Robert is experienced in advising companies on privacy issues and counseling clients through dispute resolution. Having spent several years as in-house counsel at an international publicly traded company, in addition to advising clients in private practice, Robert brings an informed perspective of corporate client needs and expectations to help clients navigate legal challenges.

Robert is an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM). He has advised clients on privacy policies, compliance issues, and responding to data security incidents, including coordinating forensic investigations and restoration efforts, performing HIPAA breach analyses, and providing notices of breaches to regulators and affected individuals. He has also represented clients in responding to and resolving data breach indemnification demands and class action litigation arising after a breach.

Having represented clients across different industries in state and federal court litigation, Robert utilizes over fifteen years of experience as a litigator to help clients understand the legal risks they face and to counsel them in addressing and resolving disputes. He has represented clients in claims for contract disputes, business torts, unfair and deceptive trade practices, defamation, shareholder derivative actions, civil RICO, misappropriation of trade secrets, director and officer liability, and privacy-related claims. He has defended clients against claims and also represented clients in enforcing their rights.

Additionally, Robert has assisted clients in reviewing, understanding, and negotiating agreements, responding to subpoenas, and identifying ways to mitigate risk.

SERVICES

• Data Privacy & Pre-Breach Planning

• Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

PRIOR EXPERIENCE & REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Advised a company in addressing a ransomware attack, including investigation and restoration efforts through a forensic vendor, coordinating data analysis, notifying affected individuals, state attorneys general, and HHS of a data breach, and responding to inquiries from HHS and state attorneys general.

• Counseled a non-profit on responding to a ransomware attack, including forensic investigation, ransomware decryption, restoration, and analyzing notice obligations to individuals and HHS.

• Assisted a company in responding to a ransomware attack, including coordinating forensic investigation, ransom negotiations, analysis of affected data, notification to affected individuals and state attorneys general, guiding internal messaging, and coordinating data restoration efforts.

• Represented an orthopedic practice in responding to a data breach class action, including early mediation, discovery, settlement negotiations, and coordinating with the settlement administrator.

• Represented an urgent care provider in the defense of a data breach class action.

• Represented a company developing a platform for managing personal medical records that prevailed at trial on claims asserted against it in a shareholder derivative action.

• Advised a consulting company in responding to indemnification claims made by clients after data was exposed due to a software vulnerability. Performed analysis of potential contractual and negligence claims, responded to pre-litigation claims, and negotiated a resolution.

• As in-house litigation counsel, advised internal clients on litigation strategy and claims, managed a portfolio of litigation matters, investigated claims, managed outside counsel, coordinated risk transfer (indemnification and insurance), led claim reporting meetings, attended mediations, and liaised with the compliance team to implement process improvements.

RECOGNITIONS

• The Best Lawyers in America® (2023 & 2024), Commercial Litigation

CREDENTIALS

Education:

• Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia. Juris Doctor, with honors, 2007.

• Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. Bachelor of Arts, Economics and International Relations, magna cum laude, 2004.

Professional Associations:

• State Bar of Georgia

• International Association of Privacy Professionals

• Health Care Compliance Association

Certifications:

• IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US)

• IAPP Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)

Admissions:

• Georgia

Prior Positions:

• Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP, Partner

• Altisource, Senior Counsel, Litigation

• Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP, Associate

COMMUNITY

• Atlanta Community ToolBank, Board of Directors, Member, 2013–2016

• Association of Corporate Counsel, Member, 2016–2019

• Cooper Inn of Court, Barrister, 2014–2021

• Atlanta Community Food Bank, Volunteer