Shareholder Timothy L. Alger joins global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice in the firm’s Silicon Valley and Orange County offices. Alger was previously a partner at Perkins Coie LLP and also served as Deputy General Counsel at Google, where he directed the company’s litigation, employment legal services, and trademarks worldwide.

“Tim is a veteran of the Silicon Valley technology community, and offers the dedication and unique insight that our clients have come to expect,” said Bill Goines, managing shareholder of the firm’s Silicon Valley office.

Alger brings a diverse legal practice to Greenberg Traurig, serving many prominent media, Internet, and entertainment industry companies against claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, trademark and copyright infringement, unfair competition, and breach of contract. His responsibilities as in-house counsel included cutting-edge disputes over software patents, privacy rights, and intermediary liability for copyright infringement.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tim to Greenberg Traurig,” said J. Rick Taché, co-chair of the Global Patent Litigation Group, chair of the Orange County IP & Technology Group, and co-managing shareholder of the Orange County office. “His extensive experience litigating cases in the IP and entertainment industries, particularly during his tenure at Google, will be a significant asset to our Intellectual Property Litigation, Media & Entertainment Litigation, and Cybersecurity and Crisis Management practices.”

A former journalist, Alger has successfully defended Internet companies in high-profile free speech cases such as Garcia v. Google, in which the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an actress’ effort to force Google to remove the controversial “Innocence of Muslims” video trailer from YouTube. Alger represented the defendants in the watershed Ninth Circuit cases interpreting the federal statute that protects interactive computer services from liability for online postings by users, Fair Housing Council v. Roommates.com and Carafano v. Metrosplash.com. Alger also continues to represent traditional media, and recently obtained a major victory in the California Court of Appeal for an outdoor sign company that challenged the City of Los Angeles’ inconsistent regulation of digital billboards.

“Tim is a talented and highly experienced litigator,” said Bruce Fischer, chair of the West Coast Real Estate Practice and co-managing shareholder of the Orange County office. “He has a proven track record of success, and we are fortunate to include him as part of our Greenberg Traurig family.”

Alger received his B.A. from Seton Hall University, his M.A. in Journalism from the University of Colorado, and his J.D. from Loyola Law School.

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