David is ‘exceptionally knowledgeable with respect to both e-discovery and information governance’ [and] praised for his ‘clear understanding of the strategic value of e-discovery.’
Chambers USA

Pillsbury Litigation partner David Stanton is renowned for his command of the latest technologies and industry best practices in the rapidly emerging fields where law and technology intersect.

Leading the firm's Information Law & Electronic Discovery practice, David employs a multidisciplinary approach to the operational and legal challenges of large datasets in litigation, internal investigations, mergers and acquisitions. Proficient in cybersecurity, privacy and incident response, he collaborates with in-house lawyers and IT professionals on implementing robust information governance programs and related policies and procedures.

View More

David is a first mover, and he led the charge by deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in his legal practice—customizing machine learning, text mining, and powerful data classification capabilities to enhance Pillsbury’s document review projects and related legal services. David represents clients in enforcement actions, examinations, inspections, civil litigation, arbitrations and white-collar matters, and he regularly consults with broker-dealers, fintech organizations and other financial services firms concerning regulatory compliance.

Representative Experience

  • Counseling a Japanese heavy industries company in an internal investigation of a Brazil shipbuilding venture to ascertain FCPA exposure and related liabilities. Matter involves 5 million documents in various languages.
  • Represented a digital education content provider in a California Department of Business Oversight investigation into capital-raising activities. Efforts earned cooperation credit and resulted in a favorable settlement.
  • Represented a payment processing company in a CFPB inquiry with an urgent deadline for response. Devised systematic information-gathering approach and content analysis protocol to accomplish on time and under budget.

Professional Highlights

  • Recognized by Chambers Global and Chambers USA for Litigation: E-Discovery and by The Legal 500 U.S. for Data Protection and Privacy (2012 – 2013).
  • Created PEARL®, Pillsbury’s E-Discovery Alliance of Resource Leaders, an affiliation bringing Pillsbury lawyers, select technology consultants and e-discovery service providers together to address technology and “big data” issues.
  • Leads the firmwide implementation of OpenText™ Magellan, an industry-grade Artificial Intelligence platform containing multiple best-of-breed capabilities. Working with data scientists, coders, network engineers and other advisors, David is customizing Magellan and unlocking its machine learning and other AI functionality to streamline the eDiscovery process and enable Pillsbury attorneys to interact more effectively with large data sets. Pillsbury was the first law firm to deploy the Magellan AI platform, and, for the cutting-edge developments that David has been bringing to life, Pillsbury received OpenText’s AI Innovator award in 2019.

View More

  • Serves as Pillsbury’s executive partner for Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption Compliance and as a member of the firm’s Professional Responsibility committee.
  • Honors & Awards
    • Recognized by Best Lawyers (published by BL Rankings LLC), Commercial Litigation (2022 – 2024)
    • Who’s Who Legal—Litigation (2016 – 2018)
  • Associations
    • Sedona Conference (Working Group 1)
    • EDRM
    • American Bar Association
    • Southern California Compliance Group
    • Securities Industry and Financial Management Association
    • Project Management Institute
  • Speaking Engagements
    • “How to Talk to Your Lawyers About Data,” Enterprise World 2018, Toronto, Canada, July 12, 2018
    • “E-mail investigations: Live in Axcelerate with Hillary Clinton’s FOIA Release,” Enterprise World 2018, Toronto, Canada, July 11, 2018
    • “E-Discovery: Understanding Technology Assisted Review – What You Need To Know, Ask, and Expect from the Courts,” CLE Webinar presented by Thompson Reuters, May 25, 2018
    • “Artificial Intelligence and the Law: How and Why Law Firms are Using A.I. and the Issues Associated with It,” West LegalEdCenter Webinar, February 14, 2018
    • “2017 Survey Results - Revisiting Corporate Legal Ops.,” Opentext Webinar, September 7, 2017
    • “How to Talk to Your Lawyers About Data,” Enterprise World 2018, Toronto, Canada, July 12, 2018
    • “E-mail investigations: Live in Axcelerate with Hillary Clinton’s FOIA Release,” Enterprise World 2018, Toronto, Canada, July 11, 2018
    • “How to Talk to Your Lawyers About Data Part 2: Managing Dirty Data,” Enterprise World 2017, Toronto, Canada, July 13, 2017
    • “The Changing Face of Global Compliance,” Enterprise World 2017, Toronto, Canada, July 13, 2017
    • “New Legal Service Provider Models,” Moderator, LegalTech West, San Francisco, CA, June 12, 2017
    • “The Technology Verdict: Finding Solutions”, Bloomberg BNA & Catalyst event “Controlling Litigation Costs – Managing Your Legal Department for Success,” Chicago, IL, February 23, 2017
    • “Are Computers About to Eat Your Lunch (Or At Least Change The Way You Practice)?” American Association of Trial Lawyers, August 30, 2016
    • “Can Proportionality in Discovery Finally Be Realized with the New Federal Rules,” LegalTech West Coast, June 14, 2016
    • “Using TAR 2.0 to Reduce Review Costs,” Catalyst Webinar, May 12, 2016
    • “Protecting Work Product in the Age of Electronic Discovery,” MCLE Discovery Lunch Presentation, Los Angeles, May 4, 2016
    • "E-Discovery in Investigations: A Different Context," Today’s General Counsel Institute, The Exchange – E-Discovery for the Corporate Market, San Francisco, March 9-10, 2016
    • “Killer Uses of Analytics: Chat Mining, Audio Review, Efficiency Scoring, and More,” LegalTech New York, February 2, 2016
    • “New Forms of Communication,” Breakfast Briefing regarding Innovation in E-Discovery, San Francisco, January 22, 2016
    • “Checkmate: Are Computers Starting to Practice Law?,” Association of Business Trial Lawyers 42nd Annual Seminar, October 1-4, 2015
    • “Proactive Discovery: Data Management and the Conversion of Legal Spend into a Business Asset,” CKS Forum, Minneapolis, September 2015“
    • "User-Defined Predictive Coding: For Fact Finding and Prioritized Review,” LegalTech New York, February 4, 2015
    • “The 2014 eDiscovery Cases You Need to Know: Lessons and Best Practices from a Pivotal Year,” Recommind Webinar, January 28, 2015
    • Here, Now & Beyond Law 2020,” International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) Annual Conference, August 18, 2014
    • "Records Management, Retention and Destruction in California," Lorman Education Services, Oakland, CA, March 7, 2014
    • "Risk & Compliance: Dispelling Myths: Understanding the Risks of Discovery Outsourcing,” LegalTech New York, February 5, 2014
    • "Risk & Compliance: Leading Practices in Information Management,” LegalTech New York, February 4, 2014
    • “Security and Privacy in the eDiscovery Process,” E-Stet Breakfast Series, Los Angeles, September 27, 2013
    • "E-Discovery: Reducing the Costs & Risks Through Technology-Assisted Review," American Bar Association, San Francisco, August 9, 2013
    • “The E-Discovery Debate,” LegalTech West, May 21, 2013
    • “Records Retention and Destruction Policy: Key Privacy and E-Discovery Implications to Consider,” Pillsbury Webinar, May 7, 2013
    • “International eDiscovery: Have Data, Will Travel. Not from THIS Country,” Knowledge Congress Webinar, December 11, 2012
    • "E-Disclosure - Importance of Approaching an LPO Vendor during Early Case Assessment," Global LPO Conference, New York, June 16, 2011
    • "Ediscovery Beyond Email: Structured Data, International Discovery, and Social and Mobile Media," Compliance Governance and Oversight Council, New York, June 15, 2011
    • "Managing Electronic Health Records in a HITECH World," Pillsbury Webinar, May 12, 2011
    • "Confronting Major E-Discovery Issues With Social Media and Cloud Computing," IQPC 11th Ediscovery Summit, San Francisco, April 28, 2011
    • "Right Steps, Wrong Outcome - What Harkabi Teaches," Compliance Governance and Oversight Council Webinar, March 23, 2011
    • "Mock Discovery Hearing: Harkabi and How Prevailing Practices Break Down," Compliance Governance and Oversight Council, San Francisco, January 19, 2011
    • "Electronic Discovery Guidance 2010: What Corporate and Outside Counsel Need to Know," Practicing Law Institute, San Francisco, December 3, 2010
    • "E-Discovery Essentials: Case Law and News You Need to Know," Webcast hosted by Exterro, Inc., November 2, 2010
    • "What Japanese Companies Need to Know about Electronic Discovery: A Practical Guide to Federal Rules and Requirements," Japan America Society, Los Angeles, CA, October 28, 2010
    • "2010 FCPA Panel Luncheon," TransPerfect Legal Solutions, New York, NY, October 14, 2010
    • "New Sources of E-Discovery: Managing Electronically Stored Information on Social Media Sites," IQPC 2nd Annual E-Discovery for Oil & Gas Conference, Houston, TX, October 12, 2010
    • "Outsourcing: Safety First," ILTA 2010 Strategic Unity Conference, Las Vegas, NV, August 24, 2010
    • "Compliance with Privacy Rules and Regulations," Joint presentation with Protiviti at Institute of Internal Auditors' 2010 Governance, Risk & Compliance Conference, Palm Beach, FL, August 23, 2010
    • "E-Discovery: Understanding Judge Scheindlin's Recent Pension Committee Decision," Pillsbury Client Webinar, April 14, 2010
    • "New SEC Enforcement and Examination Protocols," Pillsbury Client Event, San Francisco, CA, October 8, 2009
    • "Privilege and the Attorney-Client Relationship: How to Respond to the Changing Enforcement and Ethical Landscape," Association of Corporate Counsel, Los Angeles, CA, November 14, 2007
    • "Supervisory Controls and CEO Certification: Is Your Firm Ready For April 1, 2006?" Pillsbury Client Event, San Francisco / Los Angeles, February 2006

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1999

    B.A., St. John's College, 1996

Admissions

  • California

Courts

  • 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 Southern District of California

    U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado