Collin Vierra is a Partner whose nationwide practice focuses on complex trial and appellate litigation, commercial and consumer mass arbitration, and counseling. Collin’s practice touches on a wide range of issues, including data privacy and AI, discrimination, products liability, commercial disputes, antitrust and unfair competition, environmental law, and government regulation. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and Stanford Law School with degrees in engineering and economics, clients trust Collin with their most high-stakes and cutting-edge disputes. Benchmark Litigation has named him to its 40 & Under list, which “sets out to identify the best and brightest litigators across the US.”
Collin chairs Eimer Stahl’s leading Mass Arbitration Practice Group, and clients call him a “leading lawyer” of mass arbitration defense. His creative solutions to novel arbitration issues have saved his clients tens of millions of dollars in arbitration costs and damages. A featured speaker on mass arbitration issues, he has presented at numerous institutions including the American Bar Association, the Federalist Society, the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center, Stanford Law School, MassArbCon, and the Data Privacy and Cyber Security ConfEx. Collin has helped companies respond to over 150,000 individual demands for arbitration across numerous industries, including the social networking, consumer hardware, and consumer entertainment industries. He has obtained tens of thousands of dismissals and withdrawals of mass arbitration claims without any settlement payment or judgment to claimants, and has secured multiple five-figure fee-shifting awards for his corporate clients against both claimants and their counsel. Collin has arbitrated before numerous institutions including JAMS, the AAA, and NAM. His expert analysis on mass arbitration issues has been published in Law360.
Collin also has substantial experience managing high-stakes discovery disputes. On the defense side, he was previously responsible for coordinating discovery in one of the nation’s largest multidistrict litigation (MDL), multistate Attorneys General (AGs), and multiagency actions. In 2024, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee appointed Collin as discovery counsel in State of Tennessee ex rel. Jonathan Skrmetti v. Meta Platforms, Inc., in which the State seeks to hold Meta responsible for the harmful impacts of Instagram on teens. His insights on pressing discovery issues have also been published in Law360.
As co-chair of Eimer Stahl’s Data Privacy and AI Practice Group, Collin is a trusted resource for clients navigating cutting-edge data privacy, AI, and other technological disputes. He has counseled and/or defended clients in matters involving a garden variety of state and federal data privacy statutes and constitutional claims, including under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifiers Act (CUBI), the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and others.
Collin has ample experience in both state and Article I and III federal court and with all aspects of litigation, including successfully trying claims from complaint to jury verdict. He has defended major public and private companies in consumer class actions, multi-district litigations (MDL), and Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings (JCCP). Collin has also defended these companies in civil and criminal investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the Attorneys General of more than 40 states and the District of Columbia.
His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he was a member of the Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honors Society and an engineering apprentice in the Pappalardo Laboratory. He also holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Stanford University where he was a Gregory Terrill Cox Fellow in the John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics. Collin obtained his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.
Collin is licensed to practice in California and Texas.
Experience
Case Experience
Privacy
Rojas v. Clearview AI, Inc. (Cal. Super. Ct.; Cal. Ct. App.) – Defending world’s leading facial recognition technology company in action alleging violations of individual privacy rights under California law.
Davis v. Walmart Inc. (N.D. Ill.) – Obtained successful dismissal of putative Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) class action for world’s largest retailer.
Murphy v. Confirm ID, Inc. (E.D. Cal.) – Through novel use of YouTube video demonstratives proving assent to arbitration terms, successfully moved to compel individual arbitration of Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) claims filed as putative class action against ID verification company.
Massel v. Coinbase, Inc. (N.D. Cal.) – Successfully moved to compel individual arbitration of Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) claims filed as putative class action against cryptocurrency exchange.
Murphy v. FriendFinder Networks, Inc. (Ill. Cir. Ct.) – Obtained successful dismissal of putative Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) class action against adult dating site; Plaintiff was forced to pay Defendant’s costs.
Meta Platforms, Inc. Subpoena Enforcement Action (Cal. Super. Ct.; N.Y. Sup. Ct.) – Successfully defended technology company against successive attempts by Meta to enforce subpoena against non-party in California and New York in connection with out-of-state Texas Capture of Use of Biometric Identifiers Act (CUBI) enforcement action.
Google LLC Subpoena Enforcement Action (N.Y. Sup. Ct.; Tex. Dist. Ct.) – Successfully defended technology company in attempt by Google to enforce subpoena against non-party in connection with Texas Capture of Use of Biometric Identifiers Act (CUBI) enforcement action.
Communications Technology Investigations (DOJ) – Defended leading communications technology company in investigations by U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) into privacy and security practices.
Web Tracking Mass Arbitration (AAA) – Successfully defended web service provider in mass arbitration alleging violations of California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) and related statutes by obtaining complete withdrawal of claims.
Data Breach Mass Arbitration (AAA) – Successfully defended consumer service company in mass arbitration stemming from alleged data breach by obtaining complete withdrawal of claims.
Consumer Hardware Mass Arbitration (AAA) – Successfully defended consumer hardware company in mass arbitration alleging violations of Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) by obtaining complete withdrawal of claims.
Social Networking Arbitration (JAMS) – Successfully defended consumer application company in arbitration alleging violations of California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
KYC Federal Investigation (FBI) – Defending identity verification service in connection with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation.
Antitrust, Unfair Competition, and False Advertising
In re Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation (MDL) – Representing various companies in antitrust action to recover for overpayments made to railroads as a result of price-fixing conspiracy.
In re Crop Inputs Antitrust Litigation (MDL; 8th Cir.) – Successfully moved to dismiss claims against Canadian agricultural cooperative in multi-district litigation alleging conspiracy to keep certain crop inputs electronic platforms out of the U.S. market (currently on appeal).
Mortgage Industry Arbitration (AAA) – Represented mortgage servicing company in arbitration involving competing claims of anticompetitive conduct in violation of Sherman Act and California Unfair Competition Law.
Social Networking Company Mass Arbitration (AAA) – Representing social networking company in mass arbitration alleging false price advertising.
Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, Inc. (SCOTUS) – Drafted amicus brief for app developer association regarding propriety of nationwide injunctions and market benefits of anti-steering provisions.
Products Liability
In re JUUL Labs, Inc., Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation (MDL, JCCP) – Defended world’s leading e-cigarette manufacturer in hundreds of putative class actions and related investigations alleging product defects and violations of consumer protection laws.
Consumer Products Investigations (DOJ, FTC, FDA) – Defended consumer products company in investigations by U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into advertising practices.
State of Tennessee ex rel. Skrmetti v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Tenn. Ch. Ct.) – Representing State of Tennessee in action seeking to hold Meta responsible for the harmful impacts of Instagram on youth.
Commercial Disputes
Chemical Industry Arbitrations (ICC, ICDR) – Represented multinational chemical company in series of commercial arbitrations regarding contract disputes at chemical production sites.
Clearview AI, Inc. v. Investigative Consultants, Inc. (AAA; N.Y. Sup. Ct.; S.D.N.Y.) – Successfully represented purchaser in commercial arbitration to recover funds for breach of contract for provision of data under New York law (enforcement proceedings pending).
Pesticide Industry Insurance Arbitration (Ad Hoc) – Defended captive insurance providers in ad hoc arbitration in connection with pesticide liability claims following separation agreement.
Riverbed Technologies, Inc. v. Scottish Equity Partners (Cal. Super. Ct.; Cal. Ct. App.) – Successfully represented information technology company in action to recover restitution for class action judgment overturned on appeal.
Arntsen et al. v. Davis et al. (Cal. Super. Ct.; E.D. Cal. Bankr.) – Successfully represented senior citizens and immigrants in month-long jury trial to obtain more than $1.3 million jury verdict including $66,666 in punitive damages for each of the six plaintiffs; successfully moved for summary judgment in bankruptcy court adversary proceeding, which found entirety of jury verdict nondischargeable in bankruptcy.
Securities Litigation
Slack Technologies, Inc. Securities, Shareholder, and Derivative Litigation (Cal. Super. Ct.; Del. Ct. Chancery; D. Del.; N.D. Cal.; 9th Cir.) – Defended leading technology company in first-of-its-kind litigation relating to its direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Consumer Products Investigation (SEC) – Defended market-leading consumer products company in investigations by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) into statements made in private offering materials.
Environmental Law
Climate Change Litigation (1st Cir.; 2d Cir.; 3d Cir.; 4th Cir.; 9th Cir.; SCOTUS) – Defending major petroleum refiner, transporter, and marketer in series of government actions seeking to hold certain oil and gas producers liable for alleged effects of climate change.
Green Energy Industry Investigation (DOJ) – Defended leading green energy company in environmental investigation by U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) into wind farm operations.
Employment
California Business & Industrial Alliance v. Bonta (Cal. Ct. App.) – Drafted amicus brief for U.S. Chamber of Commerce arguing that California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) violates the separation of powers enshrined in the California Constitution.
People v. Handy (Cal. Super. Ct.) – Drafted amicus brief for U.S. Chamber of Commerce arguing that referral services are exempt from California’s AB5, which classifies certain workers as employees rather than independent contractors.
Discrimination
Social Networking Mass Arbitrations (JAMS) – Defended social networking company in mass arbitrations alleging violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Consumer Website Mass Arbitration (AAA) – Defending consumer website company in mass arbitration alleging violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act and federal Civil Rights law.
Consumer Hardware Mass Arbitration (JAMS) – Defended consumer hardware company in mass arbitration alleging violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Consumer Entertainment Mass Arbitration (JAMS) – Defending consumer entertainment company in mass arbitration alleging violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Social Networking Arbitration (JAMS) – Obtained fee-shifting award against claimant in arbitration alleging violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Regulatory
County of Dane v. Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (SCOWIS) – Successfully appealed to Wisconsin Supreme Court to quash subpoena of former public commissioner; Wisconsin Supreme Court found that alleged “appearance of bias” did not state cognizable claim for Due Process violation under U.S. and Wisconsin Supreme Court precedents.
State v. Berrada Properties Management, Inc. (Wis. Cir. Ct.) – Defended Milwaukee’s largest landlord in state action alleging violations of consumer protection regulations and landlord-tenant laws.
Homeaway.com, Inc. v. Palm Beach County (S.D. Fla.) – Represented vacation rental marketplace in series of challenges to local and state ordinances regulating short-term rental properties.
National Retail Federation v. Department of Industrial Relations (Cal. Super. Ct.) – Drafted amicus brief for California vineyard arguing that Cal/OSHA’s “COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards” violated California law and California’s constitutional non-delegation doctrine.
Recognitions
Honors & Recognitions
Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under (2024)