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Krista L. Baughman
also known as Krista Lee Shoquist
About Krista
Biography
After a decade heading the First Amendment practice at a respected national boutique, I founded my firm on a simple premise: in high-stakes battles involving speech and expression, you don’t need a massive team; you need the right advocate.
Today, that work includes questions one of the newest questions in defamation law: what happens when artificial intelligence makes false and damaging claims about a real person. I represent people who have been defamed by AI lawsuits seeking to hold global technology companies accountable. One of those cases produced one of the first court decisions to apply traditional defamation principles to statements generated by AI; the court described the issues in the case as revealing “a new frontier for defamation law” and legal scholars have called the decision “groundbreaking.”
In my broader First Amendment practice, my cases often involve unsettled areas of constitutional law. My work has resulted in multi-million-dollar judgments, precedent-setting jury verdicts, and landmark settlements protecting First Amendment rights for university students. I have helped eliminate unconstitutional policies at city council meetings and defined how speech and privacy laws apply to elected officials.
Not every case requires a courtroom battle. Some of my most meaningful work happens before a dispute arises, through pre-publication review that helps writers, journalists and businesses publish with confidence and avoid costly litigation. When conflicts do come up, I take a sophisticated approach to negotiation to secure the corrections, retractions and apologies my clients deserve.
I love what I do and am honored to be trusted by my clients to protect their free speech rights. I am a member of the bars of California, New York, and the District of Columbia and am admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and numerous federal courts across the country.
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 17 years
State: New York
Acquired: 2009
No misconduct found
Location
Baughman Law PC
1255 Treat Blvd., Suite 300, Walnut Creek, CA, 94597
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Krista L. Baughman's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
41 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Lawsuits & Disputes (21)
Business (6)
Employment & Labor (4)
Libel & Slander (4)
Litigation (4)
Constitutional (3)
Contracts & Agreements (3)
Intellectual Property (2)
Administrative Law (1)
Civil Rights (1)
Class Action (1)
Education (1)
Insurance (1)
Mergers & Acquisitions (1)
Motorcycle Accident (1)
Personal Injury (1)
State, Local And Municipal Law (1)
What Clients Mention
Showing 6 - 10 of 41 reviews
Posted by Billy | October 14, 2022 | Hired 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!
Posted by anonymous | September 19, 2022
Kind, Excellent, Professional
Krista was a joy to work with. She is an extremely knowledgeable advisor in this space. She did an incredible job realistically explaining each option available to us. Her work product was also impeccable and beautifully worded. We also appreciated her quick replies and attention to detail. We would ...
Posted by S. Barr | September 02, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Excellence in every aspect of her job ...
Krista is that very rare gem of an attorney who exceeds one’s expectations at each and every facet of her profession. I came to her with an important First Amendment case involving a government entity. Her enthusiasm to “fight the good fight” was immediately evident. Her grasp of the issues and atten...
Posted by anonymous | August 25, 2021
Thorough, Knowledgeable and Honest
Krista agreed to take on a case involving libel and slander and advised me on what the potential outcomes would be with honesty and transparency. She has been extremely responsive to all my questions and concerns and even after I decided not to go forward with sending out the cease and desist letters...
Posted by Rajen | January 22, 2021 | Hired Attorney
Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness
Helped us with a legal action that unfortunately we had to bring. We were very impressed with their professionalism, advice and helping us bring the matter to a satisfactory close.
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