Jonathan Saville Kitchen is “a trial lawyer’s trial lawyer” — a rare figure who combines the poise of a gentleman with the fearlessness of a gladiator. Litigation Commentary & Review (LCR) recently described him as “one of the nation’s most formidable advocates in complex commercial, real estate, and class action litigation,” and Lawdragon noted (8/20/25) that “trial is Kitchen’s lifeblood.”
Born in England, Jonathan comes from a family of lawyers. He went to college in France, then received a B.A. in law and politics from the University of Durham, obtained an LL.M from the University of London, and earned both an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Cambridge, where he was a Fellow of Churchill College.
He is a barrister and a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. Jonathan came to the United States to teach law at Stanford as a Fulbright Scholar. He later received a diploma from the European Institute with highest honors and has served as a Professor at the European University.
Over a career spanning four decades, Jonathan has tried dozens of high-stakes cases across the country — from billion-dollar corporate disputes and major real estate litigation to fraud, securities, employment, and commercial matters. He has served clients ranging from national homebuilders and fast-growing Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 500 corporations, and private partnerships. As Litigation Commentary noted (11/18/25), he has “earned the trust of clients who turn to him when the outcome truly matters.”
Jonathan is widely known for his ability to simplify the complex. As LCR wrote, “Clients and co-counsel alike rely on Kitchen’s deep experience, creative problem-solving, and the ability to simplify even the most technical issues.” His intuitive understanding of people and the dynamics of persuasion has long set him apart; Lawdragon observed that his “understanding of humanity gets Kitchen off the page and into the jurors’ minds in a way that has yielded crucial results.”
Jonathan has also built a specialized practice as a “parachuter” — a battle-tested trial lawyer brought into cases shortly before trial to shape the strategy, prepare the witnesses, and take the matter through verdict when the stakes are highest. His calm presence, exhaustive preparation, and razor-sharp analysis inspire confidence in juries, judges, colleagues, and clients alike.
Outside the courtroom, Jonathan is a competitive race car driver, long-distance runner, sailor, winemaker, and builder. His passions mirror his approach to trial work: strategic, disciplined, and fearless.
Among his honors, Jonathan is a Northern California Super Lawyer, a “Top Attorney” by the American Registry, a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association, and a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
He lives in San Francisco with his wife, Nina Hatvany, one of the city’s most accomplished real estate professionals, and enjoys time with their family deeply rooted in the real estate world.