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Krista L. Baughman
also known as Krista Lee Shoquist
About Krista
Biography
How can I protect my reputation against someone who is anonymously defaming me online? What steps should I take when a former employee has stolen my company’s trade secrets? Can the anti-SLAPP statute protect my right to free speech?
These are just a few of the important questions Krista helps her clients tackle on a daily basis. Krista’s practice focuses on commercial litigation, First Amendment rights and anti-SLAPP procedure, and privacy litigation.
As a partner of Dhillon Law Group with over a decade of experience in the courtroom, Krista has managed precedent-setting cases, including one that established that university Title IX proceedings are protected forums for speech under California's anti-SLAPP statute, and another that clarified the 9th Circuit standard for due process liability against police in crowd control situations. She and her team achieved a landmark settlement to ensure the First Amendment rights of students at UC Berkeley, and ended the use of unconstitutional policies in a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of San Clemente on behalf of its citizens.
Krista represents corporations, high profile public figures, nonprofit organizations, gig economy companies, and private individuals alike. She is driven by the joy of helping people find solutions for the most stressful and high-stakes problems in their business and personal lives. Krista’s clients appreciate her insightful assessment of legal issues, her creativity in crafting a strategy that thinks three steps ahead, her attention to detail in the execution, and her integrity throughout.
Krista is admitted to practice in New York and California, and litigates in federal courts around the nation. She is proficient in French. On the weekends you can find her going on a family hike, experimenting in the kitchen, or debating legal issues with her husband for the fun of it.
Court Admissions:
• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court:
• Central District of California
• Northern District of California
• Eastern District of California
• Southern District of California
• Middle District of Florida
• District of Massachusetts
Practice Areas:
• General and Complex Commercial Litigation
• Intellectual Property (Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secrets)
• First Amendment (Defamation, Trade Libel, and anti-SLAPP)
• Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
• Privacy Litigation
• Employment Law and Litigation
Education:
• Lehigh University, B.A. International Relations, magna cum laude
• Brooklyn Law School, J.D., cum laude
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 16 years
State: California
Acquired: 2009
No misconduct found
Licensed in New York for 16 years
State: New York
Acquired: 2009
No misconduct found
Location
Dhillon Law Group Inc.
177 Post Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA, 94108
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Krista L. Baughman's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 40 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Liang-Chun | June 1, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Now a role-model of my life!
I couldn't have asked for a better attorney to fight by my side. Krista is thorough, detailed oriented and super considerate. She didn't just provide an impeccable legal service, but also a sense of companionship. She understands what I was going through emotionally and never forgets to take care of ...
Posted by CB | March 29, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Exceptional Attorney
Krista is an exceptional attorney. Her knowledge, strategy, and experience provided me with the best outcome for my case. Her expertise, leadership, and team are incredible.
Posted by anonymous | October 1, 2024 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Krista is the best of the best
Krista represented our children at school. At the heart of her work, she fights hard for human rights and for the best interests of our children. I am so impressed by her professionalism, ethics and wisdom. She listens and fully understands our struggles. She is highly skilled dealing with school ...
Posted by Jan | October 17, 2023 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Fast Resolve of My Matter
I contacted Krista to help me with a negative Yelp review from a former client that was (almost) completely made up of lies. Krista helped to resolve this matter in my favor within a few days. I am so glad that I reached out to her firm and that she was the attorney assigned to my case.
Posted by Billy | October 14, 2022 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Great experience
I've had the pleasure (unfortunately) of working with Krista twice in the past year or so. Both times, I feel she provided excellent advice and performed at a high level. I highly recommend her!
Krista L. Baughman's Lawyer Endorsements
"I have worked with Mrs. Baughman on several litigation and Libel/slander cases for over a decade. We look no further. Mrs. Baughman is professional, knowledgeable and a bulldog when it comes to advocating for her clients. If and when our firm's clients need legal representation that falls within Mrs. Baughman's legal wheelhouse - they are given one referral - Mrs. Krista Baughman."
"Krista is an expert in defamation law. Many attorneys in our firm consult with her when any potential case involves defamation or could implicate anti-SLAPP or 1st Amendment concerns. Additionally, she is a pleasure to work with on a personal level. I highly recommend her."
"Krista is an excellent, professional, and thorough litigator. I have had the opportunity to work with her on a number of cases, with issues ranging from 1st Amendment concerns, to privacy law, to trade secret misappropriation. In each of these instances, under Krista’s leadership, we were able to resolve the matter to the client’s satisfaction. Krista’s litigation “instinct” is one of the best in the industry. Krista is also an excellent supervisor and provides mentorship to junior attorneys. Over the years, I have learned a great deal from her in terms of the law, litigation strategy, and general legal practice."
"Krista is a brilliant 1st Amendment and defamation lawyer. She understands the limits of defamation and when the 1st Amendment will or will not protect speech. Her success record handling anti-slapp motions (both as plaintiff and defendant) is unparalleled. I call her immediately with any potential slander claims."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I have very much enjoyed working with Krista on commercial litigation and defamation matters in state and federal courts over the past year. Most recently, we worked closely together in preparation for a jury trial in which Krista was the lead associate handling all aspects of the case. Krista is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in defamation, privacy, and First Amendment law. It has been a pleasure to learn from her guidance. I also routinely seek Krista's advice on matters of litigation strategy. I highly recommend Krista as an effective, efficient attorney who has a great deal of experience in commercial, intellectual property, privacy, and First Amendment litigation."
"Krista is an excellent, diligent, poised, professional, determined and effective litigator with the independence to handle many matters effectively and the experience to deal directly with clients, opponents and the court. She is a great asset to our firm."
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Experience
Honors
2022
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Beta Kappa
Work Experience
2009 - Present
Senior Associate, Dhillon & Smith
2008 - 2009
Contract Attorney, Bloomberg Finance LP
2007 - 2007
Summer Associate, Condon & Forsyth LLP
2006 - 2006
Judicial Extern, United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Associations
2009 - Present
Bar Association of San Francisco
Sample of Legal Cases
Opperman et al. v. Path et al.
Achieved dismissal of 17 out of 18 claims against mobile application developer in federal privacy class action lawsuit involving Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking leaders as defendants.
Woodell v. Bernstein et al.
Created new law and achieved case dismissal through winning terminating sanctions motion on behalf of defamation defendants.
Republican Party of Los Angeles County, et al. v. Barnett, et al.
Outcome: Judge granted special motion to strike under California anti-SLAPP law and dismissed case, awarding substantial attorneys' fees and costs.
Education
2008
Brooklyn Law School
J.D.
2005
Lehigh Univ
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2021
ReutersNEXT Virtual Global Conference
Creating a Matrix for Truth in Social Media
2020
Thomson Reuters Institute
Sound and Fury: Morality, Ideology and the Rise of "Cancel Culture"
2020
Strafford MCLE Presentation
Battling Corporate Internet Trolls: Going After Imposters and Competitors That Break the Law
2017
UC Berkeley School of Law
Free Speech Panel
2017
Golden Gate University School of Law
Free Speech Panel
2014
PLI Presentation
Protecting Your Client from Damaging, Anonymous Internet Content
Publications
2021
The Daily Journal
Can state anti-SLAPP laws apply in federal court?
2021
The Daily Journal
Are politicians' sex lives a 'matter of public concern'?
2015
Daily Journal
When employees speak for the state
Languages
French
English