Leah Vulić
Associate
Leah handles a broad array of civil litigation matters, from internet defamation and speech cases, to false advertising disputes, to a variety of tech-focused litigation.
Phone Number
415-955-1155 Ext. 121
Email Address
Leah Vulić
Associate
Leah handles a broad array of civil litigation matters, from internet defamation and speech cases, to false advertising disputes, to a variety of tech-focused litigation.
Phone Number
415-955-1155 Ext. 121
Email Address
Leah is a strong advocate for clients in cases where obtaining key digital evidence turns on the balance between the First Amendment and the right to seek judicial remedies.
As an associate for the firm’s litigation practice, Leah thrives on tackling complex issues that are unique to the realm of technology and digital media. Legal issues involving speech are difficult, and they become especially challenging when the speech takes place on internet websites or social media. Leah regularly navigates this evolving terrain, including assessing issues under the Stored Communications Act, Section 230, and the great body of law concerning anonymous speakers on the internet.
Litigating against or defending anonymous online speakers involves the intersection of so many areas of the law, which is difficult but highly fulfilling to me as an attorney.
Leah is also integral to the firm’s subpoena localization practice, which involves domesticating out-of-state subpoenas on California entities, including large tech and social media companies. Leah’s work on subpoenas has included successful motions to quash, motions to compel, and motions for early discovery.
Leah’s broader experience is in the fields of online speech (including anonymous defamation), anti-SLAPP motions, trademark and false advertising litigation, advising on online reputation management options, and class action lawsuits.
Leah graduated magna cum laude from The Ohio State University, where she earned a B.A. in History, and she is licensed to practice law in California.
EDUCATION
Ohio State University, B.A. in History (magna cum laude)
California Legal Studies under California Rule of Admissions Rule 4.29
BAR ADMISSIONS
Committee State Bar of California
United States District Court, Northern District of California
United States District Court, Central District of California
United States District Court, Eastern District of California
United States District Court, Southern District of California
United States District Court, District of Colorado
United States District Court, Central District of Illinois
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
MEMBERSHIPS
Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF)
Barristers Solo/Small Executive Committee for BASF
Barristers BASF Diversity & Inclusion Committee & Member of Diversity Conference Committee 2024 and 2023
Internet Law Leadership Summit
Northern District of California Federal Pro Bono Project
Day in Court Volunteer
San Francisco County Mock Trial Judge
Additional Attributes for Leah Vulić
Update on SAD Scheme (aka “Schedule A Defendants”) Lawsuits: SAD Plaintiffs, California Courts Not Rubberstamping, and More, Internet Law Leadership Summit, (Apr. 2024)
Cord-Cutting and Pay-Per-View Piracy Litigation, Internet Law Leadership Summit, (May 2023)
Watchtower Bible Speech Litigation Update, Internet Law Leadership Summit (May 2022)
Recent Trends in Internet Law and Online Regulation; Litigation Approaches Including Anti-SLAPP Motions, CEB (Sept. 2021)
"Repugnant" Canadian Court Decisions (Google v. Equustek Solutions, Inc.), Internet Law Leadership Summit (May 2018)
Dealing with Subpoena Resisters in California, Internet Law Leadership Summit (May 2017)
Amazon Marketplace: Trends in Infringement and Strategies for Representation of Sellers, Internet Law Leadership Summit (December 2016)
- Successfully moved to quash a subpoena for identifying information of a John Doe defendant in a lawsuit alleging claims against the Doe for intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with prospective economic relations, in California state court. The court held that the plaintiff had not made a prima facie case for either of his claims, and Doe was entitled to his anonymity. The Doe's identity was kept private, and the plaintiff later dismissed the case.
- Successfully moved to quash a subpoena for identifying information of Jane Doe, a third-party, in cross-civil harassment restraining order cases in California state court. The court held that the subpoenaed documents, i.e., Jane Doe's identity, were not relevant for the proceeding.
- Successfully sought relief against Meta Platforms, Inc., to enforce a subpoena issued for an action pending outside California, for identifying information for a John Doe defendant accused of defamation. In the California state court's order, the court held that the proper court to authorize early discovery was the outside-California court, defeating Meta's argument that a California court order was required; and that Petitioner had established a prima facie case for defamation against the John Doe defendant.
- Successfully moved to compel Reddit, Inc., to respond to a subpoena for business records in action pending outside California (i.e., Canada). The California state court found that the statements about the Petitioners were defamatory on their face, and ordered Reddit to respond to Petitioners' subpoena.
- Successfully negotiated withdrawals of subpoenas issued in cases pending outside California, seeking a Doe defendant's identifying information, without the need to file a motion to quash in California state court, thereby protecting the anonymous speakers' rights to anonymity.
- Successfully appealed an order denying an anti-SLAPP motion in California state court. In its decision, the Fourth District Court of Appeals held that two of the three statements were subject to California's anti-SLAPP statute, struck the claims based on those statements from Plaintiff's case, and remanded the case to the state court to determine attorney's fees.
- In federal case alleging cable piracy against a small business owner in the San Francisco Bay Area, achieved resolution of the lawsuit on behalf of the business owner, on a pro bono basis as part of the Northern District of California's Federal Pro Bono Project.
- Obtained evidence via subpoena to Facebook/Instagram in a non-consensual pornography (aka “revenge porn”) case, which uncovered records revealing that a woman’s ex-husband was responsible for creating online profiles in the wife’s name and soliciting monetary contributions using the wife’s intimate photos and videos. The records from Facebook ultimately convinced a prosecutor to pursue criminal charges against the ex-husband.
- Obtained digital evidence via subpoenas to one of the largest digital asset exchanges in the U.S. and to California banks to trace over $5 million in undisclosed assets hidden by an ex-husband from his wife.
2025 Northern California Rising Stars List, Super Lawyers
2024 Outstanding Barristers Award, Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF)
Update on SAD Scheme (aka “Schedule A Defendants”) Lawsuits: SAD Plaintiffs, California Courts Not Rubberstamping, and More, Internet Law Leadership Summit, (Apr. 2024)
Cord-Cutting and Pay-Per-View Piracy Litigation, Internet Law Leadership Summit, (May 2023)
Watchtower Bible Speech Litigation Update, Internet Law Leadership Summit (May 2022)
Recent Trends in Internet Law and Online Regulation; Litigation Approaches Including Anti-SLAPP Motions, CEB (Sept. 2021)
"Repugnant" Canadian Court Decisions (Google v. Equustek Solutions, Inc.), Internet Law Leadership Summit (May 2018)
Dealing with Subpoena Resisters in California, Internet Law Leadership Summit (May 2017)
Amazon Marketplace: Trends in Infringement and Strategies for Representation of Sellers, Internet Law Leadership Summit (December 2016)
- Successfully moved to quash a subpoena for identifying information of a John Doe defendant in a lawsuit alleging claims against the Doe for intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with prospective economic relations, in California state court. The court held that the plaintiff had not made a prima facie case for either of his claims, and Doe was entitled to his anonymity. The Doe's identity was kept private, and the plaintiff later dismissed the case.
- Successfully moved to quash a subpoena for identifying information of Jane Doe, a third-party, in cross-civil harassment restraining order cases in California state court. The court held that the subpoenaed documents, i.e., Jane Doe's identity, were not relevant for the proceeding.
- Successfully sought relief against Meta Platforms, Inc., to enforce a subpoena issued for an action pending outside California, for identifying information for a John Doe defendant accused of defamation. In the California state court's order, the court held that the proper court to authorize early discovery was the outside-California court, defeating Meta's argument that a California court order was required; and that Petitioner had established a prima facie case for defamation against the John Doe defendant.
- Successfully moved to compel Reddit, Inc., to respond to a subpoena for business records in action pending outside California (i.e., Canada). The California state court found that the statements about the Petitioners were defamatory on their face, and ordered Reddit to respond to Petitioners' subpoena.
- Successfully negotiated withdrawals of subpoenas issued in cases pending outside California, seeking a Doe defendant's identifying information, without the need to file a motion to quash in California state court, thereby protecting the anonymous speakers' rights to anonymity.
- Successfully appealed an order denying an anti-SLAPP motion in California state court. In its decision, the Fourth District Court of Appeals held that two of the three statements were subject to California's anti-SLAPP statute, struck the claims based on those statements from Plaintiff's case, and remanded the case to the state court to determine attorney's fees.
- In federal case alleging cable piracy against a small business owner in the San Francisco Bay Area, achieved resolution of the lawsuit on behalf of the business owner, on a pro bono basis as part of the Northern District of California's Federal Pro Bono Project.
- Obtained evidence via subpoena to Facebook/Instagram in a non-consensual pornography (aka “revenge porn”) case, which uncovered records revealing that a woman’s ex-husband was responsible for creating online profiles in the wife’s name and soliciting monetary contributions using the wife’s intimate photos and videos. The records from Facebook ultimately convinced a prosecutor to pursue criminal charges against the ex-husband.
- Obtained digital evidence via subpoenas to one of the largest digital asset exchanges in the U.S. and to California banks to trace over $5 million in undisclosed assets hidden by an ex-husband from his wife.
2025 Northern California Rising Stars List, Super Lawyers
2024 Outstanding Barristers Award, Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF)
