[May 22, 2013]

UnitedLex Sponsored Conference Addresses Cyber Risk: Law Firms Under Pressure to Improve Protection of Client Data

Law firms-especially those representing major corporate clients-maintain a virtual treasure trove of sensitive client information. As a result, law firms and their attorneys are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals seeking an alternative (and sometimes easier) way to access and steal a client's intellectual property, M&A due diligence and other valuable business data. In response, a growing number of businesses are requiring that law firms not only improve their internal data security measures, but include detailed cyber security provisions in their legal fee arrangements.

UnitedLex, a long-time thought leader in cybersecurity, is sponsoring two in-depth conferences on this subject-one in New York and the second in Washington, D.C.

The Law Firm Cyber Risk Conference: Addressing the Issues from the Top Down, is designed to provide guidance on how law firm leaders, COOs, General Counsel and IT managers can work together to confront the risks faced by law firms, which have been identified as highly vulnerable targets for cyberattacks and data theft.

The conferences, to be held Wednesday, May 29, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Yale Club in New York City (50 Vanderbilt Avenue), and Thursday, May 30, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Army & Navy Club in Washington D.C. (901 Seventeenth Street NW), will help law firm leaders revise their strategies to be prepared for swift and decisive response to threats. Sponsored by UnitedLex, a global provider of legal and business technology consulting services, the event is being organized by Sandpiper Partners LLC.

"With data theft now a major client concern, firms incresingly are receiving lengthy questionnaires about their IT practices, and are being asked for certifications on policies and protocols," explains UnitedLex Managing Director of Client Solutions Dave Canfield. "Further, with cyber breach notification laws in place in 47 states and lawmakers considering a federal data breach notification law, every firm should also be examining its data breach response strategies."

Cyber security is not just an IT issue anymore. It requires the attention of senior legal leadership and business executives and early interdiction to protect clients, employees, partners, third parties, and the firm.

The conference will cover:

• Potential governance structures to deal with cyber security incidents and response.
• The appropriate trigger and mechanism for notifying a client, all clients, one or more partners, third parties, and law enforcement.
• Potential strategies for the increasing number of client security provisions built into fee arrangements.
• Engaging a security company to investigate, assess, and resolve a data breach.
• The roles of firm leadership, IT, COO and General Counsel.

Discussion topics include "Who and What Types of Threats are Most Significant-The View from the U.S. Attorney's Office," "Firm Governance," "Incidence Response Strategies," "Risk Management Oversight," "Working with Clients," "Working with the Government," and "Intellectual Property Issues" and "Ethical Issues."

Planned panelists include Andrea Antoniou, CIO at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in New York; Lawrence Bracken, a partner at Hunton & Williams in Atlanta; Bob Bratt, COO and Executive Director of US Operations at DLA Piper in Baltimore; James Harvey, Head of the Technology, Privacy & IP Transactions Group at Alston & Bird in Washington D.C.; Donald Jaycox, CIO at DLA Piper in San Diego; William Wynne Jr., Chairman of the Risk Management Committee at White & Case in New York; and Canfield of UnitedLex.

For more information on the subjects discussed and panelists instructing, please click here.

About UnitedLex

UnitedLex (www.unitedlex.com) is a global company with a singular mission to improve the performance of law departments and law firms. We provide unparalleled solutions to address the risk, efficiency and effectiveness goals of our clients in North America, Europe and Asia. Our more than 750 attorneys, engineers and consultants focus on the broadly defined areas of litigation, contracting, intellectual property and operations to drive seven and eight figure benefit to our clients. Founded in 2006 and with more than $250 million in assets, UnitedLex deploys the right blend of service and technology in supporting the world's leading corporations and law firms.

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