We’re excited to announce today that the ILN is forming a Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Specialty Group, which will be co-chaired by James Giszczak of McDonald Hopkins (Cleveland, Ohio) and Stuart Gerson of Epstein Becker & Green (Washington, DC). The group joins the ILN’s thirteen other practice and industry-focused specialty groups.

I have the opportunity to work closely with the chairs of our specialty groups as their facilitator, and I particularly enjoy working with lawyers who have a passion for their work, which Jim and Stuart certainly do in this area. I expect great things to come from the CDP guys and gals! 

I include the remainder of the press release for additional information about the group, and our two co-chairs. 

Both chairs are enthusiastic to push the group forward, with a goal of working together with the other members of the group to co-promote the combined strength and depth of expertise of its members, both domestically and internationally. A directory of ILN firms with Cybersecurity & Data Privacy expertise is already available on the ILN website.

 

The ILN’s Director of Global Relationship Management and the Group’s facilitator, Lindsay Griffiths, said:

We have incredibly talented lawyers at the forefront of this important area of the law, who become even stronger by working together. This group will allow for not only the sharing of information across various jurisdictions, but also collaboration and enhanced communication for clients and potential clients."

About the Co-Chairs
James Giszczak: Jim is the Vice Chair of the Litigation Department and Chair of the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group at McDonald Hopkins, and works out of both their Cleveland, Ohio and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan offices. He advises clients regarding data security measures and responding to security breaches involving sensitive personal information and protected health information. He also works with clients in a myriad of industries to assess and implement appropriate data security safeguards. If a breach occurs, Jim acts as a breach coach, ensuring compliance and minimizing exposure. Jim also works with federal, state and local authorities, as well as third party vendors. Moreover, Jim litigates matters involving data security and data privacy, including defending single plaintiff and class action litigation. He is a frequent speaker and writer in data privacy law, and regularly conducts Incident Response Workshops for clients and their data breach risk management teams. Jim will be speaking at the upcoming Net Diligence Conference on June 2-3, 2015 in Philadelphia (Registration and additional information is available here).

Jim can be reached at jgiszczak@mcdonaldhopkins.com

Stuart Gerson: Stuart, who is former Acting Attorney General of the United States and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, is a Member of EBG’s Litigation and Health Care and Life Sciences practices in the firm’s Washington, DC and New York offices. He concentrates on the defense of complex civil and criminal fraud cases, antitrust and securities cases, and class action litigation generally. Much of his practice is centered in the health care industry and in matters of science and technology, including cybersecurity and the protection of confidential data, including health care information. Stuart has successfully tried many complex cases before judges and juries, and also has acted as settlement counsel, mediator and arbitrator. Recently, he led a team of lawyers in the successful defense of class action claims in a massive health care data breach case and is active in similar matters, both in investigation and litigation contexts. Stuart also has served as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, is a frequent guest on CNBC, Fox News and other broadcast outlets, and his commentaries have been published in law journals and newspapers including The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Times.

Stuart can be reached at sgerson@ebglaw.com

About the ILN
The International Lawyers Network facilitates personal relationships among lawyers in mid-sized law firms all over the world, allowing them to confidently operate in a global marketplace while retaining their independence and local expertise. As one of the largest networks of experienced attorneys in the world, the ILN provides a platform for clients to access quality legal professionals worldwide with the cost-effectiveness and personalized service only independent, regional law firms can provide. With 91 high-quality, full-service and specialized law firms and over 5,000 lawyers in 66 countries on six continents, the excellence, demonstrated experience, worldwide presence, and relationships of the International Lawyers Network combine to make this Network one of the leading associations of independent law firms in the world. The ILN: Where lawyers become friends.