Gibson Dunn has unparalleled abilities to handle a wide spectrum of information technology and data privacy issues. We regularly represent many leading technology and online media companies in a variety of contexts, ranging from compliance counseling to guidance on the legal implications of high-priority business actions to broad-scope representations involving regulatory scrutiny, litigation, and law enforcement interest. In particular, we have decades of experience with a wide array of technology, advertising and privacy litigation—we are engaged in virtually all of the leading litigations related to these issues—and we regularly conduct related internal investigations, defend government and regulatory investigations, and refer matters to criminal and civil authorities.
The firm’s Information Technology and Data Privacy group brings together a team of attorneys with extensive experience both in private practice and at senior government levels. The practice is led in part by a former U.S. Attorney who oversaw prominent high-technology prosecutions, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney with primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting computer crime cases, and a former high-ranking attorney with the Federal Trade Commission. Our attorneys are distinguished not only by their substantive expertise and advocacy skills, but also by their ability to guide clients through major events, deal with all relevant constituencies, and, where needed, develop and implement a prompt and effective crisis-management strategy.
Our lawyers in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere advise on a full range of information technology and cyber-legal issues. They include:
- Counseling related to compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing privacy, social media, data security, online advertising, gaming, and related issues.
- Investigations, litigation and counseling concerning alleged computer fraud, privacy abuse, trade secrets theft, commercial e-mail violations, and data security and network breaches.
- Criminal referrals and responses to regulatory inquiries.
- Network security and privacy audits, Internet enforcement and compliance programs, and information security due diligence.
Our European attorneys advise on EU-wide data privacy issues on a range of matters including advice at the EU policy level. The practice group includes attorneys in Germany, France and the UK who are experts not only on relevant data protection national laws in their home states, but who also have experience in coordinating pan-European advice projects where it is necessary for clients to understand the differences between the legislation implemented in each EU member state and the differing attitudes of national regulators towards enforcement.
As part of a global law firm, the Information Technology and Data Privacy group also draws on the experience of attorneys in the firm’s other leading practice areas, particularly the litigation, class actions, white collar defense and investigations, intellectual property, antitrust and trade regulation, and crisis management groups. Attorneys in the group also assist on a wide range of corporate transactions in the technology arena and are broadly engaged in lecturing and writing on cutting-edge issues and emerging legal trends.