Jones Foster was proud to serve as the presenting sponsor of an expert panel seminar on cybersecurity at the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches to provide local businesses and nonprofits an opportunity to gain insights from legal and industry experts on developing an incident response plan (IRP) and how to implement it in the event of a data breach.
Litigation practice group co-chair Robert W. Wilkins moderated the discussion and served as a panelist for “One Breach Away: The Critical Importance of a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan for Business Survival.” The panel also featured PalmTech CEO Chuck Poole, a forensic cybersecurity expert; Boardroom PR COO Donald Silver, a public relations executive who specializes in crisis communications; and a local FBI special agent who focuses on cybersecurity investigations.
Chamber of Commerce Interim CEO and President Dennis Grady introduced Jones Foster as the presenting sponsor, highlighting the firm’s longstanding relationship with the Chamber as a 64-year legacy member as well as its leadership involvement throughout the years. Chairman Scott G. Hawkins offered introductory remarks about the importance of protecting one’s business and their clients’ sensitive information in a world that relies on technology, and followed with an introduction of Rob Wilkins, a fellow litigation shareholder who focuses on cybersecurity and data privacy in his practice.
Rob kicked off the discussion explaining why businesses, no matter what size, need to have an incident response plan in place. “I like to look at it like a fire drill. You don’t want to start figuring out what to do when the fire is already going in your house. You want to make sure you take the steps beforehand to know exactly what you’re going to do, who’s going to be involved, what their roles are going to be, and to make sure that you test that plan…,” he said. “Today we’re going to talk about what that should encompass and what are the consequences if you don’t have one, and you have a data breach.”
The robust panel, which took place during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, offered attendees expert insights on how to communicate effectively with clients and customers after a breach; which law enforcement agencies to involve and when; how to mitigate financial and reputational impact; how to avoid litigation stemming from a data breach; real-life incidents – how they happened and how to avoid them happening to one’s business; and actionable advice to strengthen infrastructure and feel confident in their ability to respond to a cyberattack. A Q&A discussion followed the presentation.
Rob Wilkins is co-chair of Jones Foster's Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group and a Florida Bar Board Certified attorney in Business Litigation. With over 35 years of experience as a trial lawyer, Rob represents clients in complex business litigation matters. Rob has substantial experience in defending and prosecuting all types of business litigation issues, including construction litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, employment and noncompete matters, civil RICO, securities, intellectual property, and commercial real estate landlord/tenant matters.
Rob also has a deep understanding of technology-related legal issues, including eDiscovery, cybersecurity, and data privacy. He advises businesses and law firms on data breach regulations and reporting requirements, comprehensive incident response plans, HIPAA and HITECH privacy compliance, and other state and federal data privacy rules and regulations, including consumer protection rules such as the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA), and represents clients in litigation matters that may result from a data breach or other security incident.
Rob is active within various industry and bar associations and currently serves as co-chair of the E-Discovery Subcommittee and the Data Security Subcommittee of the ABA Section of Litigation’s Commercial and Business Litigation Committee. He also is a member of the Florida Bar Standing Committee on Cybersecurity and Privacy Law. In addition, Rob is an active member of The Sedona Conference Working Group 1, Electronic Document Retention and Production, which serves to develop best practices and guidelines for information governance and e-discovery in the context of litigation, dispute resolution, and investigations, and Working Group 11, Data Security and Privacy Liability, which strives to identify trends in data security to help organizations prepare for and respond to data breaches and assist in resolving legal liability issues and damages.
Rob is a frequent author, speaker, and panelist for industry organizations including the ABA, The Florida Bar, and the Palm Beach County Bar Association. He is consistently recognized by peer and industry publications, including The Best Lawyers in America and Florida Super Lawyers, and holds an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, awarded to only those lawyers with the highest ethical standards and legal ability.
Jones Foster is celebrating its Centennial year as a full-service commercial and private client law firm headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, with offices in Palm Beach and Jupiter. Tracing its roots back to 1924, the firm has served as an integral part of South Florida’s growth and prosperity. Through a relentless pursuit of excellence, Jones Foster delivers original legal solutions that help clients, colleagues, and the community to move forward. A significant number of attorneys have received the designation of Board-Certified Specialist by The Florida Bar in their specific practice area. The firm’s practice groups include Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution; Corporate & Tax; Land Use & Governmental; Private Wealth, Wills, Trusts & Estates; Real Estate; and Trust & Estate Litigation. For more information, please visit www.jonesfoster.com.
