© 2012 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook
Expertise in electronic privacy and data breach issues is in demand. So are the lawyers who have that expertise. Two of them have landed new jobs.
Chad M. Pinson is the new managing director of Stroz Friedberg’s Dallas office. Dennis Duffy is now a partner in Baker Hostetler’s employment and labor group in Houston. Both are former partners at Baker Botts.
Pinson developed a national practice that focused on issues involving electronic privacy, data security, identity theft, e-commerce and financial transaction matters.
As managing director at Stroz Friedberg – a global consulting and technology firm that provides technical assistance and strategic advice to corporations and law firms – Pinson will advise clients in matters including cyber crime attacks, electronic discovery processing, expert testimony and internal corporate matters. He will also advise corporate clients in matters ranging from forensic accounting to investigations into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Pinson said that his new position allows him to maintain relationships with old clients while forming new ones with former competition.
“Along with the clients I have represented for years, many lawyers with whom I previously competed with for business are now potential clients or collaborative partners,” he said. “My goal is to work with and serve my former competitors, and continue to directly serve my clients in a new consulting role to provide trusted advice and gold-standard services in one of the fastest-growing, high-stakes areas currently facing companies and lawyers.”
According to Pinson, cyber security will increasingly continue to result in more regulation and government scrutiny in regard to corporate violations of privacy and security statutes.
“The issue is not going away,” he said. “The sophistication of hackers and cyber-thieves will only increase. There are many businesses and law firms that do not even realize they have something to protect.”
Duffy, who also has significant experience in handling electronic privacy and data breach issues, was chair of the labor and employment practice at Baker Botts. Prior to that, he was the vice president and associate general counsel for labor and employment at Time Warner Inc.
“The opportunity to work with the team [at Baker Hostetler] in Houston and across the firm to help it continue to grow and deepen its national practice was very appealing to me,” Duffy said.
Duffy’s practice focuses on management in all aspects of labor and employment law, including defending allegations of discrimination, unfair labor practices, wage and hour, whistleblowing complaints and wrongful discharge.
Duffy said that in the coming months, labor and employment law will see increased activity around the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s focus on systemic cases.
“In Texas, issues around non-compete agreements and trade secrets protections are significant areas of interest,” he said. “Wage and hour issues will [also] continue to be an issue for clients.”
Pinson graduated with honors from both Duke University School of Law and the University of Texas, where he received his bachelor’s degree. Duffy received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his Bachelor’s degree at Princeton University.
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