Atty. Melissa Gardner
Melissa Gardner is a partner in Lieff Cabraser’s San Francisco office with a practice focused on digital privacy and consumer protection complex litigation. A pioneering advocate for personal rights and dignity in every domain, Melissa has been a key player in precedent-setting class actions that have put an end to numerous invasive and misleading corporate business practices, and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for consumers.
Profile Summary
About Melissa Gardner at a glance
Melissa Gardner is a Partner based in San Francisco, California, practicing at Lieff Cabraser Heimann And Bernstein Llp. They have 13+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2013. Their practice focuses on personal injury, product liability, consumer, and internet. Admitted to practice in California (2013), New York (2013), U.S. District Court Northern District of California (2013), and U.S. District Court, Central District of California (2019). Educated at Western Washington University (B.A., 2005) and Harvard Law School J.D. 2011 Law Journal: Harvard International Law Journal Harvard Law School J.D. Member (—). Active member of JD, Board of Directors (2015-2018) •State Bar of California •State Bar of New York. Serands clients in San Francisco, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Melissa Gardner is a partner in Lieff Cabraser’s San Francisco office with a practice focused on digital privacy and consumer protection complex litigation
- A pioneering advocate for personal rights and dignity in every domain, Melissa has been a key player in precedent-setting class actions that have put an end to numerous invasive and misleading corporate business practices, and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for consumers
- Her past and current work includes litigation challenging website tracking technology, mobile device tracking and data sharing software, deceptive design in financial technology apps and software, misuse of identities in online advertising, invasions of email, online messaging, and other electronic communications privacy, platforms that facilitate identity theft and fraud, deficient cybersecurity practices, and other violations of consumer rights, including a recent class action settlement, on the eve of trial, of medical battery claims on behalf of purchasers of allegedly experimental and unreliable medical testing
- Melissa was named a Rising Star for Northern California for seven consecutive years by Super Lawyers, selected for Best Lawyers’ Ones to Watch 2021 inaugural edition and each year since, named to the first edition of Lawdragon 500 X - The Next Generation, and named one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America each year since 2023
- She has served on the Law360 Editorial Advisory Board, Cybersecurity & Privacy, since 2024
- Melissa received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she was a semi-finalist in the Harvard Ames Moot Court Competition, as well as a Student Attorney with the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project and South Brooklyn Legal Services
- Prior to attending law school, Melissa worked for the Skagit County Community Action agency in Washington State and served for three years with the United States Peace Corps in Tianshui, China
- Publications & Presentations •Speaker, “Tricks are for Kids: The Dark Side of Children’s Gaming Apps,” Harvard Plaintiffs’ Law Association (HPLA), March 2023 •Speaker, “How the CCPA Relates to Other Existing Laws,” Bar Association of San Francisco Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Conference, November 2020 •Co-Author, “Play Ball: Potential Private Rights of Action Emerging From the FIFA Corruption Scandal,” 11 Business Torts & RICO News 1, Summer 2015 Honors & Awards •“Ones to Watch,” Best Lawyers, 2021-2025 •“Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers,” Lawdragon, 2025, 2026 •“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2023-2026 •“Lawdragon 500 X - The Next Generation,” Lawdragon, 2023, 2024 •“Super Lawyer for Northern California,” Super Lawyers, 2024 •“Rising Star for Northern California,” Super Lawyers, 2017 - 2023 In the News •April 24, 2026 19 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to the 2026 “Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers” Guide •February 17, 2026 30 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Recognized as Lawdragon “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2026 •June 30, 2025 28 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Selected as 2025 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars •February 28, 2025 33 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Recognized as Lawdragon “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2025 •August 15, 2024 38 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers Listings
Practice Areas Explained
Melissa Gardner's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Melissa Gardner handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Melissa Gardner is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Melissa Gardner is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in California →
Consumer protection attorneys for fraud, lemon law, debt harassment, and deceptive trade practices.
Melissa Gardner is one of 50,607 consumer attorneys indexed nationally. Browse consumer attorneys in California →
Internet and cyber lawyers for data breaches, online defamation, privacy law, and cybersecurity matters.
Melissa Gardner 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco or all attorneys in California.
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