Jeff handles high-stakes and high-profile litigation for global technology and media & entertainment companies, particularly cybersecurity and data privacy disputes.

Jeff works closely with his clients to achieve their business objectives and successfully obtain strategic results.  He has substantial experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial litigation involving cybersecurity and data privacy issues, copyright and trademark infringement, and contract disputes in both federal and state courts.  He also regularly defends international retail & consumer products clients in consumer and employment class actions.  Jeff routinely counsels businesses in widely reported lawsuits with billions of dollars at stake.  In addition to litigation, Jeff has extensive experience conducting discrete cross-border internal investigations for Fortune Global 500 companies facing highly publicized crises and regulatory compliance investigations.

Jeff also dedicates significant time to diversity and inclusion initiatives and pro bono projects. He mentors pre-law students from under-represented minority groups as part of a legal industry pipeline program, and he leverages his Spanish proficiency to successfully represent Central American refugees in asylum proceedings.  Jeff has obtained legal immigration status for every client he has represented.

Relevant Experience

• Represented one of the largest retailers in the world in data breach class action asserting claims under newly-enacted California Consumer Privacy Act; obtained early dismissal of lawsuit that earned a place among the Daily Journal’s “Top Defense Verdicts of 2021 in California.” 
• Represents global social media companies in multiple data privacy and cybersecurity actions against app developers, web developers, marketing companies, and a data analytics firm in jurisdictions including China, Thailand, New Zealand, Morocco, and Ukraine.
• Represents transnational energy drink company in multiple contract and trademark disputes relating to distribution agreements.
• Represents online platform for sports and entertainment ticket sales in action against ticket exchange for failure to pay commissions.
• Defended tech and media company in fraud and contract dispute allegedly stemming from the largest data breach in history.
• Represented global sports apparel company in copyright and trademark dispute.
• Defended German auto manufacturer in multidistrict litigation relating to diesel emissions defeat devices.

• Represented financial services company in internal investigation stemming from fraudulently created accounts.
• Defended multinational food and beverage conglomerate in copyright and trademark infringement case brought by video game producer.
• Obtained writ relief leading to immediate favorable settlement for Big Four accounting firm in professional negligence and fraud case brought by billionaire investor.
• Conducted internal investigation of Japanese auto manufacturer during regulatory enforcement action stemming from recall of exploding Takata air bags.
• Defended FTSE 100 bank in hundreds of actions stemming from foreclosures of properties in its REIT portfolio following the 2008 financial crisis.
• Represented pet food manufacturer in false advertising action against rival pet food manufacturer.
• Successfully compelled individual arbitration, ultimately leading to dismissal of class action brought against telecommunications company alleging violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, 2014BA, University of California, Los Angeles, 2008

• The California Consumer Privacy Act is HERE: Are You Litigation Ready?, Cybersecurity Law & Strategy