About James Matthew
James Matthew Wagstaffe is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1980. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Wagstaffe is a founding partner at Kerr & Wagstaffe LLP, a law firm located in San Francisco, California. He has been practicing law for over 45 years, serving clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
Mr. Wagstaffe earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, in 1980. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at Stanford University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications in 1974. During his time at Stanford, he was actively involved in student government and contributed to the university's student newspaper.
Mr. Wagstaffe concentrates his practice in the areas of intellectual property law and constitutional law. He represents individuals and businesses in matters involving patent disputes, trademark infringements, and First Amendment issues. His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts.
Throughout his career, Mr. Wagstaffe has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to founding his own firm, he worked as an associate at a mid-size litigation firm in San Francisco for ten years.
Mr. Wagstaffe is an active member of the San Francisco Bar Association and the California State Bar Association. He holds membership in the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law. He is also a certified mediator through the San Francisco Superior Court mediation program. Mr. Wagstaffe is fluent in English and Spanish, allowing him to serve the diverse communities of the Bay Area effectively.
