Data Security & Privacy

Cyber Incident Response Planning

Our Privacy & Data Security Team not only understands the cyber-threat landscape, but we know where to prioritize. We help clients identify system vulnerabilities, incorporate security-by-design principles where necessary, and develop proactive incident response plans to minimize the legal and reputational impact of cybersecurity threats. In the event of a data breach or ransomware attack, we work with clients to contain the threat, recoup losses, draft and issue disclosure statements, and take appropriate steps to limit their legal and regulatory exposure.

To help prevent the unthinkable, we provide training to industry groups as well as company or non-profit boards of directors, executives, and employees, to ensure that your team understands the threat landscape. We also provide experienced counsel for your organization’s overall data privacy and cybersecurity policies, procedures, and insurance protection. We integrate your IT and compliance teams to ensure a concerted approach to the growing ransomware threat, or we can bridge the gap if your organization does not have an internal team.

Representative Incident Experience

• Advising private and publicly traded companies regarding the collection, use, protection, and disclosure of confidential and personal information.
• Advising companies regarding compliance with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and related laws.
• Advising companies regarding compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act and similar state laws.
• Advising companies on domestic and international laws affecting cross-border transfers of confidential information, as well as the necessary content of privacy notices.
• Preparing and implementing comprehensive information governance and security programs and policies.
• Providing education and training to employees, officers, and directors relating to applicable privacy and information security policies.
• Assisted a national restaurant chain with a credit card data breach in dozens of states with over one million card exposures. Responsibilities included emergency response coaching, breach evaluation, breach notification, breach vendor management, liability assessments, negotiations with processors, acquiring banks, issuing banks and card brands, and litigation support.
• Assisted a large multinational corporation with its evaluation of and response to a ransomware attack that crippled all corporate servers, including human resources and payroll.
• Assisted a company with response and notification arising from infiltration of the company’s system that altered payroll files processed by a third-party payroll processor. Responsibilities included working with a forensics investigation firm, coordination of notification to employees, and negotiation with the cyber liability insurance provider.
• Consulted with an international manufacturing business regarding a “phishing” incident directed at employees’ personal data. Responsibilities included identification of the scope of attempted intrusion, analysis of potentially applicable law of multiple jurisdictions, and assessment of technological safeguards in place to prevent an actual security breach of the information systems in question.
• Advised a midsized consumer retail services business on response to employee theft of personal information from company systems. Worked with the client’s IT department to identify access and attempted misappropriation of information and coordinated with law enforcement for potential prosecution and assessment of any breach notification.
• Preparing and, if necessary, executing incident response plans in the event of a security breach.
• Overseeing and directing breach response activities, including forensic investigations, coordination with law enforcement agencies, compliance with all applicable state breach notification laws, compliance with contractual notice obligations, and responding to inquiries from the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.
• Conducting internal investigations regarding employee theft of confidential information and trade secrets.
• Representing numerous companies in responding to security breaches, including, most recently, two publicly-traded Fortune 500 companies.
• Providing advice regarding the scope and application of cyber risk insurance policies, including the negotiation of favorable terms and conditions.