Joseph M. Alioto Jr. is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and public advocate who represents individuals, small businesses, and executives in high-stakes cases where government or corporate power has failed, overreached, or abused its authority. With 25 years of courtroom experience, he is known for taking on institutions — from federal regulators to multinational corporations, even a court of law itself — and delivering results that shape law and protect the public.

A decorated former federal prosecutor, Alioto tried some of the nation’s most dangerous criminal organizations, earning the U.S. Attorney General’s Director’s Award for Superior Performance in 2018. He has argued major civil law appeals in federal and state courts, including a landmark California Supreme Court victory that earned him the title of California Lawyer Attorney of the Year for antitrust law.

Alioto’s litigation record spans regulatory enforcement, victims’ rights, and competition law. Standing at the intersection of law, business, and public policy, his work centers on giving voice to underdogs in precedent-setting battles. Representative matters include:

• Defending a public company CFO in a high-profile SEC enforcement action.
• Representing the mother of a murdered child in a groundbreaking lawsuit against the State for its failure to block the killer’s unlawful firearm purchase — a case that inspired Alioto to draft legislation (AB 1363, “Wyland’s Law”) to close that loophole.
• Defeating DOJ on behalf of a private citizen in a Public Record Act enforcement action.
• Challenging abusive practices by entrenched suppliers in the tech and telecom industries on behalf of small innovators.
• Taking on monopolistic practices by pharmaceutical giants, railroads, and airlines.
• Proposing regulations that keep children and workers safe while promoting the needs of businesses

Today, as founder of Alioto Legal, he blends his prosecutorial rigor with business acumen (JD/MBA, UC Berkeley) to pursue public-impact litigation while advising clients facing institutional and regulatory battles.

Beyond his practice, Alioto serves as Chairman of California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (CalOSHA), appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2023, where he leads statewide efforts to protect workers while respecting the needs of businesses. He is also a founding board member of RescueSF, a coalition dedicated to solving homelessness in San Francisco, and a long-time collaborator with the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

Contact Alioto Legal today. Together, we will protect your rights—no matter how big your opponent may be.