Travis G. LeBlanc

LeBlanc brings significant government experience in privacy and security policymaking to his litigation chops and his investigative talents. That skill set is useful in aiding emerging and disruptive technology clients.

He joined Cooley in 2019 as a co-leader of the firm’s global litigation department and vice chair of its cyber/data/privacy practice. He also serves on the federal Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an executive branch agency. He was formerly the enforcement bureau chief at the Federal Communications Commission. And in 2011 through 2013 he helped draft California’s privacy laws as a special assistant attorney general.

“That nexis makes me quite useful to clients,” LeBlanc said.

His work for Zoom Video Communications Inc. includes defending several consolidated class actions alleging that the videoconferencing service collected and disclosed users’ personal information without consent and failed to make truthful disclosures about privacy issues. In August 2021 the company settled the matter for $85 million. In re: Zoom Video Communications Inc. Privacy Litigation, 5:20-cv-02155 (N.D. Cal., filed March 30, 2020).

“This was a growing pains case,” LeBlanc said. “Few companies have skyrocketed in usage like Zoom, whose services suddenly became critical to keep the country and the world connected. The company has agreed to changes and a payment that if approved by the court will demonstrate that it has addressed a lot of concerns that it was never originally designed for. This is a successful outcome that will allow the company to move on.”

LeBlanc also acted for Zoom in resolving the New York attorney general’s high-profile inquiry into its user privacy and security practices. After lengthy negotiations, the attorney general agreed to resolve the matter through a letter agreement that omitted legal findings of wrongdoing or any monetary fine or penalty. Also, in January 2021 LeBlanc secured a consent order with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission settling claims that Zoom misrepresented its security features. As part of the deal, in which Zoom paid no fine or penalty, the company agreed to create an annual report of its internal and external security risks.

For education tech provider Chegg Inc., LeBlanc said he is working on settling mass arbitration demands over a 2018 data breach. The case could cost the company tens of millions of dollars in arbitration costs. Theisen v. Chegg Inc. 20CV371775 (S. Clara Co. Super. Ct., filed Oct. 5, 2020).

“I’m having a great time with these cutting-edge legal issues,” LeBlanc said.

- John Roemer