Chantal Hwang Barksdale is Senior Legal Counsel at Apple Inc., where she partners with high-performing teams to deliver practical, business-focused legal solutions that drive innovation and safeguard intellectual property. With extensive experience collaborating with Product, Design, and Engineering teams, Chantal excels at integrating legal counsel into the development of visionary products, aligning compliance with organizational goals.

Prior to joining Apple and during her time in private practice, Chantal advised iconic global tech giants and disruptive startups, including Google, Meta, Uber, Snap, Nintendo, and Houzz. Her expertise includes building global IP portfolios, resolving high-stakes disputes, and providing mission-critical guidance to accelerate growth and mitigate risk in fast-paced, highly regulated industries. She has also successfully defended high-profile clients in complex federal court litigation.

Chantal is also an Adjunct Law Professor at UC Law SF (formerly Hastings) and a dedicated mentor in the Bay Area legal community. She supports aspiring law firm partners through the Asian American Bar Association’s Pathways to Partnership Program and collaborates with the UCLA Law Women LEAD Alumni Network to create a diverse, inclusive, intergenerational community of women that supports one another in their collective personal and professional growth.

Passionate about empowering the next generation of female lawyers, Chantal serves on the board of Ms. JD, where she helps support women pursuing careers in law. She is a champion of diversity, innovation, and value creation, leveraging her ability to bridge the gap between law, technology, and business to foster collaboration and deliver results.