UK Magic Circle firm Linklaters has launched a US data solutions, cyber and privacy practice in New York following the arrival of Prudential Financial’s former chief counsel for cybersecurity and privacy Erez Liebermann.

Liebermann joins the firm as a partner along with ex-Prudential Financial colleague Andrew Pak, who joins as counsel. Liebermann also previously worked as a federal prosecutor at the US Department of Justice where he lead a team that prosecuted some of the country's most high-profile cyberattacks, including credit card data breaches, national security breaches and so-called insider logic bombs – a piece of malicious code that is inserted into a software system.

Richard Cumbley, Linklaters’ global head of technology, media, telecoms and IP, said: “Erez and Andrew are both highly regarded cyber and data practitioners with exceptional credentials. Data has no respect for national boundaries; it moves easily across the globe. It’s crucial for clients that their counsel can advise on data issues with the same global perspective. The addition of Erez and Andrew adds top drawer US capability to our market-leading practices in Asia and Europe.”

Liebermann spent just over seven years at Prudential Financial after almost a decade at the DOJ. He served as deputy chief of the criminal division at the US Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey, overseeing white collar crime, as well as serving as chief of its computer hacking and IP unit. He also had earlier stints in private practice at US IP boutique Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison. 

Pak, meantime, spent almost three years at Prudential Financial working alongside Liebermann as corporate counsel for cybersecurity and privacy. He was also previously a senior counsel in the DOJ’s computer crime and IP section and an assistant US Attorney in the District of New Jersey. Like Liebermann he also previously had stints in private practice, including at Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelmann and Debevoise & Plimpton. 

Thomas McGrath, Linklaters’ US global practice head, said: “[Cybersecurity and data privacy] is an area that is seeing a massive expansion in legislative and enforcement activity. With technology integration and data exploitation making transactions more complex, our clients will benefit from Erez and Andrew’s technical skills, deep market understanding and wide networks. Their experience will complement our market-leading global data practice and will be a fantastic new asset for our domestic and international clients.”

Linklaters has also recently bolstered its corporate and M&A team in Paris with the addition of private equity specialist Florent Mazeron as a partner from Magic Circle rival Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer last month. The firm also announced last week that it had elected Aedamar Comiskey, the global head of its corporate practice, as its new senior partner, making her the first woman to hold the position in the firm’s almost 200-year history.