Bobbie Wilson
- San Francisco
Bobbie focuses on patents, trade secrets, privacy (including biometrics litigation), and Section 230 litigation under the Communications Decency Act.
Bobbie Wilson has extensive experience in complex civil litigation, primarily in the areas of intellectual property and class action. She also serves as the lead trial counsel in intellectual property, trade secret, complex class action litigation, and political law cases.
Trusted with her client's most sensitive and high-profile matters, Bobbie has led the workplace investigation for her rideshare client, which involved allegations of sexual harassment and workplace violations. She also leads workplace investigations involving privacy violations, fraud, and sexual abuse.
Bobbie gets results for clients all over the country whether it is a high-profile investigation, defeating class certification for a billion-dollar corporation, or a $56.00 punitive damages award as new trial counsel. In recognition of her accomplishments, Bobbie has been recognized by The Recorder as a "power player" on its list of Women Leaders in Technology Law in California.
Bobbie is also the co-chair of the firm's national Diversity & Inclusion Committee. The committee drafted, and the firm adopted, a plan to move the needle on diversity in a way that has been materially absent in the legal profession. The plan is ambitious and bold in addressing institutional and systemic bias. It also tackles racism head on and provides anti-racist training, training on intersectionality, and training on how to be a good ally to diverse communities inside and outside of the firm.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Columbia Law School, J.D., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, 1990
- Queens College, CUNY, B.A., with honors, 1987
Bar and Court Admissions
-
California
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Court of Appeals of California
- Supreme Court of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern 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 Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Professional Recognition
Listed in Chambers USA “America’s Leading Lawyers” for Litigation: General Commercial, 2023-2024
Named an honoree of the Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards by Corporate Counsel magazine, 2020
Named to the Lawyers of Color Power List, 2020
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Litigation - Patent, 2020-2024
Listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers, 2024
Recognized by The Recorder in its annual "Women Leaders in Tech Law" list, 2013-2016, 2018-2019; Top 10 "Power Player," 2015
Named one of the "Top 100 Women Lawyers" in California by Daily Journal, 2014
Recognized as an IP Star by Managing IP, 2013-2024
Named one of the "Top 250 Women in IP" by Managing IP, 2013-2016
Named one of the "Top 75 Women Lawyers" by Daily Journal, 2011, 2014
Named one of the "Top 100 Women Litigators" in California by Daily Journal, 2010
The National Law Journal's Pro Bono Award
Listed as Northern California "Super Lawyer," Super Lawyer and San Francisco magazines, 2010-2024
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Board of Appeals for the City and County of San Francisco, Commissioner, 2014-2018
- Standing Committee on Professional Conduct for Northern District, CA, Member
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow, 2013
- Northern District Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Executive Board
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- State Bar of California Litigation and Intellectual Property Sections
- San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Former Director
- American Bar Association, Intellectual Property and Litigation Committee
- Charles Houston Bar Association
- California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP), Steering Committee Member, 2001-2004
News
Professional Experience
Patent Litigation
Uniloc 2017 LLC v. Hulu, LLC, No. 19-1686
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
For the last three years, Bobbie has been a member of a team representing multiple defendants, including Netflix, in a patent case against Uniloc. The issue in question involved the problem that consumers of software use digital products on multiple devices, where consumers have “a legitimate need to install and use the software on every computer.” On Hulu’s petition, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board instituted inter partes review (IPR) and found multiple claims unpatentable over the prior art. The Federal Circuit affirmed the judgment of invalidity of all original claims and subsequently affirmed the denial of Uniloc’s motion for rehearing.
Convergent Media Solutions LLC v. Hulu LLC, Netflix Inc. and Roku LLC
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Represents Netflix, Hulu, and Roku in a trio of patent infringement cases brought by Convergent Media Solutions, LLC that are pending before District Judge David C. Godbey. The cases involve six patents which are being asserted against a number of "second screen" features that facilitate the use of smartphones and tablets in conjunction with other multimedia devices such as streaming boxes and game consoles.
TransVideo Electronics, LTD v. Hulu LLC and Netflix Inc.
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Achieved a victory for Hulu and Netflix in the TransVideo case when Judge Leonard P. Stark was convinced to do early claim construction on a term. The court granted defendants construction. Plaintiff stipulated to noninfringement and the case was dismissed with prejudice a week later.
ARCzar LLC, et al. v. Nintendo of America, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Represent Nintendo in a patent case relating to graphic user interface patents.
Princeton Digital Image Corp. v. Netflix, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Represents Netflix and Amazon in a patent case relating to JPEG technology.
Transvideo v. Nintendo Company, Ltd., et al.
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Represent Nintendo in a patent case relating to an on-demand video distribution system involving its 3DS, DSi, and Wii video game consoles.
In Motion Imagery Technologies, LLC, v. Netflix Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Lead counsel for Netflix in a patent infringement case relating to digital video recording and playback technology.
LVL v. First Data Corporation, et al.
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Lead trial counsel representing First Data in a patent infringement case involving patents in the field of data transaction assembly servers and data transaction processing systems.
Rambus v. Broadcom
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Represented Broadcom in a multi-patent infringement lawsuit involving DRAM memory controllers.
LendingTree v. QuinStreet Inc., et al.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
Represented QuinStreet Inc. in a patent infringement case relating to online home loan sales technology.
Nidec Corporation v. Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., et al.*
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Represented defendant JVC in a patent infringement case relating to hard disk drive technology. The action included counterclaim patents asserted by JVC and was settled weeks before trial on terms including a business arrangement between the parties and a patent license.
Technology Licensing Company, Inc. v. Bang & Olufsen America Inc.*
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Represented defendant in patent infringement case relating to DVD technology.
NTP Inc. v. Research in Motion, Ltd.*
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Defended RIM in the BlackBerry patent infringement case on appeal to the Federal Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court and on remand in the district court.
* Prior Experience
Representative Trials
One Wisconsin Institute, Inc., et al v. Gerald C. Nichol, et al
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Co-lead trial counsel in a high-profile lawsuit in Wisconsin brought on behalf of a diverse group of individuals and organizations regarding voting rights. The suit alleges that over a dozen election-law measures enacted in Wisconsin in recent years—including reductions to early voting, restrictions on voter registration, and a provision that permits election observers to stand within three feet of voters—unduly burden the right to vote and were intended to discriminate and have the effect of discriminating on the basis of race. This case also raised the novel claim that the challenged laws are the product of unconstitutional “partisan fencing”—in other words, that the laws deliberately burden certain voters because of how they want to vote.
Conley v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Phillip Morris Inc.*
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Led R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to its first defense victory in California involving an individual smoking case, Conley v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Phillip Morris, Inc. After an almost four-week jury trial, the court granted directed verdict for R.J. Reynolds. Prior to this victory, no tobacco company had ever escaped the wrath of a California jury that routinely awarded damages in the tens of millions against the companies.
Advanced Development Holdings Inc. v. Brea Canon Oil Company Inc.*
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Lead trial counsel in a complicated oil and gas case that resulted in a directed verdict on behalf of the client after a three-week jury trial. In Advanced Development Holdings Inc. v. Brea Canon Oil Company Inc., Hon. Joanne O'Donnell granted BCI's motion for a directed verdict after the close of all evidence. This trial was the third trial in a span of 10 months where Bobbie served as lead counsel for BCI. The directed verdict was recently affirmed by the Court of Appeal, 2nd Appellate District, Div. 4.
Issa and Rizkallah v. Roadway Package Systems, Inc. d/b/a/ RPS Inc., FedEx Corporation, d/b/a/FedEx Ground Inc., Stacy Shoun, et al.*
Superior Court of California, Alameda County
After the jury had already found liability and awarded compensatory damages totaling $1 million against a co-defendant, Bobbie came in as new trial counsel and convinced the jury to award only $56.00 total in punitive damages even after they had found liability for national origin discrimination. The same jury awarded $50 million in total damages against the company which was represented by another law firm.
Estate of Mattie Aikens, Deceased and William Aikens v. Charles Oliver, et al.*
Superior Court of California, Alameda County
As a new trial counsel, convinced a hostile jury to award a nominal amount of punitive damages even after they had already found liability for predatory lending and unfair business practices.
* Prior Experience
Representative Class Action Defense
Vance v. Google
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Hired as lead trial counsel to defend Google in a putative class action alleging violations of Illinois’ Biometric Privacy Information Act (BIPA). The proposed class is comprised of individuals whose photographs were allegedly compiled, without plaintiffs’ consent, into a dataset by Flickr and IBM that could be used to train facial recognition software. Plaintiffs further allege that Google obtained a copy of the dataset and used their biometric information without consent to develop a facial recognition algorithm that could more accurately recognize women and people of color.
In re Google Assistant Privacy Litigation
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Lead trial counsel in a consolidated class action complaint claiming Google violated the Wiretap Act, the Stored Communications Act (SCA), and California’s Constitution, Invasion of Privacy Act, and Unfair Competition Law (UCL) when Google Assistant—an AI-powered virtual assistant—allegedly recorded plaintiffs’ conversations without consent. In granting the motion to dismiss, the Court found nearly all twelve claims insufficiently pled, allowing only a subpart each of the SCA and UCL claims to proceed.
Brekhus v. Google
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Lead trial counsel in a putative class action alleging that the Google Assistant—the company’s artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant—allegedly recorded sounds without consent. The proposed class is brought on behalf of individuals who had Google Home devices, on which the Assistant is installed, in their homes. Plaintiffs bring claims under California privacy and consumer protection laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act, and the federal Wiretap Act.
Bonoan v. Adobe
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
With alleged TCPA violations, Adobe retained Bobbie as lead trial counsel in a putative class action lawsuit. The plaintiff was seeking statutory damages in the tens of millions of dollars. Bobbie won dismissal of the suit (with leave to amend). The matter is ongoing.
Farwell v. Google LLC
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Google hired Bobbie as lead trial counsel to represent the company in a putative class action complaint brought on behalf of minors residing in Illinois. The complaint alleged that Google’s G Suite for Education, a group of computer applications used by many school districts, violates Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL). The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case.
Weeks, et al. v. Google LLC
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Bobbie secured a favorable settlement for Google in a putative consumer class action brought by a group of Pixel 1 and Pixel XL smartphone buyers shortly after Google filed its opposition to plaintiffs’ class certification motion. The court granted final approval of the settlement.
Doe v. Uber Technologies, Inc., et al.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Three Jane Doe plaintiffs sued Uber, Rasier LLC, and Rasier-CA LLC (Uber Defendants) alleging sexual assault by third-party criminal assailants when they mistakenly entered the assailants’ vehicles after engaging the Uber app. The court granted a demurrer. The matter is ongoing.
In re Nest Labs Litigation
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Represents Nest Labs, Inc., a Google subsidiary in consolidated class actions involving the cutting edge Nest Learning Thermostat. These are a series of class actions alleging that the Nest Learning Thermostat was designed improperly and does not provide energy savings and other benefits promised.
Pimental v. Google Inc. and Slide Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Lead trial counsel for Google in a putative class action alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
First Data Corporation
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Represented First Data Corporation in multiple consumer class actions related to credit card and processing equipment and services in California, New York, and New Jersey. Recently defeated class certification in New Jersey case.
craigslist Inc.
Lead trial counsel for craigslist in multiple class actions alleging violation of the Song-Beverly Act. Obtained dismissal of the case without leave to amend.
Google Inc.
Represented Google Inc. in class action litigation alleging violation of state and federal wiretap laws.
Willard R. Brown v. The American Tobacco Company Inc., et al.; Danielle Devins v. The American Tobacco Company; The Republic of the Marshall Islands v. The American Tobacco Company Inc., et al.*
Obtained more than 70 dismissals at the pre-trial stage of state unfair business practices cases under §17200 cases against R.J. Reynolds. Several of the cases were multibillion-dollar class action cases disposed in California and overseas at the class certification stage or on summary judgment, never making it to trial.
* Prior Experience
Trade Secrets
Reactx LLC v. Google Inc.
Lead trial counsel in a hard-fought trade secrets/breach of contract matter for Google in which the plaintiff is seeking over $100 million in damages by alleging Google stole its “technology” and used it to create AdSense Auto Ads. The Court sustained Google’s Demurrer and dismissed the last three claims, finding they were preempted by California’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
Intersil v. Monolithic Power Systems
U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
Monolithic Power Systems in ongoing litigation in the District of Delaware against its competitor Intersil Corporation (now known as Renesas Electronics America Inc.) where Monolithic Power Systems has asserted claims for trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference, disparagement, defamation, and unfair competition.
SMC Networks Inc. v. Hitron Americas Inc., et al.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Lead trial counsel for Hitron Americas Inc. and its former officers in litigation involving various claims including misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition. The alleged misappropriation of trade secrets involving the cable modem industry.
Electronics For Imaging Inc. v. Pegasus Technologies Ltd.*
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Represented EFI in this case where an Israeli company agreed to develop an electronic whiteboard. After multiple failed attempts by Pegasus, EFI developed the technology on its own. After seeking declaratory relief, Pegasus counterclaimed for theft of trade secrets and patent infringement. The case was settled on favorable terms and included a license agreement.
Adaptec Inc. v. Brocade Communications Systems Inc., et al.*
Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
Represented plaintiff in substantial litigation involving trade secret misappropriation and breach of confidentiality agreement. After expedited discovery and a preliminary injunction were obtained against the defendants, the corporate defendant terminated two individual defendants. Ultimately, the team achieved a favorable financial settlement with the corporate defendant and obtained significant non-monetary relief from all defendants.
* Prior Experience
Other Experience
Yeung Bing Kwong Kenneth v. Yeung Chai Shing Holding Co.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Bobbie is leading the defense of a derivative action involving allegations of a fraudulent tax scheme, a RICO violation, and six other claims. She argued the motion to dismiss which was granted by the court.
Monster, LLC et al v. Beats Electronics, LLC et al
Second District Court of Appeal, California
Represented HTC America Holding Inc.as co-lead trial in a high-profile fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and unfair competition case on appeal in the 2nd District Court of Appeal, California.
Broadcom
Provide legal advice on intellectual property and patent litigation matters.
craigslist Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division
Represented craigslist in litigation involving scrapping, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, copyright and trademark claims. Defeated motion to dismiss CFAA claims.
craigslist Inc.
Represented craigslist Inc. in multiple lawsuits involving challenges to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Obtained dismissal of Section 230 action after summary judgment, and obtained dismissal with prejudice on issue of first impression involving whether Song-Beverly Act applied to online transactions.
Google Inc. v. Jackman
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division
Represent Google in litigation against online pharmaceutical sellers for using AdWords advertising network for unauthorized purposes.
In Marriage Cases*
Appointed as lead pro bono counsel by the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office to represent the City, Mayor Gavin Newsom, and Assessor-Recorder Mabel Teng in San Francisco’s civil rights litigation over same-sex marriage. Bill Lockyer v. City & County of San Francisco (Cal. Supreme Ct.); Barbara Lewis, et al. v. Nancy Alfaro as County Clerk etc. (Cal. Supreme Ct.); City and County of San Francisco v. State of California, et al. (Cal. Super. Ct., San Francisco). Co-counsel with the City in its victory before trial court and the California Supreme Court.