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Ali Baiardo

Alicia A. Baiardo Partner

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San Francisco T +1 415 844 1973 F fax +1 415 844 1916
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Ali, a partner in the San Francisco office of McGuireWoods, is a commanding commercial litigator trusted by three of the largest U.S. banks and numerous Fortune Global 500 companies to defend multimillion-dollar class actions and other complex litigation. She defends nationwide consumer class actions brought on behalf of millions of class members, California-wide cases alleging unfair competition, fraud, and violation of various consumer protection statutes, and complex Ponzi-scheme matters brought against banks as well as mass arbitrations. Ali serves as the Client Responsible Attorney (CRA) for a major financial institution, overseeing the client relationship and coordinating strategy across multiple matters.

With nearly two decades of experience, Ali advocates for her clients at all stages of litigation, often obtaining dismissals with prejudice and negotiating strategically beneficial settlements where appropriate while being prepared to litigate when necessary. She has significant experience defending financial institutions in consumer fraud, aiding and abetting, and ECOA and FHA claims. She is also deeply involved in the evolving mass arbitration landscape having represented clients up to the Ninth Circuit defending their arbitration provisions. She helps clients think strategically about their arbitration provisions in light of constantly evolving caselaw.

Additionally, Ali advises clients in commercial disputes, privacy matters, and trust and estate litigation involving undue influence allegations, accounting disputes, life estate valuations, inter-family disputes over distribution of assets, and special trustee’s fiduciary duties in administering family trusts. She is a member of the firm’s Data Privacy & Security Group and a registered member of the IAPP.

She also has significant pro bono experience litigating asylum and prisoners’ rights cases. Ali is a member of the firm’s Board of Partners. She began serving on the firm’s Diversity Committee in 2019 and co-chaired the firm’s Women Lawyers Network from 2022-2025.

“I make it a priority to understand my clients’ business goals from the start, so I can deliver practical, strategic solutions—always with clarity, responsiveness, and a focus on what really matters.”

Experience

  • Obtained first of its kind order from Ninth Circuit affirming a AAA Process Arbitrator’s order requiring the claimants provide basic information about their claims in order to proceed; currently defending the order in federal court against efforts to invalidate or circumvent it, reinforcing its impact on mass arbitration strategy.
  • Defended major national banks in multidistrict class action litigation and individual class actions while navigating regulatory implications.
  • Represented Fortune 100 manufacturing company in a breach of contract matter involving the company’s software platform.
  • Represented company in fraud-related construction matter securing significant award in arbitration.
  • Successfully handle trust and estate litigation matters involving undue influence allegations, accounting disputes, and claims concerning a corporate trustee’s fiduciary duties.
  • Defended major national banks in litigation triggering Articles 3 and 4 of the Commercial Code, including customer obligations, unauthorized signatures, know your customer requirements, electronic funds transfers and applicable federal preemption.
  • Participated in a concurrent expert proceeding (often also referred to as a “hot tub” hearing), in which multiple expert witnesses testified and were examined simultaneously by the court to compare and clarify complex statistical evidence in real time.
  • Secured order from court denying class certification for major financial institution in a putative class action in the Northern District of California alleging discriminatory home lending.
  • Defending a series of related cases in federal court arising from mass arbitration claims alleging collusion between a financial institution and the arbitration administrator; successfully obtained Ninth Circuit affirmance compelling arbitration, with follow-on class actions on motions to compel in the Southern District of California.
  • Successful representation of clients through trial.

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