Grellas Shah LLP partner recognized in the 2027 edition for excellence in commercial litigation
SAN FRANCISCO (August 20, 2026) — Grellas Shah LLP is pleased to announce that partner Seth Kugler has been recognized in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Commercial Litigation. This marks Kugler’s second consecutive year receiving this honor, which celebrates attorneys who have demonstrated outstanding professional excellence in private practice early in their careers.
Selection for Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is based on a rigorous, peer-reviewed evaluation process. Fewer than one percent of practicing lawyers nationwide receive this distinction, making it a strong indicator of peer respect and future leadership in the legal profession.
Kugler focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including disputes related to corporate governance and breach of fiduciary duties, trade secret and IP misappropriation, and artificial intelligence litigation. He specializes in preventing and resolving all manner of disputes among and between corporate founders, directors, officers, investors, shareholders, LLC members, and other current and former business partners.
“When founders and companies face high-stakes disputes, fast, decisive legal action is critical,” said Seth Kugler. “My approach is built on aggressive, highly creative strategies and an ability to dissect complex technical issues, lay tactical traps, and outflank the opposition. Being recognized by Best Lawyers is a rewarding validation of the work I’ve done on behalf of my clients.”
In recent years, Kugler has developed significant expertise at the intersection of trade secret protection and artificial intelligence. He recently served as lead counsel in a landmark federal trade secrets case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California related to the use of artificial intelligence in an attempt to launder misappropriated trade secrets.
In that matter, Kugler successfully secured a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), a preliminary injunction, and a finding of contempt on behalf of a company client against a former senior employee. The defendant had stolen proprietary company assets and utilized them as training inputs to build an AI model designed to replicate his former employer’s capabilities and solicit its clients. Kugler’s swift legal action protected the client’s competitive advantage and proprietary intellectual property.
Admitted to practice in both California and New York, Kugler represents clients in state and federal courts across both coasts. Before joining Grellas Shah LLP, he practiced in the New York and San Francisco offices of Duane Morris LLP. He began his career in New York handling SEC and FINRA investigations, internal investigations for corporations and government agencies, and litigation related to contracts for the development and implementation of new technology.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Seth Kugler, please contact Bree Devita at bree@themaverickpr.com.
About Grellas Shah LLP
Grellas Shah LLP specializes in startup, technology, and venture law, as well as complex business litigation, providing comprehensive wraparound services for small, mid-market, and mature businesses, executives, and investors. The firm advises clients throughout the business lifecycle, including company formation, venture financing, intellectual property strategy, commercial agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and high-stakes disputes involving IP, securities, employment, contracts, and regulatory matters. Grellas Shah LLP attorneys combine legal expertise honed at the world’s most prestigious law firms with agility, efficiency, and direct access to meet each client’s unique business objectives. For more information, visit Grellas.com. Continue the conversation on LinkedIn.