Jones Foster, a 100-year-old commercial and private client law firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, is pleased to announce that Shareholder Robert W. Wilkins is one of 36 attorneys to become a member of The Florida Bar’s new standing Committee on Cybersecurity and Privacy Law, a “first of its kind” panel of experts dedicated to helping lawyers protect themselves and their clients from constantly evolving cyber threats.
As a member of this substantiative law committee, Rob will support its mission to facilitate lawyer awareness of cyber risks; work with members of the Technology Committee and other committees; develop firm- or lawyer-appropriate cybersecurity best practices; provide lawyers with continuously updated resources about cybersecurity law and regulations; and offer news and educational seminars.
A critical part of the committee's mission will be to help lawyers better understand where cybersecurity intersects with their ethical responsibilities, according to The Florida Bar. Since many Bar members represent clients who live in other states and countries, the committee will provide them with resources to address other states’ cybersecurity privacy laws and the General Data Protection Regulation.
Rob, a Florida Bar Board Certified Business Litigation and Civil Trial attorney, 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.
In addition, Rob, who co-chairs Jones Foster’s Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group, has over 35 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing clients in complex business litigation matters. He has substantial experience in defending and prosecuting all types of business litigation issues, including construction litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, employment and non-compete matters, civil RICO, securities, intellectual property, and commercial real estate landlord/tenant matters.
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 is also 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 recently held a seminar through the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches on Data Security and Loss Prevention to educate business professionals about current cybersecurity trends, new federal guidelines, and best practices to follow in the information technology space to better protect their client’s sensitive information and mitigate the impact of a potential data breach. He is consistently recognized by peer and industry publications, including The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Super Lawyers, and Palm Beach Illustrated’s “Top 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 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 shareholders 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.
