Fernando Marques Pinguelo

Summary:

 Fernando M. Pinguelo, a trial attorney and Chair of the firm’s Cyber Security & Data Protection and E-Discovery groups, devotes his practice to complex litigation with an emphasis on cyber security, data privacy, media and employment matters.

A former prosecutor, Fernando’s experience addresses all facets of litigation (trial, mediation, arbitration, appellate) in both federal and state courts and he regularly handles “crisis litigation,” including emergency applications with the courts. Most recently, the leading global information services company retained him to address a data breach incident reportedly involving the theft of 15 million customers’ sensitive data.

He serves on state and federal committees, including appointments by the Chief Judge of the District of New Jersey to serve on the Merit Selection Panel for federal magistrate judgeship selection and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey to serve on the Evidence Rules Committee. Fernando handles a broad spectrum of national and international disputes including those involving business torts, data breaches, misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright/trademark infringement, and breach of contract and non-compete covenants. Fernando earned accreditation as an information privacy professional (CIPP/US) from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

A leader in the emerging areas of cyber law and electronic discovery, Fernando works closely with clients to develop strategies for managing business and legal issues relating to electronic data. He focuses client attention on preventing claims and pursuing strategies that enhance a client’s ability to manage data-essential precautions because of the financial and public relations fallout that often results from high-profile data breaches. When a rapidly evolving crisis or emergency hits, Fernando mobilizes his interdisciplinary team of professionals and implements a response strategy to mitigate damages. Fernando’s global network of highly skilled lawyers and other professionals from across the U.S. and more than 70 other countries enables him to provide clients with quality services outside our jurisdictions.

Recently, Fernando provided commentary on proposed federal legislation concerning cyber security and received a Fulbright Specialist appointment in Brazil for his work on technology’s impact on the law.

Notably, Fernando was involved in New Jersey’s first case addressing its new electronic discovery rule amendments; designed one of the first state-of-the-art electronic discovery law courses in the country, which he teaches at Seton Hall University School of Law; and created the ABA Journal award-winning eLessons Learned, an educational blog about how technology impacts lawsuits. Moreover, the President of the New Jersey State Bar Association appointed him Chair of the Privacy Law Committee. Fernando lectures for state and federal judicial colleges, including the New Jersey Judicial College and Escola Paulista da Magistratura (São Paulo), both of which provide judges with academic programs to keep abreast of legal developments. He also clerked for the Honorable Edwin H. Stern, Chief Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey - Appellate Division (retired). Within the media and entertainment industries, Fernando represents television personalities including Emmy Award-winning talent, performers, and writers on a variety of legal issues, including cyber security/privacy issues concerning their Internet reputation.

Fernando’s numerous published articles and speaking engagements in his areas of practice reflect the depth of his knowledge and understanding of the issues that his clients face, including his chapter authorships for the leading treatise on electronic discovery for in-house counsel, eDiscovery for Corporate Counsel(Chapter 17 - Electronic Data, Cyber Security & Crisis Management) (Thomson-West 2013–present), and New Jersey Federal Civil Practice (Chapter 10 – eDiscovery) (ALM 2011-present). He has appeared on television as a legal commentator on high-profile trials and has been quoted and cited in numerous media reports covering cases he has handled.