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Robert Becher's practice focuses on representing both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes business litigation and arbitration matters.  He has significant experience litigating complex business disputes, cases involving business torts and antitrust actions.  In the intellectual property field, he has litigated trade secret and patent disputes involving a variety of technologies such as semiconductors and rocket engines.

Mr. Becher also has deep expertise in the arbitration field and has served as lead counsel during multiple arbitrations.  He has represented clients in international and domestic arbitrations.  He has litigated complex arbitrations before JAMS, AAA, NASD and other arbitral bodies.  He keeps abreast of developments in the arbitration field and is an editor of the Firm's arbitration newsletter, Arbitration Trends.

Mr. Becher represents Micron Technology, Inc. and Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc., both providers of advanced semiconductor solutions, in patent and antitrust actions.

In matters involving aerospace, satellites and space technology, Mr. Becher has represented Northrop Grumman Corporation, TRW Inc., XM Satellite Radio Inc., DIRECTV and Loral Space & Communications Ltd. 

In the financial services area, he has represented Contango Capital Advisors, Inc. and Platinum Equity, LLC.

Obtained a ruling from the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, following a one week bench trial, that Rambus Inc. could not enforce twelve patents related to computer memory against Micron Technology, Inc. because it engaged in bad-faith spoliation of evidence.

Defended MediaTek, Broadcom, NVIDIA and others in an ITC investigation brought by Rambus regarding memory controllers.

Represented two German nationals who moved to Santa Barbara and sued media giant Bertelsmann AG and its former CEO.  While working for Bertelsmann, these former executives had been the driving force behind the creation and development of AOL Europe, a joint venture between Bertelsmann and AOL.  When Bertelsmann sold its interest in AOL Europe for $6.75 billion, it refused to compensate plaintiffs.  They asserted claims for breach of contract and breach of partnership agreement, among others.  We obtained a $295 million verdict and the case settled for $192 million.  It was the seventh largest jury verdict in the nation that year.

Obtained summary judgment in federal court on behalf of a major aerospace company faced with a $133 million claim for negligence, negligent misrepresentation and fraud related to the alleged manufacture of defective solar arrays for nine commercial satellites.  Another defendant in this case paid over $20 million dollars to settle.  Subsequently obtained a complete affirmance of this decision before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Won a defense arbitration award after a week-long AAA arbitration involving the alleged breach of a contract to purchase application specific integrated circuits.

Successfully defended a major broadcaster of satellite television against a $12 million dollar claim for breach of contract based upon the cancellation of a contract for the production of promotional spots.

Won a verdict in favor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after a bench trial on claims for inducing breach of contract and inducing trespass.  Successfully defended the verdict on appeal to the California Court of Appeal.

Obtained a sweeping temporary restraining order on behalf of a financial services company on the grounds that a departing employee had misappropriated trade secrets and violated the non-solicitation provision in his contract.  The defendant subsequently agreed to the entry of a stipulated injunction.

Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of defendants in a shareholder's derivative lawsuit brought by the holder of one of the first direct broadcast satellite permits.

Represented Northrop Grumman in a trade secret case related to a proprietary rocket engine technology and defended against a related antitrust lawsuit in which the plaintiff alleged that Northrop Grumman monopolized the market for launch vehicles for space.