Harmeet Kaur Dhillon is an experienced business trial lawyer, trusted boardroom advisor, and passionate advocate for individual, corporate and institutional clients across numerous industries and walks of life. From an early interest in constitutional litigation, to a stint at the Department of Justice, to a decade of practice at prestigious international law firms, to founding Dhillon & Smith in 2006, Harmeet’s legal career has been marked by a passion for justice, a zeal for attacking legal challenges, and an intense sense of satisfaction in helping her clients realize creative and practical solutions to seemingly intractable problems.
Following a clerkship with the Hon. Paul V. Niemeyer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Ms. Dhillon’s practice in New York, London, and the San Francisco Bay Area has focused on federal and state commercial litigation and arbitration, with a particular emphasis on unfair competition/trade secret misappropriation, intellectual property (including trademark litigation and internet torts), complex contractual disputes, and First Amendment litigation (including defamation, trade libel, right of publicity, and anti-SLAPP motions). Harmeet’s broad experience also encompasses securities, entertainment, employment discrimination and civil rights matters. Ms. Dhillon has developed a niche practice in representing clients across California in election and campaign law matters, ranging from general compliance and ethics representation for partisan and non-partisan contenders to ballot description contests and intellectual property matters pertaining to campaign communications. Dhillon & Smith is one of a handful of California law firms offering this expertise.
Harmeet has practiced before numerous state and federal courts and administrative tribunals across the United States, has successfully handled numerous arbitrations and mediations (including international arbitrations), and has resolved many business disputes prior to the initiation of litigation. Admitted to practice law in New York and California, she is also a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Harmeet’s clients at Dhillon & Smith have included e-Commerce leaders, private companies, entrepreneurs, celebrities, film and music artists, authors, advertising executives, franchisees, public utilities, educational institutions and nonprofits. She has won numerous awards and recognition for her pro bono legal work on behalf of domestic violence survivors, religious discrimination plaintiffs, and political refugees.
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Experience:
- Of Counsel, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (San Francisco)
- Senior Associate, Cooley Godward LLC (Palo Alto)
- Associate, Shearman & Sterling LLP (New York, London)
- Law Clerk, Hon. Paul V. Niemeyer (United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Baltimore)
- Law Clerk, United States Department of Justice, Civil Division, Constitutional Torts Section (D.C.)
Education:
- Dartmouth College, A.B. Classical Studies
- University of Virginia, J.D. (Editorial Board, Virginia Law Review)
Areas of Expertise:
- General and Complex Commercial Litigation
- Campaign and Election Law
- Intellectual Property (Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secrets)
- Securities Litigation
- Corporate Governance Issues
- Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
- First Amendment (Right of Publicity, Slander, Defamation, Trade Libel, and anti-SLAPP)
- Entertainment Transactions and Litigation
Selected Publications:
| The Emergence of Sikh Advocacy | Civil Rights in Wartime | 2009 | |
| The New Gold Rush? Wireless Opportunities for Colleges and Universities Through EBS Broadcast Spectrum Leases | University Business | 2007 |
| Brother Sister Legal Team Fights to Protect Bay Area Sikhs | The Recorder | 2001 | |
| Preliminary Injunctive Relief in the Federal Courts | ALI/ABA publication | 1996 |
Representative Speaking Engagements:
| “What Korean Airline Crashes Can Teach Us About Diversity” | National Pacific American Bar Association Western Regional Conference | July, 2010 | |
| SLAPP Litigation – Free Speech in the Commercial and Political Context | Law.com CLE Presentation | June, 2010 | |
| “Ashcroft v. Iqbal” – The Importance of the Supreme Court’s Decision on Civil Rights Litigation | Bar Association of San Francisco CLE Presentation | June, 2010 | |
| Trade Secret Litigation: The New Method to Protect Theft of Intellectual Property | Minority Corporate Counsel Association 9th Annual CLE Expo (Chicago) | March, 2010 | |
| Reflections on Balancing a Career of Litigation, Pro Bono and Civic Involvement | SABA Sacramento Annual Gala | March, 2010 |
| So You Think You Want to Run for Public Office | 21st Annual NAPABA Convention (Boston) | November, 2009 | |
| A Conversation with New South Asians in Politics | NASABA Convention (Vancouver) | June, 2009 | |
| Panelist on Presidential Campaigns | Minority Bar Council Conference (Golden Gate Law School, San Francisco) | July, 2008 | |
| Ethical Issues: What Do You Do When Your Friend Crosses the Line? | NAPABA Convention (Seattle) | November, 2008 | |
| Running for Office as a South Asian Lawyer | NASABA Convention (Chicaco) | June, 2008 |
Civic Leadership:
- Director, South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (2001-2004: Board Member at Large; 2007-2009: Chair, Civil Rights Committee)
- Director, Support Network for Battered Women (Santa Clara County) 2001-2003
- Trustee, Sikh Foundation (2001-2009)
- Director, California Women’s Leadership Association (2004-2005; 2008-2009)
- Legal Counsel, Sikh Coalition (2007-present)
- Legal Counsel, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (1998-present)
- Legal Counsel, Lohgarh Sikh Educational Foundation (1993-present)
Selected Awards:
- “Outstanding Attorney Award” – South Asian Bar Association of Northern California, 2010
- “Best Lawyers Under 40” – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 2007
- Centennial Foundation of Canada Distinguished Community Service Award, 2003
- Minority Bar Council Outstanding Community Service Award, 2002