Scott C. Hall - Coblentz Law

Scott Hall leads the Data Privacy & Cybersecurity group. He advises a wide range of clients on data privacy and cybersecurity issues, including in connection with regulatory compliance for federal and state privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), as well as other U.S. federal and state privacy laws. He also counsels clients accused of violating privacy laws and assists clients in privacy litigation, including in connection with actions brought under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”), the Video Privacy Protection Act (“VPPA”) and in connection with data breach litigation, among other claims. He also advises companies on data privacy implications of business transactions and use of artificial intelligence and assists companies in responding to data breaches. He is certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for U.S. laws and regulations (CIPP/US) and for European laws and regulations (CIPP/E), including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Scott has broad experience in a wide range of commercial litigation in federal and state court at the trial and appellate levels, including consumer class actions, general business disputes, trademark and copyright infringement actions, and in defending claims brought under various federal and state statutes, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and California Proposition 65. Scott’s clients include companies in the advertising, financial, food and beverage, electronics, entertainment, retail, sports, technology, and telecommunications industries.

He is a frequent author and speaker on privacy and cybersecurity-related topics, including the California Consumer Privacy Act and California Privacy Rights Act, as well as on other federal, state and foreign privacy law requirements and compliance.

Scott also serves as the firm’s assistant general counsel and is the former co-chair of the firm’s Litigation practice.

Prior to joining Coblentz, Scott practiced litigation at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in Silicon Valley. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable William W Schwarzer of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, sitting by designation on the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Third, Sixth and Ninth Circuits.

Scott is a member of the State Bar of California and the Bar Association of San Francisco. He is admitted to practice in all federal districts in California, as well as before the Fifth, Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

He earned his law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School, where he served as an Executive Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. Scott received his B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, from Brigham Young University.

Advised clients in financial services and other industries regarding data privacy issues and responses to data breach incidents.

Represented several major music labels in copyright infringement action in federal court against online music service, obtaining favorable settlement for music labels.

Obtained Fifth Circuit affirmance of summary judgment order disposing of putative consumer class action for alleged false advertising.

Achieved dismissal, at pleading stage, of petition for writ of mandate challenging county enforcement actions as violations of California Environmental Quality Act.

Represented Fortune 500 company in connection with U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation, resulting in no action taken against company.

Represented Samsung Electronics Co. in connection with patent, trademark and trade dress infringement claims related to smartphone and tablet computer products brought by Apple Inc. in federal court and in the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Represented publicly traded technology company in securities class action and related shareholder derivative suit arising from company’s restatement of financials involving $2 billion loss of market capitalization, obtaining dismissals with prejudice.

Represented global company in connection with potential violations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in multiple countries, obtaining favorable settlement, including non-prosecution agreement with U.S. Department of Justice and deferred prosecution agreement with Securities and Exchange Commission.

“2024 Mid-Year Privacy Report” (July 24, 2024)

“US Privacy Laws – What To Look Out For In 2024,” Prighter webinar (March 12, 2024)

“Are You Ready? CPRA Regulations Are In Effect Immediately: Attorney General Rob Bonta Wins a Reversal at the California Court of Appeals” (February 13, 2024)

“California AG Proposes New Amendments To CCPA with the Children’s Data Privacy Act” (January 30, 2024)

“You’ve Worked To Make Your Website Cookies, Pixels, and Chat Function Compliant With Privacy Laws; Now What Is A “Pen Register”?” (January 19, 2024)

“Citizenship and Immigration Status Is Now Categorized as Sensitive Personal Information under California Law” (October 30, 2023)

“Plaintiffs Continue Website Privacy Lawsuits Using 35-Year-Old Statute” (October 17, 2023)

“Companies Should Keep in Mind Chatbots, Session Recordings, Mouseclicks: New Consumer Privacy Suits Continue Under Decades-Old Wiretapping Statutes” (October 17, 2023)

“California Privacy Protection Agency Signals Intent To Keep The Gas On Privacy Enforcement Despite Recent Court Decision” (August 8, 2023)

“How To Prepare For California’s New Privacy Law For Children” (August 3, 2023)

“Attorney General Seeks Information from California Employers on Compliance with California Consumer Privacy Act” (July 17, 2023)

“Enforcement of CPRA Regulations Postponed, But Statute Still in Effect and Enforceable” (July 12, 2023)

“Webinar: Preparing for CPRA Enforcement and Other Privacy Law Developments” (June 6, 2023)

“Spring / Summer 2023 Privacy Law Report: A Comprehensive Look at New Developments in Data Privacy Laws” (May 26, 2023)

“Webinar: Preparing Your Business for the California Privacy Rights Act” (January 19, 2022)

“Spring 2021 Privacy Law Update: CCPA, CPRA, State Laws and Recent Court Decisions” (May 7, 2021)

“Tis’ the Season – AG Proposes New Modifications (4th Set) to CCPA Regulations” (December 11, 2020)

“CPRA is Coming – Prop 24 Passes” (November 4, 2020)

“Fall 2020 California Privacy Law Update” (October 14, 2020)

“How Does the CCPA Impact Franchise Businesses and Relationships?” (April 3, 2020)

“We’re Getting Closer: AG Releases New Modified CCPA Draft Regulations” (March 12, 2020)

“CCPA Reality Check: 10 Key Questions to Evaluate Compliance” (February 27, 2020)

“Attorney General Releases Modified CCPA Draft Regulations: Key Changes Your Business Should Know” (February 10, 2020)

“California Consumer Privacy Act Update: Less Than Three Months To Go For Compliance” (October 18, 2019)

“GPS Monitoring Of Employees In California: Do You Know Where Your Employees Are? Are You Allowed To Know?” (March 15, 2019)

“The California Consumer Privacy Act Is Coming. Is Your Business Ready?” (March 8, 2019)

“Assessing Drone Industry Successes & Challenges as the FAA’s Small Commercial Drone Rule Turns 1” (September 2017)

“Five Lessons All Companies Can Learn From The Equifax Data Breach” (September 2017)

“Latest Target Settlement Underscores Importance of Data Security Practices” (June 2017)

“Registration Rule Decision Invites Congress to Expand FAA Authority Over Hobby Drones (Or Not)” (May 2017)

“The Drone Privacy and Transparency Act of 2017: Overdue or Over-reaching?” (March 2017)

“Drone Rules Raise Preemption Questions,” The Daily Journal (August 16, 2016)

“Property Rights to the Periphery of the Universe or Only to the Rooftop? The Effects of Drones on Airspace Rights in California and Where to Go From Here,” California Real Property Journal Vol. 34, No. 1 (2016)

“Legal Framework Lacking in the Age of Drones,” The Daily Journal (April 22, 2016)

“Paparazzi Lose, Hobbyists Win on Drones,” The Daily Journal (October 15, 2015)

“The Indian Law Canons of Construction v. The Chevron Doctrine: Congressional Intent and the Unambiguous Answer to the Ambiguous Problem,” 37 Conn. L. Rev. 495 (2004)

News

Publications - July 24, 2024

2024 Mid-Year Privacy Report

Learn More

Publications - February 13, 2024

Are You Ready? CPRA Regulations Are In Effect Immediately: Attorney General Rob Bonta Wins a Reversal at the California Court of Appeals

Learn More

Events - February 7, 2024

US Privacy Laws - What To Look Out For In 2024

Learn More

See All News