Next-Generation Women Leaders in Tech Law: Allison Blanco, Latham & Watkins
"As a lawyer, this evolution challenges me to continue learning and finding new ways to apply the law in uncharted territory," Blanco says.
November 14, 2018 at 01:32 PM
4 minute read
Allison Blanco helped client Craigslist win a $60.5 million judgment in a lawsuit against RadPad, an online real estate rental listing service that built its business by scraping Craigslist users' posts and spamming users with misleading information. Blanco developed Craigslist's CAN-SPAM and copyright claims, and worked with a team of experts to collect and analyze evidence that led to the judgment and a permanent injunction.
Describe yourself in one word.
Determined.
What kinds of new technologies should tomorrow's lawyers be able to use effectively?
Tomorrow's lawyers should learn how to effectively leverage data analytics technology to improve the way they approach case strategy, business development, and gain legal insights.
What's one area of technology that you're most excited about and why?
Artificial intelligence. The use of AI across critical sectors such as education, medicine, transportation, and manufacturing can make our society safer and more efficient. The legal issues surrounding AI are pretty interesting too!
Who is the most important mentor you've had thus far in your career? Why?
I've been fortunate enough to have several mentors at Latham who have each been instrumental to my growth as a lawyer. However, as a young female attorney in the intellectual property group, I've looked up to and been mentored by Jennifer Barry, the global co-chairwoman of Latham's intellectual property litigation practice. She is a brilliant strategic thinker, an expert in her field, and takes the time to guide and mentor me on both substantive legal issues and navigating my career.
What's the best part of working in the tech sector?
Technology, and the legal issues related to technology, are rapidly evolving. As a lawyer, this evolution challenges me to continue learning and finding new ways to apply the law in uncharted territory.
What's the biggest challenge?
It can be challenging to apply laws that were written decades ago to emerging technologies that were not contemplated by the legislature at the time the laws were made.
How do you describe what you do for a living to people you're meeting for the first time?
I help technology and internet companies protect their most valuable assets.
What's one way technology has made your life easier?
The ability to work remotely from anywhere in the world.
One way it's made your life more difficult?
It can be hard to find a block of quiet time to focus on one complex task with the constant connectivity that technology offers, including the inflow of emails, texts and calls.
Name an important opportunity you've had in your career and what you did with it?
The most important opportunity I've had in my career was the opportunity to join Latham & Watkins as a summer associate, and then return as an associate straight out of law school. Starting my legal career at Latham & Watkins has given me an opportunity to work alongside phenomenal and incredibly talented attorneys and build a skill set and knowledge base that will benefit me and my clients for the rest of my career.
What drew you to practicing law in the technology industry?
I was drawn to learning about new technology and gaining a deeper understanding of the rights and responsibilities of companies who leverage technology in their businesses.
What's the best piece of career advice anyone ever gave you?
“Don't lose sight of the forest for the trees”—in other words, remember the big picture. Whether applied to a specific case, a problem a client is facing, or issues and decisions that impact the trajectory of my career, this advice has helped me to stay grounded and focused in challenging or stressful situations.
In 50 words or less, what's the best way to address tech's gender gap?
Encourage girls and women at a young age to pursue education and careers in science and technology. Ensure that leaders in the tech industry (both men and women) buy in, and work to promote and retain women.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View AllLitigation Leaders: Laura Hoey of Ropes & Gray on Bringing an Industry Focus to Litigation Matters
Litigators of the Week: A $604.9M Trade Secrets Verdict With a Big Assist From a Juror Question
Litigation Leaders: Quinn Emanuel's Michael Carlinsky on Training Associates to Think and Act Like Trial Lawyers
Litigators of the Week: Jeffrey Kessler and Steve Berman Reach a Settlement With the NCAA that Reshapes College Sports
Trending Stories
- 1Big Law Expected To Follow Milbank's Lead With Associate Year-End Bonuses
- 2Judicial Ethics Opinion 24-58
- 3Sweet James Clinches $17.4M Personal Injury Jury Verdict in California's Kings County
- 4In Lame-Duck Session, US Senate Confirms Illinois Federal Judge on Bipartisan Vote
- 5Gordon Rees Opens 80th Office, ‘Collaboration Hub’ in Palo Alto
Who Got The Work
Michael G. Bongiorno, Andrew Scott Dulberg and Elizabeth E. Driscoll from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr have stepped in to represent Symbotic Inc., an A.I.-enabled technology platform that focuses on increasing supply chain efficiency, and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The case, filed Oct. 2 in Massachusetts District Court by the Brown Law Firm on behalf of Stephen Austen, accuses certain officers and directors of misleading investors in regard to Symbotic's potential for margin growth by failing to disclose that the company was not equipped to timely deploy its systems or manage expenses through project delays. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, is 1:24-cv-12522, Austen v. Cohen et al.
Who Got The Work
Edmund Polubinski and Marie Killmond of Davis Polk & Wardwell have entered appearances for data platform software development company MongoDB and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The action, filed Oct. 7 in New York Southern District Court by the Brown Law Firm, accuses the company's directors and/or officers of falsely expressing confidence in the company’s restructuring of its sales incentive plan and downplaying the severity of decreases in its upfront commitments. The case is 1:24-cv-07594, Roy v. Ittycheria et al.
Who Got The Work
Amy O. Bruchs and Kurt F. Ellison of Michael Best & Friedrich have entered appearances for Epic Systems Corp. in a pending employment discrimination lawsuit. The suit was filed Sept. 7 in Wisconsin Western District Court by Levine Eisberner LLC and Siri & Glimstad on behalf of a project manager who claims that he was wrongfully terminated after applying for a religious exemption to the defendant's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The case, assigned to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anita Marie Boor, is 3:24-cv-00630, Secker, Nathan v. Epic Systems Corporation.
Who Got The Work
David X. Sullivan, Thomas J. Finn and Gregory A. Hall from McCarter & English have entered appearances for Sunrun Installation Services in a pending civil rights lawsuit. The complaint was filed Sept. 4 in Connecticut District Court by attorney Robert M. Berke on behalf of former employee George Edward Steins, who was arrested and charged with employing an unregistered home improvement salesperson. The complaint alleges that had Sunrun informed the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection that the plaintiff's employment had ended in 2017 and that he no longer held Sunrun's home improvement contractor license, he would not have been hit with charges, which were dismissed in May 2024. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer, is 3:24-cv-01423, Steins v. Sunrun, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Greenberg Traurig shareholder Joshua L. Raskin has entered an appearance for boohoo.com UK Ltd. in a pending patent infringement lawsuit. The suit, filed Sept. 3 in Texas Eastern District Court by Rozier Hardt McDonough on behalf of Alto Dynamics, asserts five patents related to an online shopping platform. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, is 2:24-cv-00719, Alto Dynamics, LLC v. boohoo.com UK Limited.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250