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Experienced Trial Lawyer
Colleen has been litigating complex, high-profile cases for more than 25 years and has first chaired trials in federal court, arbitrations and international arbitrations in intellectual property, commercial and other high-stakes matters.
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Precedent-Setting Disputes
Colleen has handled precedent-setting cases for high-profile companies across a variety of subject matter areas, including copyright, advertising, contract, trademark, and trade secret law.
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A Recognized Practitioner
Colleen was recognized among The Recorder's "Women Leaders in Tech Law" in 2017, among the Daily Journal's list of "Top 100 Women Lawyers in California" in 2015, and named in Northern California Super Lawyers from 2016-2024.
Colleen Bal is an experienced, first chair trial lawyer in Wilson Sonsini's San Francisco office. She brings rigor and discipline to today's most important and challenging areas of intellectual property, commercial contract, privacy, and antitrust litigation. Colleen combines intellectual depth, sophistication, and strategic insight with the practical ability to get the job done in any forum.
Since joining the firm more than 25 years ago, Colleen has amassed tremendous experience across a broad range of copyright, internet, advertising, contract, trademark, and trade secret matters. She has been present at the creation as conflicts involving Silicon Valley's most prominent companies have developed the law in these areas. Colleen has handled important, high-profile, and complicated matters across the country, trying cases before courts, arbitrators, and juries.
Colleen is among the few litigators with significant experience in the field of privacy law. She has successfully handled matters under the Wiretap Act, Video Privacy Protection Act, Stored Communications Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and related state law claims involving advertising, data collection, and telephone recording practices.
In addition, Colleen has substantial experience in antitrust actions. She represented Live Nation and Clear Channel in a 23 class action multi-district litigation involving alleged inflated prices of concert tickets to consumers. In addition, she has helped lead trial teams in civil antitrust matters across the country.
Colleen is a member of the board of directors of the Wilson Sonsini Foundation and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Colleen Bal is an experienced, first chair trial lawyer in Wilson Sonsini's San Francisco office. She brings rigor and discipline to today's most important and challenging areas of intellectual property, commercial contract, privacy, and antitrust litigation. Colleen combines intellectual depth, sophistication, and strategic insight with the practical ability to get the job done in any forum.
Since joining the firm more than 25 years ago, Colleen has amassed tremendous experience across a broad range of copyright, internet, advertising, contract, trademark, and trade secret matters. She has been present at the creation as conflicts involving Silicon Valley's most prominent companies have developed the law in these areas. Colleen has handled important, high-profile, and complicated matters across the country, trying cases before courts, arbitrators, and juries.
Colleen is among the few litigators with significant experience in the field of privacy law. She has successfully handled matters under the Wiretap Act, Video Privacy Protection Act, Stored Communications Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and related state law claims involving advertising, data collection, and telephone recording practices.
In addition, Colleen has substantial experience in antitrust actions. She represented Live Nation and Clear Channel in a 23 class action multi-district litigation involving alleged inflated prices of concert tickets to consumers. In addition, she has helped lead trial teams in civil antitrust matters across the country.
Colleen is a member of the board of directors of the Wilson Sonsini Foundation and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.
- J.D., Harvard Law SchoolCum Laude
- B.S., Biology and Psychology, Duke UniversityMagna Cum Laude, Concentration in Neuroscience
- Selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of the Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers guide
- Named to The Recorder's list of "Women Leaders in Tech Law" in 2017
- Named by the Daily Journal as one of the "Top 100 Women Lawyers in California" for 2015
- Recognized in the 2016-2024 editions of Northern California Super Lawyers
- State Bar of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- J.D., Harvard Law SchoolCum Laude
- B.S., Biology and Psychology, Duke UniversityMagna Cum Laude, Concentration in Neuroscience
- Selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of the Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers guide
- Named to The Recorder's list of "Women Leaders in Tech Law" in 2017
- Named by the Daily Journal as one of the "Top 100 Women Lawyers in California" for 2015
- Recognized in the 2016-2024 editions of Northern California Super Lawyers
- State Bar of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Select Litigation Wins
- G.P.P., Inc. d/b/a Guardian Innovative Solutions, Inc. v. Guardian Protection Products, Inc., 788 F. App’x 452 (9th Cir. 2019) (granting reversal of summary judgment rulings after trial of contract case)
- Dropbox, Inc. v. Thru, Inc., 728 Fed. Appx. 717 (9th Cir. 2018) (affirming grant of summary judgment and award of attorney fees and costs in trademark dispute)
- Shierkatz v. Square, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 169628 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 17, 2015) (granting motion to compel arbitration)
- In re Google Inc., 806 F.3d 125 (3rd Cir. 2015) (affirming dismissal of federal claims in multi-district privacy class action)
- Cal. Building Indus. Assoc. v. San Jose, 61 Cal. 4th 435 (2015) (affirming decision rejecting challenge to constitutionality of city housing ordinance protecting low-income residents)
- In re Nickelodeon Consumer Privacy Litigation, 2014 WL 3012873 (D.N.J. July 2, 2014). (granting motion to dismiss Wiretap Act, Stored Communications Act, Video Privacy Protection Act, and state claims against Google in multi-district privacy class action)
- GSI Technology v. United Memories, Inc. et al., 2014 WL 1572358 (N.D. Cal Apr. 8, 2014) (granting motion to dismiss antitrust and RICO claims)
- Be In, Inc. v. Google Inc., 2013 WL 5568706 (N.D. Cal Oct. 9, 2013) (granting motion to dismiss claims for trade secret misappropriation, breach of terms of service, and breach of implied contract)
- Righthaven, LLC v. Hoehn, et al., 716 F.3d 116 (9th Cir. 2013) (affirming dismissal of copyright action for lack of jurisdiction)
- Ophthalmic Research Assoc. v. SARcode Corp., 2013 WL 2247584 (D. Mass. May 22, 2013) (granting motion to dismiss copyright and trade secret-related claims)
- In re Live Concert Antitrust Litigation, 863 F. Supp. 2d 966 (C.D. Cal. 2012) (granting summary judgment for Live Nation and Clear Channel in antitrust action alleging inflated ticket prices)
- TSMC North America v. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., 161 Cal. App. 4th 581 (2008) (affirming denial of motion for antisuit injunction, seeking to enjoin claims brought in People's Republic of China against semiconductor manufacturer)
- KinderStart.com, LLC v. Google, Inc., 2007 WL 831806 (N.D. Cal. March 16, 2007) (dismissing with prejudice constitutional, antitrust, Lanham Act, and state law claims based on plaintiff's ranking in Google's search engine results)
- Softrax Corp. v. NetSuite, Inc., No. 1:06-cv-1-250 (D. Mass May 4, 2006) (denying plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction for alleged false advertising)
- Google, Inc. v. Affinity Engines, Inc., 2005 WL 2007888 (N.D. Cal. August 12, 2005) (denying defendant's motion to dismiss and to stay Google's claims for copyright infringement and declaratory relief regarding ownership of rights to social networking website)
- In re Townshend Patent Litigation, 2005 WL 545045 (N.D. Cal March 7, 2005) (granting summary judgment to patentee on failure of defendant's license defense)
Select Litigation Wins
- G.P.P., Inc. d/b/a Guardian Innovative Solutions, Inc. v. Guardian Protection Products, Inc., 788 F. App’x 452 (9th Cir. 2019) (granting reversal of summary judgment rulings after trial of contract case)
- Dropbox, Inc. v. Thru, Inc., 728 Fed. Appx. 717 (9th Cir. 2018) (affirming grant of summary judgment and award of attorney fees and costs in trademark dispute)
- Shierkatz v. Square, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 169628 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 17, 2015) (granting motion to compel arbitration)
- In re Google Inc., 806 F.3d 125 (3rd Cir. 2015) (affirming dismissal of federal claims in multi-district privacy class action)
- Cal. Building Indus. Assoc. v. San Jose, 61 Cal. 4th 435 (2015) (affirming decision rejecting challenge to constitutionality of city housing ordinance protecting low-income residents)
- In re Nickelodeon Consumer Privacy Litigation, 2014 WL 3012873 (D.N.J. July 2, 2014). (granting motion to dismiss Wiretap Act, Stored Communications Act, Video Privacy Protection Act, and state claims against Google in multi-district privacy class action)
- GSI Technology v. United Memories, Inc. et al., 2014 WL 1572358 (N.D. Cal Apr. 8, 2014) (granting motion to dismiss antitrust and RICO claims)
- Be In, Inc. v. Google Inc., 2013 WL 5568706 (N.D. Cal Oct. 9, 2013) (granting motion to dismiss claims for trade secret misappropriation, breach of terms of service, and breach of implied contract)
- Righthaven, LLC v. Hoehn, et al., 716 F.3d 116 (9th Cir. 2013) (affirming dismissal of copyright action for lack of jurisdiction)
- Ophthalmic Research Assoc. v. SARcode Corp., 2013 WL 2247584 (D. Mass. May 22, 2013) (granting motion to dismiss copyright and trade secret-related claims)
- In re Live Concert Antitrust Litigation, 863 F. Supp. 2d 966 (C.D. Cal. 2012) (granting summary judgment for Live Nation and Clear Channel in antitrust action alleging inflated ticket prices)
- TSMC North America v. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., 161 Cal. App. 4th 581 (2008) (affirming denial of motion for antisuit injunction, seeking to enjoin claims brought in People's Republic of China against semiconductor manufacturer)
- KinderStart.com, LLC v. Google, Inc., 2007 WL 831806 (N.D. Cal. March 16, 2007) (dismissing with prejudice constitutional, antitrust, Lanham Act, and state law claims based on plaintiff's ranking in Google's search engine results)
- Softrax Corp. v. NetSuite, Inc., No. 1:06-cv-1-250 (D. Mass May 4, 2006) (denying plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction for alleged false advertising)
- Google, Inc. v. Affinity Engines, Inc., 2005 WL 2007888 (N.D. Cal. August 12, 2005) (denying defendant's motion to dismiss and to stay Google's claims for copyright infringement and declaratory relief regarding ownership of rights to social networking website)
- In re Townshend Patent Litigation, 2005 WL 545045 (N.D. Cal March 7, 2005) (granting summary judgment to patentee on failure of defendant's license defense)
Select Publications and Speaking Engagements
- Presenter, "Ethical Issues in Trial Practice," WSGR Client MCLE Day, December 2016
- Moderator, "Protecting Genomic Information: What Rights Do You Have and What Rights Should You Have?" San Francisco Bar Association, November 2014
- Presenter, "New Developments in Privacy Law," WSGR Client MCLE Day, December 2013
- Co-author with E. Stern, "Copyright vs. Trademark: There's a Lot to Be Learned from Betty Boop," Intellectual Property Strategist, June 1, 2013
- Contributing writer, Understanding Developments in Cyberspace Law, Thompson Reuters/Aspatore 2013
- Co-author, "U.S. Supreme Court Issues New Decision Addressing Application of Class Arbitration Waivers to Claims Brought Under Federal Law," WSGR Alert, June 24, 2013
- Co-author with S. Andrews, "Caution! Social Media Can Get You into Trouble," Eye on Privacy, March 2013
- "Class Action Fairness Act," WSGR Alert, March 20, 2013
- Presenter, "Dangerous Loose Ends: The IP and Contract Issues Too Often Overlooked," WSGR Client MCLE Day, December 2012
Select Publications and Speaking Engagements
- Presenter, "Ethical Issues in Trial Practice," WSGR Client MCLE Day, December 2016
- Moderator, "Protecting Genomic Information: What Rights Do You Have and What Rights Should You Have?" San Francisco Bar Association, November 2014
- Presenter, "New Developments in Privacy Law," WSGR Client MCLE Day, December 2013
- Co-author with E. Stern, "Copyright vs. Trademark: There's a Lot to Be Learned from Betty Boop," Intellectual Property Strategist, June 1, 2013
- Contributing writer, Understanding Developments in Cyberspace Law, Thompson Reuters/Aspatore 2013
- Co-author, "U.S. Supreme Court Issues New Decision Addressing Application of Class Arbitration Waivers to Claims Brought Under Federal Law," WSGR Alert, June 24, 2013
- Co-author with S. Andrews, "Caution! Social Media Can Get You into Trouble," Eye on Privacy, March 2013
- "Class Action Fairness Act," WSGR Alert, March 20, 2013
- Presenter, "Dangerous Loose Ends: The IP and Contract Issues Too Often Overlooked," WSGR Client MCLE Day, December 2012
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