Scott A.Carlson

Partner

Scott's practice is entirely devoted to Cybersecurity, eDiscovery and information governance issues from both the consulting and litigation perspective.


More About Scott

Scott founded and chairs Seyfarth’s eDiscovery and Information Governance practice back in 2004 and is nationally known in these areas. Scott also co-chairs the firm’s Global Privacy and Security Team. Scott taught the first law school course in the country on the subjects of eDiscovery, digital evidence, and computer forensics. Scott’s strong technical background includes a BS in computer science and mathematics and experience working in private industry as a software engineer.

Scott represents and provides advice primarily in the area of cybersecurity. He advises board members, audit committees, C-suite members, internal audit, CISOs, and law departments on various issues arising from cybersecurity. He regularly serves as the incident commander in responding to security incidents coordinating the efforts of IT, defensive cyber security companies, management, public relations and other key stakeholders. He counsels clients in the wide range of cybersecurity laws, including data breach notification under various laws domestically and internationally, advises on maturing cyber programs, compliance with regulatory agencies, incident handling internally, approaches to reporting and handling a wide range of cyber-related issues including ransomware and other incidents.

He also provides eDiscovery advice to a broad range of clients, from small and mid-size companies up to the nation’s largest companies. He has represented clients in all aspects of eDiscovery—in terms of preparedness and managing eDiscovery issues—in individual matters throughout the country, in both state and federal court. Scott also advises clients in other information governance issues including, among others, computer forensics issues, records information management, and IT-related policies and practices.

Also an experienced litigator, Scott has represented clients in a wide range of commercial disputes including commercial contracts, purchase agreements, lease agreements, Uniform Commercial Code transactions, misappropriation of trade secrets, software licensing agreements shareholder suits, and tortious interference claims. He has also defended clients in actions involving negligence, wrongful death, fraud, retaliatory discharge, mass tort, and a variety of class actions.

  • JD, Southern Illinois University School of Law

    Summa cum laude
    Southern Illinois University Law Journal, casenote and comment editor

  • BS, University of Illinois

Certifications

  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
  • Illinois
  • US Supreme Court
  • US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • US Tax Court
  • US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin