Jens B. Koepke

Partner
Direct: 424-738-5563
Main: 310-373-4445
jkoepke@sksappeal.com
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Jens has practiced appellate law exclusively for more than 20 years.  He has handled appeals in a range of practice areas – from medical malpractice to partnership disputes – but his substantive experience and expertise is greatest in the intellectual property, anti-SLAPP, probate,  arbitration, media law, commercial litigation, and product liability arenas.  A sampling of his recent published decisions in these areas include Gall v. Smith & Nephew, Inc. (2021) 71 Cal.App.5th 117 [product liability]; Wertheim, LLC v. Currency Corp. (2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 327 [attorney fees]; Rice v. Downs (2021) 73 Cal.App.5th 213 [charging orders & disgorgement]; Yu v. Superior Court (2020) 56 Cal.App.5th 636 [general reference trial procedure]; VVA-TWO LLC v. Impact Development Group (2020) 48 Cal.App.5th 985 [scope of arbitrator authority]; Bernstein v. LaBeouf (2019) 43 Cal.App.5th 15 [anti-SLAPP public issue]; State Ready Mix v. Moffatt & Nichol (2015) 232 Cal.App.4th 1227 [indemnity obligation of design professional; economic loss rule]; Simpson v. Kroger Corporation (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 1352 [false advertising; preemption]; Fillpoint v. Maas (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 1170 [noncompete covenant]; Jules Jordan Video, Inc. v. 144942 Canada Inc. (9th Cir. 2010) 617 F.3d 1146 [copyright, publicity]; Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. v. Tabari (9th Cir. 2010) 610 F.3d 1171 [domain name infringement]; Halicki v. Carroll Shelby International (9th Cir. 2008) 547 F.3d 1213 [trademark, copyright]; and Gallanis-Politis v. Medina (2007) 152 Cal.App.4th 600 [anti-SLAPP].

Being an appellate lawyer allows Jens to combine two of his passions, creative writing and rigorous analysis.  Jens is a Certified Appellate Specialist, as certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and an active member of the appellate bar.  He was invited to become a member of the select California Academy of Appellate Lawyers.  He is the former Chair of the Appellate Courts Section and sits on the executive committee of the Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and was the Co-Membership Chair of the Los Angeles Intellectual Property American Inn of Court.

Prior to founding Shaw Koepke & Satter, Jens was a partner in the appellate practice group at Morris Polich & Purdy.  He started his odyssey into appellate law at the boutique firm of Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland.  Before becoming an appellate lawyer, Jens spent some 10 years as a litigator, so he also understands the realities of being a trial lawyer.  Jens prides himself on understanding his clients’ businesses and accomplishing their goals.

ethics300Jens’ passion for comprehensive exploration of legal issues led him to teaching. He taught Media Law & Ethics at California State University, Northridge for almost 20 years.  He also taught Media Law at California State University, Fullerton and was a teaching assistant for Legal Research Writing at UCLA School of Law.  Starting in law school and ever since, Jens has published articles and lectured on a variety of legal topics.

When he is not practicing appellate law, Jens enjoys backpacking, kayaking, tennis, yoga and spending time with his awesome wife and son and daughter among the critters and canyons of Topanga.  He speaks fluent German and passable French, and has traveled extensively throughout the world.  He is also a long-time member of the Board of Directors at Co-Opportunity, a cooperatively-owned natural foods grocery store in Santa Monica and Culver City.  On weekends, you might find Jens on a Southern California soccer pitch or a pool deck, watching his kids compete.

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, 1990, UCLA Law Review (Associate Editor), Federal Communications Law Journal (Assistant Managing Editor)
  • B.A., Texas A&M University, 1987, Journalism, summa cum laude

Court Admissions

  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Central, Southern and Eastern Districts of California
  • United States Supreme Court

Bar Admissions

  • California, 1990

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • California Academy of Appellate Lawyers
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association: Officer, Appellate Courts Section; Member, Appellate Courts Section; Executive Committee, Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Section; State Appellate Judicial Evaluation Committee (2002-2011)
  • The Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court: Co-Membership Chair (2011-2013); Team Captain (2010-2011); Honorable Mention for Best Actor (2008-2009 & 2009-2010); Best Team Presentation (2010-2011)
  • South Bay Bar Association: Member (2016 -)
  • Lecturer, Media Law & Ethics, California State University, Northridge (1998-2017)
  • UCLA School of Law: 1L Mentor Program

Distinctions

  • Certified Appellate Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (2009-present)
  • Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2005-2006)

Speeches, Publications and Email Alerts

     Lectures
  • “Meet (Some) of the New Justices,” Los Angeles County Bar Association (October 15, 2019)
  • “Three Essentials Every Trial Lawyer Must Know About Appeals,” Cypress LLP (February 25, 2019)
  • “Six Essential Every Trial Lawyer Must Know About Appeals,” Continuing Education of the Bar Webinar (March 13, 2018)
  • “I Dissent: When and Why Do Judges Dissent, and How That Shapes the Law,” Los Angeles County Bar Association (February 27, 2018)
  • “Five Fatal Mistakes That Could Doom Your Writ and How to Avoid Them,” Los Angeles County Bar Association (June 6, 2017)
  • “Civil Litigation Practice: Year in Review,” Continuing Education of the Bar (January 19, 2017)
  • “Anti-SLAPP Appeals:  What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You,” Los Angeles County Bar Association (October 18, 2016)
  • “Brief Writing for Non-Lawyers,” Los Angeles County Law Library Pro Bono Week (October 2016)
  • “Do High School and College Students and Journalists Have Less First Amendment Rights Than Everyone Else?” Journalism Association of Community Colleges State Convention (March 18, 2016)
  • “Civil Litigation Practice: Year in Review,” Continuing Education of the Bar (January 23, 2016)
  • “Great Legal Writing: Peeking Behind the Curtain,” Morris Polich & Purdy training (January 19, 2016)
  • “Meet the New Justices!”, Los Angeles County Bar Association (January 13, 2016)
  • “A Day in the Life of An Entertainment/IP Lawyer,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Section (February 2014 USC Law School, April 2015 Southwestern Law School & March 2016 Pepperdine Law School)
  • “Design Professionals and the Economic Loss Rule: State Ready Mix v. Moffatt & Nichol (2015) 232 Cal.App.4th 1227,” ABA Forum on the Construction Industry Division 3/Design (March 2015)
  • “Great Legal Writing: Peeking Behind the Curtain,” Morris Polich & Purdy training (March 2014)
  • “The Last Word on Finality? From Morehart to Kurwa, the Continuing Evolution of What Makes a Final and Appealable Judgment,” Los Angeles County Bar Association, Appellate Courts Section (February 2014)
  • “IP Counseling for the New Medical Technology Client,” Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court (September 2012)
  • Co-moderator, Judges’ panel discussion, Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association Judges’ Night (March 2012)
  • Continuing Education of the Bar, Civil Litigation Practice Annual Recent Developments (January 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
  • “Copyright and Copy Wrong: Why Fashion is Different,” Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court (February 2012)
  • “You Can’t Do That With Mickey & Minnie,” Los Angeles Intellectual Property American Inn of Court (February 2011)
  • “Buy Me Some Steroids And Cracker Jacks, We’ll Make Sure They Never Come Back,” Los Angeles Intellectual Property American Inn of Court (September 2009)
  • “When There’s A Hit, There’s A Writ,” Los Angeles Intellectual Property American Inn of Court (April 2009)
  • “Appellate Writs in the California Court of Appeal: What Works and What Doesn’t,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, Litigation Section (January 2009)
  • Appellate Court Experience Program, Los Angeles County Bar Association (April 2006)
  • Battle in the Blogosphere: Bloggers, Reporters and the Future of Journalism, California State University Northridge Society of Professional Journalists First Amendment Freedom Forum (May 2005)
  • Days of Dialogue, Los Angeles County Bar Association (2004)
     Publications
     Quotes and Interviews
  • Interviewed on “Gurvey’s Law,” KABC Radio 790AM by Alan Gurvey on media bias (October 22, 2016)
  • Quoted in “Fired LA Times cartoonist crowdsources cash in lawsuit” by Justin Koczko, Los Angeles Daily Journal (August 19, 2016)
  • Quoted in “Santa Monica judge’s ruling has lawyers scratching their heads” by Matthew Blake, Los Angeles Daily Journal (February 1, 2016)
  • Quoted in “Clippers Ruling Set Up Rare Scenario in Probate Law” by Chase Scheinbaum, Los Angeles Daily Journal (July 30, 2014)
  • Quoted in “Attorneys: Host of Issues Ripe for Appeal in Wake of Jackson Verdict” by Chase Scheinbaum, Los Angeles Daily Journal (October 4, 2013)
  • Quoted in “Jury Finds AEG not Liable for Michael Jackson’s Death” by Chase Scheinbaum, Los Angeles Daily Journal (October 3, 2013)
  • Quoted in “The Life and Death of the People’s Radio” by Shane Cohn and Michel Miller, Ventura County Reporter (October 4, 2012)
  • Quoted in “9th Circ. Won’t Reconsider Adult Movie Star’s $3M IP Win” by Abigail Rubenstein, 360.com (February 9, 2012)
  • Quoted in “High Court Considers Idea Theft Case” by Erica Phillips, Los Angeles Daily Journal (November 7, 2011)