changing Careers after 40" Part 1
- YouTube: AAUW Connections Program, March 31, 2011. Topic: "Changing Careers after 40" Part 2
Activities/Memberships
- State Bar of California
- American Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Federal Bar Association
- Santa Clara County Bar Association (High Tech Law Section Executive Committee Member)
- San Mateo County Bar Association