Alexander Vitruk

Associate

Seattle
T +1.206.566.7092
F +1.206.624.7317

Overview

Alex Vitruk advises companies and individuals in complex litigation, data privacy and cybersecurity matters, and securities, consumer protection, ERISA and employment class actions. He has secured positive outcomes for clients in federal and state courts on a wide range of dispositive motions and class action issues, at both trial and appellate levels.

Alex is experienced in managing cases through all phases of litigation and arbitration, authoring key briefs and motions, arguing motions in court, taking and defending depositions and negotiating settlements. Alex keeps client interests at the forefront of his practice, and clients look to Alex for creative solutions to complex legal questions, often in matters of first impression or involving splits of authority.

As a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US, E), Alex combines his knowledge of data privacy and cybersecurity laws with relevant litigation experience to help clients navigate the multifaceted legal issues concerning the privacy and security of their users’ information and content.  

Select Experience

  • Led defense of prominent media company in action alleging theft of intellectual property, unfair competition and related claims. Successfully moved to vacate multimillion-dollar default judgment request and then obtained dismissal of the case with prejudice (plaintiffs took nothing).
  • Represented global designer, manufacturer and distributor of mobile device accessories in data privacy matter involving multiple entities and individual defendants, securing favorable settlement for client.
  • Defending multiple hospital systems in data privacy class actions alleging unauthorized disclosure of personal health information (PHI), among other claims, in both federal and state courts.
More »

Experience

  • Led defense of prominent media company in action alleging theft of intellectual property and related claims. Successfully moved to vacate multimillion-dollar default judgment request and then obtained dismissal of the case with prejudice (plaintiffs took nothing).
  • Represented global designer, manufacturer and distributor of mobile device accessories in data privacy matter involving multiple entities and individual defendants, securing favorable settlement for client.
  • Defending multiple hospital systems in data privacy class actions alleging unauthorized disclosure of personal health information (PHI), among other claims, in both federal and state courts.
  • Defended U.S. affiliate of multinational food company in putative class action alleging violation of California’s consumer protection laws. Successfully opposed class certification and obtained favorable settlement for client.
  • Represented international designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles in case involving misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty, interference with contract and prospective economic advantage and related claims. Successfully moved to dismiss counterclaims on jurisdictional grounds.
  • Defended technology company in putative class action alleging that smartphone application violates Washington state gambling and consumer protection laws, achieving favorable settlement for client.
  • Defended prominent manufacturer of consumer electronics in putative class action alleging fraudulent advertising and violation of California’s consumer protection laws. Successfully opposed class certification and obtained dismissal.
  • Represented leading vehicle company in action alleging fraud and contract interference.
  • Directed defense of advertising executive and company in action alleging breach of contract, derivative misappropriation of trade secrets claim, and derivative consumer protection and tort claims.
  • Helped secure win for aerospace and defense technology company in a nationwide class action over pension benefits. In one of the first cases in the Ninth Circuit to address a pension plan’s right to recoup benefit overpayments to plan participants, the team convinced a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit that alleged claims involving breach of fiduciary duty and violations of ERISA’s disclosure requirements.
  • Led defense of electronic hardware corporation in action alleging violation of SOX whistleblower protection law and obtained favorable settlement for client.
  • Represented overseas corporation in securities and contract dispute involving commercial real estate in California, authoring multiple winning motions and ex parte applications.
  • Represented individual in partnership-related dispute arising from commercial real estate business.
  • Defended benefit plans, plan sponsors and plan fiduciaries in several putative class actions alleging violations of ERISA.
  • Review and provide counsel regarding transactional documents, including but not limited to distributor agreements.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)*
    • Certified Information Privacy Professional - U.S. (CIPP/US)
    • Certified Information Privacy Professional - Europe (CIPP/E)
    • Seattle KnowledgeNet Chapter: Co-Chair (2022 to 2024)

*The Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties and the certificate is not required to practice law in the state of Washington.

Memberships

  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
  • American Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • Washington State Bar Association, Litigation Section
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association, 
    • Privacy and Cybersecurity Section
    • Litigation Section

Pro Bono

  • Briefed and argued immigration case on remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, in front of the Board of Immigration Appeals and Chicago Immigration Court, ultimately winning a withholding of removal in front of the immigration judge.
  • Member of team in Saget v. Trump, a challenge of the U.S. government’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status for over 50,000 Haitian Nationals. Prepared key legal and factual memoranda, among other contributions, helping the team obtain a nationwide preliminary injunction.
  • Drafted reports analyzing voting rights issues in multiple jurisdictions on behalf of Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
  • Revised country conditions report and supporting documents on behalf of asylum seeker.
  • Prepared T-VISA application and supporting documents on behalf of human trafficking victim.

Prior Positions

  • International Law Firm (Los Angeles, Calif.): Associate (2018 to 2021)
  • Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.): Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. Brian S. Currey, Hon. Ross M. Klein, Hon. Maurice A. Leiter and Hon. Michael P. Vicencia (2016 to 2018)
  • California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Law Section: Intern (2015)

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
  • California
  • Washington

Education

  • J.D., Boston University School of Law, 2016, cum laude; Member, Review of Banking and Financial Law Journal
  • B.A., University of Washington, 2011

Languages

  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Ukrainian