Atty. Ian C. Ballon
Ian Ballon is an intellectual property and Internet litigator who represents clients in copyright, DMCA, trademark, trade secret, right of publicity, privacy, security, software, database and Internet disputes and in the defense of data privacy, behavioral advertising and other Internet-related class action suits. Mr.
Profile Summary
About Ian C. Ballon at a glance
Ian C. Ballon is a ip, trade secrets, securities, and internet attorney based in East Palo Alto, California, practicing at Greenberg Traurig. Admitted to practice in Maryland, Maryland State Bar Association, District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar, and California, The State Bar of California. Educated at The George Washington University (J.D., 1986) and Tufts University (BA, 1983). Recognitions include Lawyer of the Year — Technology Law (San Jose) (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Information Technology Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property (2026). Serands clients in East Palo Alto, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Want to Get Service From This Attorney?
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About
- Ian Ballon is an intellectual property and Internet litigator who represents clients in copyright, DMCA, trademark, trade secret, right of publicity, privacy, security, software, database and Internet disputes and in the defense of data privacy, behavioral advertising and other Internet-related class action suits
- Mr. Ballon, who splits his time between the firm's Silicon Valley and LA offices, is the author of the four-volume legal treatise, E-Commerce and Internet Law: Treatise With Forms 2d Edition, Thomson West 2012 Cum
- Supp. and the earlier first edition, which has been cited in state and federal court opinions
- He is also the author of The Complete CAN-SPAM Act Handbook (West 2008) and The Complete State Security Breach Notification Compliance Handbook (West 2009)
- In addition, Mr. Ballon serves as Executive Director of Stanford University Law School's Center for E-Commerce and previously served as an Adviser to the American Law Institute's Intellectual Property: Principles Governing Jurisdiction, Choice of Law, and Judgments in Transactional Disputes (ALI Principles of the Law 2007)
- Mr. Ballon was named as the Lawyer of the Year for information technology law in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and was recognized as the 2012 New Media Lawyer of the Year by the Century City Bar Association
- In 2010, he was the recipient of the California State Bar Intellectual Property Law section's Vanguard Award for outstanding legal professionals who are spearheading new developments in the world of intellectual property
- He has also been named one of the top 100 lawyers in California and one of the Top 75 intellectual property litigators in California by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal
- Mr. Ballon previously has been recognized as one of the top new media lawyers in the United States by CyberEsq. magazine, one of the 100 most influential lawyers in California by California Law Business, one of the top 100 lawyers in L.A. by the Los Angeles Business Journal, one of the top 50 IP Litigators in California and one of the top 25 copyright, trademark and patent lawyers in California by The Daily Journal
- He is listed in Legal 500 U.S., The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of intellectual property and information technology and Chambers and Partners USA Guide in the areas of privacy and data security as well as IT and outsourcing
- In 2009, Mr. Ballon also was recognized by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal for obtaining the third largest plaintiff's verdict in California in 2008 in MySpace, Inc. v
- Wallace (over $230,000,000), which was one of a number of cases in which he and his team created new law applying the CAN-SPAM Act to social networks, construing California's anti-phishing statute and enforcing provisions in Internet Terms of Use agreements
- Mr. Ballon is admitted to practice in California, the District of Columbia and Maryland and before the U.S
- Supreme Court and has been elected to membership in the American Law Institute
- He also holds a C.I.P.P. certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals
Practice Areas Explained
Ian C. Ballon's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Ian C. Ballon handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.
Ian C. Ballon is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in California →
Ian C. Ballon is one of 6,644 trade secrets attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trade secrets attorneys in California →
Ian C. Ballon is one of 64,529 securities attorneys indexed nationally. Browse securities attorneys in California →
Internet and cyber lawyers for data breaches, online defamation, privacy law, and cybersecurity matters.
Ian C. Ballon is one of 17,958 internet attorneys indexed nationally. Browse internet attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in California
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in East Palo Alto are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in East Palo Alto or all attorneys in California.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about Ian C. Ballon
Where is Ian C. Ballon's law office located?
What practice areas does Ian C. Ballon handle?
Where did Ian C. Ballon go to law school?
How can I contact Ian C. Ballon for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Ian C. Ballon received?
Practice Areas
Education
Awards
Bar Admissions
Reviews
No reviews yet.