David Rudolph, Internet Attorney in San Francisco, California
Over 22 years of legal practice · focused on Internet and IP
PartneratLieff Cabraser Heimann And Bernstein Llp
San Francisco, CA
Practicing internet in San Francisco since 2004.
- 22+
- Years practicing
- 4
- Bar admissions
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Quick answer
David Rudolph is a partner based in San Francisco, CA. The practice focuses on Internet and IP. David has over 22 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Lieff Cabraser Heimann And Bernstein Llp.
- Based in
- San Francisco, CA
- Experience
- over 22 years
- Known for
- Internet · IP
- Handles Internet and IP matters from San Francisco, CA.
- Over 22 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
About David Rudolph: David Rudolph is a partner based in San Francisco, CA. The practice focuses on Internet and IP. David has over 22 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Lieff Cabraser Heimann And Bernstein Llp.
Areas of practice
David's practice areas in San Francisco
David concentrates on internet and ip. Each area below outlines the kind of case David handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Internet cases in San Francisco, California
David takes internet matters in San Francisco, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before David agrees to represent you.
IP cases in San Francisco, California
David takes ip matters in San Francisco, California. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before David agrees to represent you.
Biography
David Rudolph, internet attorney serving San Francisco
David Rudolph is a partner based in San Francisco, CA. The practice focuses on Internet and IP. David has over 22 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Lieff Cabraser Heimann And Bernstein Llp. David works from San Francisco, California and takes on internet matters across the region.
David Rudolph is a partner at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, and a nationally-recognized advocate and scholar specializing in privacy law. He serves as class counsel in several landmark data privacy cases that challenge illegal and invasive conduct by technology companies. He is a member of the firm’s Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy, and Antitrust & Intellectual Property practice groups.
He is Adjunct Professor of Law at UC College of the Law, San Francisco, where he teaches privacy law. A Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), David regularly presents on and moderates panels addressing cutting-edge issues in privacy, cybersecurity, and data governance.
David is the author of Litigating Corporate Surveillance: Privacy, Autonomy, Power, and Democracy in the Courtroom (Routledge, 2025). In this book, he offers a critical corrective to prevailing views on the legality of corporate data exploitation practices, arguing that litigation-rather than legislation alone-is essential to enforcing privacy rights in democratic societies.
David currently serves as class counsel in several cutting-edge privacy class actions challenging harmful corporate surveillance practices:
•Katz-Lacabe v. Oracle America, Inc.- David serves as count-appointed class counsel in litigation against Oracle America Inc., a leading data broker, alleging it surveilled consumers, compiled detailed profiles-covering geolocation, finances, demographics, and health-and sold this data to third parties without consent. Plaintiffs claimed Oracle’s “coretag” tracking embedded in popular websites unlawfully intercepted communications, affecting individuals with no relationship to Oracle. In November 2024, the Northern District of California granted final approval to a $115 million settlement, which includes compensation to class members and mandates changes to Oracle’s data practices. Shortly after entering into the settlement agreement with the plaintiffs, Oracle shuttered its ad tech and data brokering business.
•Riganian v. LiveRamp Holdings, Inc.- David represents plaintiffs challenging one of the world’s largest data brokers for unlawfully collecting, aggregating, and selling detailed personal information without consent. The case alleges LiveRamp assigns persistent “RampIDs” to create comprehensive identity profiles sold through its Data Marketplace, despite consumers having no direct relationship with the company. In July 2025, the Northern District of California denied LiveRamp’s motion to dismiss, allowing the case to proceed in full on claims including violations of the California Constitution, Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and California Invasion of Privacy Act.
•In re The Trade Desk, Inc. Data Privacy Litigation- David serves as court-appointed lead counsel in consolidated class action litigation against this major digital advertising platform. The case challenges The Trade Desk’s alleged pervasive surveillance practices, including tracking individuals’ online and offline activities to compile detailed dossiers containing sensitive health, political, financial, and location information. Plaintiffs allege the company’s “Unified ID 2.0” system and data broker partnerships enable creation and sale of “cradle-to-grave” profiles without consent, and the litigation seeks injunctive relief and damages for invasion of privacy.
David’s extensive experience litigating core technical and legal issues encompasses data breaches, digital advertising technologies, GDPR compliance, and the intersection of machine learning systems with consumer privacy rights. His privacy practice builds upon deep experience as an antitrust and intellectual property litigator. He has represented end-payor classes in major pharmaceutical antitrust litigation, including the Cipro drug antitrust cases, the Restasis antitrust litigation, and the Generic Pharmaceuticals Price-Fixing cases. His intellectual property experience includes prosecuting and defending patent infringement claims in federal district courts across California and Texas, as well as before the International Trade Commission.
Recognized by Lawdragon as one of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers in America,” “500 Leading Litigators in America,” and “500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers” from 2019 through 2025, David has also twice received the American Antitrust Institute’s “Outstanding Private Practice Antitrust Achievement” award in 2017 and 2020.
Prior to joining Lieff Cabraser, David litigated high-profile patent and copyright cases at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, and served as a law clerk for the Hon. Saundra Brown Armstrong, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
Classes & Seminars
•Panelist, “Privacy in a Surveilled Society,” ASU-Arkfeld eDiscovery, Law and Technology Conference, March 2026
•Faculty, “The Outside Counsel Perspective,” California Privacy Law 2025, Practising Law Institute, November 2025
•Faculty, “The Outside Counsel Perspective,” California Privacy Law 2023, Practising Law Institute, October 2023
•Moderator, “Understanding Ad Tech,” BASF Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Section Conference, October 2022
•Speaker, “Outside Counsel Perspective,” California Privacy Law 2022, Practising Law Institute, October 2022
•Moderator, “Facial Recognition - Legislation, Litigation, and Challenges,” BASF Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Section Panel, May 2022
•Panelist, “Don’t Get Bucked by the Mechanical Bull: Holding onto Adversarial Ethics While Riding Innovations,” American Bar Association 25th Annual National Institute on Class Actions, April 2022
•Speaker, “Outside Counsel Perspective,” California Privacy Law 2021, Practising Law Institute, October 2021
•Speaker, “Outside Counsel Perspective,” California Privacy Law 2020, Practising Law Institute, October 2020
•Panelist, Privacy Class Actions, Civil Law Symposium on Class Actions, Northern District Practice Program, 2018
•Strategies for Data Breach Cases, American Association for Justice, 2017
•Intellectual Property Roundtable, California Lawyer, 2013
Honors & Awards
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers,” Lawdragon, 2025, 2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2019-2026
•“Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2025
•“Outstanding Private Practice Antitrust Achievement,” American Antitrust Institute, 2017, 2020
In the News
•March 27, 2026
Twenty-Three Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” List for 2026
•March 26, 2026
David Rudolph to Speak at ASU-Arkfeld eDiscovery, Law and Technology Conference 2026
•January 16, 2026
14 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to Lawdragon’s 2nd Annual “Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers” List
•November 13, 2025
David Rudolph to Speak at Practising Law Institute’s California Privacy Law 2025
•June 6, 2025
Twenty-Four Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Named to Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” List for 2025
How David handles internet matters
David Rudolph is a partner at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, and a nationally-recognized advocate and scholar specializing in privacy law. He serves as class counsel in several landmark data privacy cases that challenge illegal and invasive conduct by technology companies. He is a member of the firm’s Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy, and Antitrust & Intellectual Property practice…
Who David represents
David reviews new inquiries case-by-case for internet and ip matters in San Francisco and the surrounding California area.
Credentials
Credentials — where David studied and practices
Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley J.D. 2004 Honors: Moot Court Board Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley J.D. Law Journal: Berkeley Technol
—
University of California, Berkeley
B.A. Philosophy · 1998
Jurisdictions
David's state bar admissions
U.S. Court of Appeal
2012 · ACTIVE
U.S. District Court
2008 · ACTIVE
U.S. District Court
2008 · ACTIVE
California
2004 · ACTIVE
David studied at — in Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley J.D. 2004 Honors: Moot Court Board Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley J.D. Law Journal: Berkeley Technol and B.A. Philosophy in University of California, Berkeley.
Law school and academic background
David completed — in Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley J.D. 2004 Honors: Moot Court Board Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley J.D. Law Journal: Berkeley Technol and B.A. Philosophy in University of California, Berkeley. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice David runs in California is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Affiliations
David's professional memberships and bar associations
Professional Associations and Memberships State Bar of California
membership
Locations
David Rudolph's office in San Francisco
David's primary office is at Embarcadero Center West, 275 Battery Street, 29th Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94111. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Lieff Cabraser Heimann And Bernstein Llp
Embarcadero Center West, 275 Battery Street, 29th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire David Rudolph — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new internet attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with David usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
David charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain David's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; David will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a internet attorney in San Francisco, California
A short list to run through before you commit: How many internet matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for David
David discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in internet practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every internet matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. David confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
David's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many internet practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about David Rudolph
How much does it cost to hire David for a internet case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. David walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does David offer a free consultation?
David charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain David's office. Some internet attorneys offer free consults — check David's current terms during booking.
How long do internet cases in California typically take?
Simple internet matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. David gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can David take my case if I'm outside San Francisco?
David is licensed in California. Matters governed by California law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — David will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with David?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. David will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is David accepting new internet clients right now?
David's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Internet attorneys serving San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego in California
David handles internet matters throughout California. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified internet attorneys in that community.
- San Francisco26,380 attorneys
- Los Angeles39,975 attorneys
- San Diego16,903 attorneys
- Sacramento10,561 attorneys
- Irvine6,831 attorneys
- Oakland5,709 attorneys
- San Jose5,009 attorneys
- Palo Alto4,084 attorneys
- Beverly Hills3,348 attorneys
- Newport Beach3,106 attorneys
- Pasadena2,894 attorneys
- Santa Monica2,756 attorneys
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