Litigation

Zack Allen is a litigation and regulatory compliance attorney in the firm's San Francisco office. Mr. Allen's litigation practice emphasizes complex commercial and class actions as well as international arbitrations. Mr. Allen also advises clients on regulatory compliance issues, including the consumer product safety regulations of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), state "Green Chemistry" regimes, and other consumer protection and environmental laws and regulations. Mr. Allen also has experience with intellectual property, marketing and advertising, privacy, pricing, and antitrust matters.

In 2011 and 2012, Mr. Allen was seconded to Williams-Sonoma, Inc. to serve in-house as acting Assistant General Counsel for Product Safety and Regulatory Compliance for the company and its Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, west elm, and Rejuvenation brands.

Mr. Allen was recognized by the Daily Journal's 2011 "20 Under 40" list as one of the "Five Associates to Watch" in California in 2011. He was also identified as one of Super Lawyers Northern California Rising Stars in 2010 and 2012.

Mr. Allen served as a full-time extern for the Honorable Susan Illston, of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, while in law school at U.C. Berkeley.

Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Allen was Executive Director of the Global Security Institute (GSI), an international non-governmental organization dedicated to the global elimination of nuclear weapons. Mr. Allen helped the late Senator Alan Cranston (D-CA) found GSI in 1999.

Prior to his work for GSI, Mr. Allen was a program officer at the Gorbachev Foundation USA, otherwise known as the State of the World Forum.

In addition to his JD, Mr. Allen holds an MA from Stanford University's Latin American Studies program. He also earned his BA in International Relations at Stanford, where he graduated with distinction and was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Mr. Allen is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish also speaks French.

Litigation Representative Matters

Consumer Protection Litigation

• Representation of international manufacturer and distributor of yogurt products in numerous nationwide class actions alleging false advertising regarding the benefits or characteristics of the products
• Representation of several leading manufacturers and distributors of cosmetics and other personal care products in putative nationwide class actions alleging false advertising regarding the products' benefits
• Representation of personal care product manufacturer in putative class action alleging illegal wiretapping based on recording of customer service telephone calls
• Representation of numerous consumer product manufacturers and retailers in defending alleged violations of California’s Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986)
• Representation of major restaurant chain in two nationwide and four state class actions alleging inaccuracies in nutritional information provided on menus
• Representation of major automotive financial services company in putative class action alleging false advertising and unfair competition
• Representation of major credit and debit card services provider in putative class action alleging harm to consumers under California's Unfair Competition Law
• Representation of major national bank in putative class actions alleging unfair competition and unfair business practices

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

• Representation of German maker of high-tech manufacturing equipment against US manufacturer of solar panels in international arbitration governed by ICC rules and English law involving contract and intellectual property issues
• Representation of Peruvian company in construction contract dispute against ethanol plant owner in international arbitration governed by ICC rules and New York law
• Representation of manufacturer and distributor of dairy products against maker of ice cream products in contract dispute under JAMS arbitration rules
• Representation of U.S.-based online gaming company in contract dispute with Greek investors

Regulatory Compliance, Government Investigations, and Other Matters

• Advise global retailer of furniture, decorative accessory, cookware, and food products on compliance with various federal and state laws and regulations including those of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
• Advise one of the world’s largest toy manufacturers and distributors regarding supply chain management and compliance with state and federal laws governing the presence of toxics in children’s products
• Advise national clothing and accessories retailer on best practices in the marketing of jewelry to consumers with nickel sensitivities
• Assist numerous national retailers in developing programs to comply with California’s Transparency in Supply Chains Act
• Representation of global semiconductor manufacturer in responding to an EPA Notice of Violation issued under RCRA
• Representation of consortium of large commercial real estate owners in submitting comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding proposed plan to address vapor intrusion concerns at a Superfund site
• Representation of major manufacturer of aviation components in responding to EPA's request for information and negotiating a substantially reduced settlement
• Advise major automobile manufacturer on multi-employer worksite liability considerations and best practices
• Assist major research university in negotiating environmental provisions of long-term lease with the US Department of Energy
• Advise major national retail chain on antitrust and unfair competition risks associated with below-cost sales of consumer goods as part of a promotional campaign
• Representation of major computer hardware manufacturer in personal injury lawsuit alleging that prenatal exposure to industrial chemicals caused harm

Pro Bono

• Representation of former Cabinet Secretaries and other Executive Branch officials as amici before the U.S. Supreme Court in case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, United States v. Windsor
• Representation of parents of gender non-conforming child in dispute with school district over discriminatory bullying and harassment
• Representation of blind vendor in challenging wrongful removal from protected employment in a federal courthouse under the Randolph-Shepard Act
• Representation of women's health services provider in a variety of matters, including contempt proceedings -- including trial -- against protesters violating court-issued injunctions
• Contribution to comprehensive report on U.S. immigration reform commissioned by the American Bar Association