Google Inc. has hired the prominent San Francisco law firm Keker & Van Nest to represent the booming technology company in an impending courtroom battle with Microsoft Corp. Keker & Van Nest, led by ex-Marine John Keker, has defended such controversial clients as Wall Street banker Frank Quattrone and former Enron executive Andrew Fastow.

Google was sued last month by Microsoft after it hired one of the Redmond, Wash., company’s former top executives to open a research laboratory in China. Google also recently filed its own lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court arguing that Microsoft’s attempt to enforce the “covenant not to compete” provision in the contract violates California law. By hiring Keker & Van Nest, legal experts say, Google has signed up one of the most respected law firms in the country. Read More ….