Awards & Rankings 06.04.26
Pillsbury’s Standout Performance in 2026 Chambers USA Rankings Underscores Continued Excellence Across Industries and Disciplines
Firm Earned Recognition Across 60 Practice Areas, Including 26 National Rankings
Jake is an outstanding lawyer, extremely sophisticated, commercially aware and makes the effort to learn his client's business.
Jake Sorensen has represented institutions and executives in their most sensitive and challenging matters for over 25 years. He regularly serves as lead counsel in some of the largest antitrust cases in the country and has represented defendants in many other significant and high-profile matters, from the NSA Surveillance litigation to litigation arising out of the Operation Varsity Blues university admissions criminal cases.
Jake is co-leader of Pillsbury’s Chambers-ranked Education team and has deep experience representing institutions of higher education. His practice includes class actions, high-stakes contract disputes, antitrust litigation and counseling, and other commercial litigation, as well as government and internal investigations. He has also handled litigation and investigations involving corporate governance and securities matters and fraud allegations. He has represented clients in matters throughout North America and in South America, Europe and Asia. His clients range from Fortune 100 companies to startups and span the education, health care, technology, travel, energy and industrial sectors.
Representative Experience
- In 2025, served as lead trial counsel for a renowned teaching hospital in a five-week jury trial in a case involving antitrust and fraud claims and obtained a complete defense victory.
- Representing institutions of higher education in a wide range of litigation and investigations, including class actions; government investigations regarding research and foreign funding; and faculty affairs matters involving claims of research misconduct, discrimination and retaliation.
- Lead counsel in antitrust class actions and opt-out litigation relating to alleged price fixing, including with regard to electronics and technology, higher education, energy, employee compensation and health care.
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- Antitrust and Unfair Competition
- Several universities in antitrust class actions relating to financial aid and admissions practices.
- International airlines in various class actions and investigations, including obtaining the first dismissal of a COVID-19-related airline refund class action.
- Various hospitals in antitrust litigation relating to insurance and payor agreements and contracting practices.
- American and Japanese electronics company in the defense of class and opt-out actions involving alleged price fixing of capacitors and inductors.
- Japan-based electronics company in numerous class action, state attorney general and opt-out cases alleging conspiracy to fix LCD prices in violation of the Sherman Act and state laws.
- Leading Japanese electronics company in the defense of class and opt-out claims involving alleged price-fixing of optical disk drives.
- Securities and Financial Institutions
- Bank and its broker-dealer affiliates in securities fraud class action relating to mutual fund marketing practices.
- Former chief financial officer of a bank in a securities fraud class action and in actions by the U.S. SEC, the Office of the Comptroller of Currency and the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation.
- Directors and officers of telecommunications company in a securities fraud class action, resulting in a Ninth Circuit opinion affirming the dismissal.
- Bank in an SEC investigation regarding alleged insider trading.
- In-house attorney at a public company in a securities fraud class action and related investigation.
- False Claims Act and Breach of Contract
- University in claims relating to alleged failures to disclose foreign research in applications for federal awards.
- Hospital in a False Claims Act action involving alleged false claims to Medicare regarding cardiac devices.
- Hospital in a multimillion-dollar arbitration involving claims for breach of contract and fraud. The arbitration resulted in a substantial award in favor of a firm client, which was challenged and affirmed in federal court.
- One of the world’s leading building materials companies in a multiphased trial in which the state of California sought over $200 million in damages under the False Claims Act.
- Other Complex Litigation
- AT&T in class actions alleging that telephone companies cooperated in the NSA’s Terrorist Surveillance Program. In re: National Security Agency Telecommunications Records Litigation, MDL No. 1791.
- University in a defamation case, obtaining an award of attorneys’ fees under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which was affirmed on appeal.
- University in several cases involving university student misconduct. In one such case, he prevailed on demurrer and on the plaintiff’s appeal, extending helpful precedent to the student disciplinary context.
- Handled numerous actions involving complex constitutional and legal issues in a university setting.
- Pro Bono
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- Represented a death row inmate in habeas corpus proceedings.
- Represented an applicant for political asylum from Burma in the appeal of the denial of her asylum application. After the presentation of testimony and argument, the immigration judge overturned the prior decision and awarded asylum.
- Represented an immigrant from Guatemala and victim of domestic violence in removal proceedings, obtaining a U-Visa that granted her lawful status in the United States.
- Represented a Guatemalan refugee who was fired from his job and persecuted on account of his political views; after a contested asylum hearing, the judge awarded political asylum.
Professional Highlights
- Recognized by Chambers USA (2018–2026); Best Lawyers in America (published by BL Rankings LLC), Litigation—Antitrust (2018–2026), Antitrust Law (2023–2026); The Legal 500 U.S. (since 2010); and Super Lawyers (since 2009).
- Named as a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (2025 and 2026).
- Past chair and member of the Executive Committee of the Antitrust and Business Regulation Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco.
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- Chair of Pillsbury’s San Francisco Litigation Department for six years. He has also served on Pillsbury’s Partner Compensation, Business Intake and Pro Bono committees.
- Associations
- American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law
- California State Bar Antitrust and Unfair Competition Section
- Bar Association of San Francisco (Antitrust Section Executive Committee)
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers
- Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (Board of Directors and past Board Chair)
- YMCA of San Francisco (Board of Managers)
- Speaking Engagements
- “Developments in Antitrust Investigations and Litigation,” Tokyo, Feb. 2, 2018.
- “Strategic Dispute Resolution in the United States: A Legal Overview of Procedural Issues,” Tokyo, Oct. 25–26, 2017.
- “Recent Trends in U.S. International Arbitration Practice,” Tokyo, Oct. 24, 2017.
- UC Hastings Price-Fixing Course. Guest lecturer.
- “Behind the Scenes with In-House Antitrust Counsel,” Bar Association of San Francisco, Oct. 20, 2016.
- “Discovery in International Antitrust Litigation – How to Cross the Border,” Antitrust, UCL and Privacy Section of the California State Bar, March 30, 2016.
- “Developing Issues Regarding the Use of Experts at Class Certification,” Bridgeport Class Action Litigation Conference, Sept. 25, 2015.
- “Antitrust Litigation across Borders: A Discussion of Issues That Arise When Parties Are Spread around the World – From Discovery Challenges to Enforcement of Judgments and Everything in Between,” Bar Association of San Francisco, Nov. 19, 2013.
- Publications
- Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Conscious Admissions at Harvard and UNC,” June 30, 2023. Coauthor.
- Affirming Dismissal of AirAsia Lawsuit, D.C. Circuit Court Overrules Prior Decisions Allowing Personal Jurisdiction Based on Internet Presence Alone,” Jan. 29, 2021. Coauthor.
- Court Dismisses COVID-19 Flight Cancellation and Refund Class Action Lawsuit Brought Against Norwegian Air,” Sept. 23, 2020. Coauthor.
- California Supreme Court Holds Law Restricting Employment Non-Competes Also Applies to Businesses Contracts Under Antitrust Rule of Reason Standard,” Aug. 17, 2020. Coauthor.
- Ninth Circuit Adopts New Standard for Discovery of Grand Jury Evidence,” Oct. 13, 2015. Coauthor.
- Guidance for Companies Developing and Implementing Antitrust Compliance Programs,” Oct. 23, 2014. Coauthor.
- California AG Issues New Privacy Policy and "Do Not Track" Compliance Guidelines, Announces Proactive Enforcement,” June 5, 2014. Coauthor.
- Expansion of Antitrust Enforcement Continues with Extradition,” April 21, 2014. Coauthor.
- Expanding Reach of Sherman Act Draws Criticism,” Law360, Feb. 20, 2013. Coauthor.
- Something's Got to Give: Overlapping Antitrust Laws Create Redundant Claims,” Daily Journal, April 5, 2012. Coauthor.
- Wal-Mart v. Dukes: Supreme Court Reverses Ninth Circuit, Clarifies Class Certification Standards,” June 23, 2011. Coauthor.
- Major Ninth Circuit Decision Sets Out Standards for Class Certification,” June 3, 2010. Coauthor.
Education
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J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law)
Moot Court BoardB.A., University of California, Los Angeles
magna cum laude
Admissions
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California
Courts
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California