Alisha C. Burgin
- Litigation Lead, Los Angeles Office
An experienced litigator, Alisha uses probing investigative skills and compelling written advocacy to win favorable outcomes for clients.
Alisha Burgin handles high-stakes commercial litigation in state and federal courts as well as in arbitration. Her practice spans all phases of complex commercial disputes, unfair competition and consumer protection, and trade secret litigation. She has won dispositive rulings (including summary judgment) for numerous clients.
Alisha's clients cover a range of industries, including technology and internet services, media and entertainment, real estate, consumer products, and manufacturing. She has extensive experience in California's trial and appellate courts and has mastered the complexities of California civil procedure.
Deeply committed to pro bono work, Alisha has assisted a Texas death-row inmate in federal post-conviction proceedings, and helped an elderly pro bono client successfully appeal an adverse determination by the Social Security Administration. She is also on the board of Bet Tzedek Legal Services, a prominent legal aid provider in Los Angeles.
Dedicated to supporting and increasing diversity in the profession, Alisha has served for the past eight years as the co-chair of Perkins Coie's Women of Color resource group. She also serves on the National Alumni Advisory Committee of the National Black Law Students Association, and is an active member of the board for Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- UCLA School of Law, J.D., Symposium Editor, UCLA Law Review, 2012
- University of California, Berkeley, B.A., Political Science; African American Studies, with honors, 2004
Bar and Court Admissions
-
California
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Related Employment
- Hon. Consuelo B. Marshall, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Los Angeles, CA, Judicial Extern, 2012
- Federal Public Defender, Central District of California, Extern, 2012
- UCLA Law Library, Research Assistant to Priscilla Ocen, 2011
- Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Summer Legal Intern, 2010
- The California Endowment, Policy Program Assistant, 2006-2009
Clerkships
- Hon. Henry Morgan, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Professional Recognition
Named a Top 40 Under 40 attorney by National Black Lawyers
Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation, 2024
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow, 2021
Community Involvement
- Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc., Board Member
- Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Board Member
- John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles, Member
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
News
Professional Experience
Experience
- Obtained dismissal with prejudice of suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern New York accusing a major food and beverage manufacturer of misleading consumers regarding the contents of one of its products. Alisha played a key role in this exceptional outcome for the client, including drafting the successful motion and a premotion letter to the court in support of the request to file a motion to dismiss.
- Secured a significant summary judgment victory on the eve of trial for an electronics manufacturer client in a high-profile case brought by a cable and headphone company, alleging that the client had engaged in a fraudulent scheme to divest the plaintiff of its interest in one of the client’s products. In addition to handling the day-to-day management of this case, after summary judgment, Alisha drafted and argued an attorneys’ fees motion that yielded a seven-figure award for the client. The summary judgment was affirmed on appeal, where Alisha argued on behalf of the client.
- Represented a major food and beverage manufacturer in a precedent-setting decision overturning a lower court’s requirement that 59 popular breakfast cereals include Proposition 65 acrylamide-based cancer warnings on their packaging. Alisha wrote the successful conflict preemption argument at summary judgment and was the primary drafter of the briefs before the appellate court.
- Represent tenant special purpose entity in lease dispute relating to tenant improvements and construction issues and lease termination. Case settled on favorable terms to the tenant, including full lease exit.
- Counsel representing tenant and guarantor in a lease dispute against landlord arising out of a lease exit. Landlord brought various claims against both the tenant special purpose entity and the guarantor. All of the landlord’s claims against the guarantor for breach of lease and breach of guaranty have been dismissed with prejudice, and the balance of the matter was settled on favorable terms for the tenant.
- Representing Google in a trade secret/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.
- Defended NBCUniversal Media, LLC in a trade secret action in connection with the creation of hulu.com.
- Defended RNAmeTRIX, Inc. and UCLA professor and researcher Dr. David Wong in a breach of contract/business tort action brought by PeriRx LLC arising from the parties’ license of certain patent rights. Alisha obtained dismissal of all claims against Dr. Wong and RNAmeTRIX at the motion to dismiss and summary judgment stages. The dismissals were affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.