Philip C. Tencer

PartnerPhilip C. Tencer

San Diego, California

Mr. Tencer has 15 years of experience litigating, trying and managing virtually all facets of business disputes and commercial litigation as a partner at Cooley Godward LLP. His experience in these wide-ranging and varied roles has provided the Firm with an aggressive, but strategic approach to handling litigation and business disputes.

Mr. Tencer has extensive experience in analyzing, litigating, and trying complex commercial and business disputes, including, securities litigation, patent and intellectual property disputes. He is well-versed in cases involving cutting-edge technology, including biotechnology, software development, telecommunications and the Internet. His trial experience includes both plaintiff and defense verdicts. He has run a docket of lawsuits and arbitrations prosecuting a company’s patent portfolio resulting in several million dollars in settlements. He successfully tried a business case where his client was awarded 100% of its actual damages and punitive damages of four times actual damages. He was instrumental in protecting important technical trade secrets from public disclosure at trial, over the vigorous objections of both major media outlets and his client’s litigation opponent. He has worked extensively with expert witnesses on damages and finance issues and also with technical expert witnesses in many areas including telecommunications, computer software, and the chemistry and physics of plastics. He managed extensive e-discovery efforts in extremely large cases, both as outside and in-house counsel.

His background in economics and business and his work in cases involving complex financial arrangements also gives him an understanding of the issues involved in today’s financial world, such as those involved in subprime-related litigation.

Mr. Tencer began his legal career at Howrey in Los Angeles, where he spent four years litigating trade secret, patent, antitrust and complex class actions. Most recently, he was a litigation partner at Cooley Godward Kronish in San Diego where he practiced for eleven years, representing many of the major public and private companies in San Diego, including QUALCOMM, SAIC, Dot Hill, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Callaway Golf, Charlotte Russe, and others before founding the Tencer Law Firm in 2010.

Mr. Tencer attended law school at Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was an Articles Editor on the California Law Review and a member of the Boalt Hall Moot Court Team that competed nationally. He graduated magna cum laude from UCSD.

Mr. Tencer is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in California. He has been named a San Diego Super Lawyer, has authored numerous papers and has lectured on the topics of Securities and Trade Secret Litigation. He has authored a paper and spoken on “Trade Secret Damages” at an ABA Antitrust Section annual meeting in Washington, DC. He is also the author of “Litigating & Winning Claims Objections in Bankruptcy Court,” which was published in Dallas Bar Association “Headnotes” in 2006, and he has presented state-approved CLE seminars on cross-examination and evidentiary issues.

Mr. Tencer was born and raised in North San Diego County. He resides in Del Mar with his wife and three daughters.

Areas of Practice

General Commercial Litigation and Arbitration
Business Disputes
Securities Litigation
Intellectual Property Litigation
Bankruptcy Litigation
Plaintiff Claims

Bar Admissions

California
U.S. District Court Central District of California
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
U.S. District Court Southern District of California
U.S. District Court District of Arizona
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Education

University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Berkeley, California

J.D. – 1994
Law Review: California Law Review, Articles Editor

University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California

B.A. – 1990
Major: Economics
Major: Philosophy

Professional Associations and Memberships

American Bar Association, Member
San Diego County Bar Association, Member
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association, Member

Past Employment Positions

Howrey & Simon, Litigation Associate, 1994 – 1998
Cooley, LLP, Partner, 1998 – 2009

OUR PRACTICE AREAS

Focused on Strategy.
Built for Results.

TencerSherman LLP represents employers and businesses in complex, high-stakes litigation across Southern California. Trial-tested. Business-focused. Results driven.

ALL PRACTICE AREAS

Facing a Legal Challenge?

Partner with experienced litigators who understand your business and are ready to fight for your success.

01

BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT LAW

We represent employers in workplace disputes, investigations, and litigation across Southern California.

02

SCHOOL DISTRICT DEFENSE

We defend school districts in complex legal disputes and proceedings.

03

BUSINESS LITIGATION

We help businesses resolve complex disputes and protect their interests in state and federal courts.

04

SECURITIES LITIGATION

We defend businesses and individuals in securities disputes, regulatory matters, and investor claims.

05

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LITIGATION

We protect innovation and brand value by enforcing and defending intellectual property rights.

bt_bb_section_bottom_section_coverage_image

Our Cases Highlights

All Cases

Carnahan v. Lakeside Union School District (San Diego Superior Court)

Sam Sherman and Phil Simpler obtained a complete defense verdict in a jury trial alleging sexual assault by a fourth grade student. Plaintiff alleged the after school program director at the elementary school sexually molested her in his office. The case proceeded to trial against the program director

http://tencer.goldenseller.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Labor-Commissioner-Claim-img.jpg

Suppici Labor Commissioner Claim

TencerSherman achieved a very favorable outcome for employer after a delivery driver alleged meal and rest period premiums, overtime wages, reimbursable expenses, liquidated damages, and waiting time penalties under the California Labor Code. After a hearing in San Bernardino, the Labor Commissioner only awarded the employee waiting time

Eldridge Labor Commissioner Claim

Obtained a complete defense decision after a dental hygienist employee filed a claim with the Labor Commissioner in San Diego alleging her employer willfully failed to pay her wages after she submitted a letter of resignation. The employee claimed her employer owed her waiting time penalties. The Labor Commissioner held the of proof to show that the

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT US

Client Quotes
& Testimonials

“We recommend having Sam Sherman and his team on your side, especially with all the firms out there willing to file frivolous lawsuits.“

Seth Siraton

“I have always felt well represented with Philip Tencer representing EpiCept Corporation.”

Jack Talley, President & CEO of EpiCept Corporation

“I have retained Philip Tencer on two matters, both with extraordinary results. I could not be more pleased with his counsel.”