Alison Watkins
With more than 15 years of experience representing technology companies, Alison helps clients manage legal risks arising from global privacy laws.
Alison Watkins advises clients on rapidly increasing consumer privacy laws, with a focus on Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act and new U.S. state consumer privacy laws. Alison works with clients across a range of industries and technologies, including virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and third-party platforms.
Valued by her clients for her quick grasp of their technology and business priorities, Alison regularly counsels clients at all stages leading to product launch. She drafts privacy notices, online terms and policies, and other consumer-facing disclosures. Additionally, Alison helps clients develop and mature privacy programs to comply with negotiated FTC consent orders and consumer privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and General Data Protection Regulation.
Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Alison litigated patent cases on behalf of clients in many technologies and industries, including software, semiconductors, wireless networking, mobile communications, and recombinant DNA technology. Her experience includes matters involving trade secret, breach of contract, unfair competition, and other commercial dispute litigations. She played a leading role in litigation in courts throughout the United States, as well as before the U.S. International Trade Commission and in private arbitration. She has substantial experience in all aspects of litigation, from pre-suit diligence through appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Alison maintains an active pro bono practice as part of her service on the board of directors for the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County.
Education & Credentials
Education
- UC Berkeley School of Law, J.D., Articles Editor and Annual Reviews Editor, Berkeley Technology Law Journal, 2007
- University of Pennsylvania, B.A., Urban Studies, with honors, 2000
Bar and Court Admissions
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California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Related Employment
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Associate, 2007-2020
Professional Recognition
Named “40 Under 40” by Silicon Valley Business Journal, 2017
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Board Member, 2016-2022
Insights
Professional Experience
Privacy
- Advised virtual and augmented reality company on CCPA compliance.
- Advised virtual and augmented reality company on compliance with FTC consent order.
- Advised virtual reality company on GDPR compliance.*
- Defended social networking company in a FTC investigation.*
*Prior experience.
Intellectual Property
- Defended one of the largest mobile communications companies in a 16-patent case brought by an intellectual property licensing company in which 15 of the 16 patents were dismissed. The plaintiff’s appeal of the dismissal as to seven of the patents was denied.*
- Won complete summary judgment of non-infringement for the same mobile communication company in a patent infringement action involving Wi-Fi cellular switching technology in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, affirmed by the Federal Circuit.*
- Defended a highly successful San Francisco technology startup in two high-profile intellectual property cases against a systems and applications software company in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Both cases settled favorably.*
*Prior experience.