Mullen Coughlin, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy

Mullen Coughlin is proud to announce that Partner Amanda Harvey has been selected as a 2021 Texas “Super Lawyer” in the Technology Transactions practice area by Super Lawyers. The annual “Super Lawyer” selection is based off an evaluation of 12 indicators, including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice. This is Amanda’s first time being selected as a “Super Lawyer,” having been named a “Rising Star” in 2010 and 2017-2019.

Amanda joined Mullen Coughlin in January 2020 from a full-service, Dallas, TX-based law firm. Amanda now focuses her practice on providing organizations of all sizes and from every industry sector in first-party breach response and third-party privacy defense legal services. She has counseled hundreds of clients in investigating and responding to an event compromising information and systems security, working closely with client resources, third-party forensic consulting experts and law enforcement to identify the nature and scope of a compromise. She advises clients on their legal notice and compliance responsibilities required by state, federal and international law, as well as those stemming from industry-specific standards, ethical obligations and by contract.

In addition, Amanda also represents these companies in single-plaintiff and class action litigation stemming from data privacy and cybersecurity incidents. Her experience of over a decade of handling complex litigation has prepared her to successfully litigate matters within the designated timeframe and budget, oftentimes providing innovative legal strategies to negotiate disputes with minimal disruption to the organization’s business and reputation.

This selection further solidifies Mullen Coughlin as the preeminent law firm that is exclusively dedicated to counseling organizations in the context of data privacy and cybersecurity under the umbrella of cyber insurance.

Congratulations, Amanda!

Partner Greg Bautista presents, “Proactive Cyber Security Risk Mitigation Strategies,” at the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems’ (NCPERS) 2021 Financial, Actuarial and Legislative & Legal (FALL) Conference with James Martinez (Risk Management Consultant – Gallagher) and CJ Dietzman (Managing Director, Cyber Solutions – Aon) in Scottsdale, AZ on September 26, 2021 from 2:00 pm-2:45 pm.

On the General Session track, Greg’s presentation focuses on the proactive risk strategies that a pension system should address to mitigate the downtime and cost to a system should they be the victim of a data privacy and cybersecurity incident. In addition, Greg and his co-presenters discuss the steps involved in creating an effective incident response plan and how to identify the key components so that the incident response and investigation is streamlined. Finally, cyber insurance is discussed, including the expectations sought from cyber insurance providers as pension systems look to secure coverage prior to a data privacy and cybersecurity incident.

NCPER’s FALL Conference is developed for public pension trustees, staff and industry partners to meet their educational needs, exchange ideas, strategize solutions and network.

NCPERS is the largest trade association for public sector pension funds, representing nearly 500 funds throughout the United States and Canada.

Mullen Coughlin Partner Carolyn Purwin Ryan has recently been appointed as a Vice-Chair of the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy General Committee of the American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (ABA/TIPS) for the 2021-2022 bar year; she previously served as the committee’s Program Co-Chair. The appointment of Carolyn is a clear indication of her competence and experience in cybersecurity and data privacy, as well as her commitment to ABA/TIPS and the legal profession as a whole.

“ABA/TIPS is a fantastic and innovative organization, as they encourage students, attorneys and other industry stakeholders to participate. I’m honored and thrilled to be appointed as a Vice-Chair, and am excited to build upon the important and cutting-edge committee programs, networking opportunities and publications to further strengthen the committee as the cybersecurity and data privacy landscape continues to alter,” Carolyn said of her appointment.

As a Vice-Chair, Carolyn will attend and participate in ABA/TIPS’ major annual meetings throughout the year and assist in the planning and coordination of substantive committee meetings and CLE programs, ABA/TIPS publications and other professional development and networking opportunities. Her appointment will last one year, until the last day of the ABA’s 2022 Annual Meeting. Learn more about ABA/TIPS here.

Carolyn serves as breach counsel and provides third-party privacy defense legal services to organizations who have been the victim of a data privacy and cybersecurity attack. She also aids organizations in incident response planning, including tabletop exercises, assessment of regulatory compliance requirements and inquiries from regulators on both the state and federal levels.

Congratulations, Carolyn!