Seyfarth Launches Biometrics Privacy Compliance & Litigation Group

DC and CHICAGO (May 14, 2019) -- Seyfarth Shaw LLP today announced the launch of its Biometrics Privacy Compliance & Litigation Group. A national leader in the biometric privacy space, Seyfarth was one of the first law firms to defend an employer in a lawsuit asserting violations under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Building from this experience, Seyfarth has maintained a robust docket of biometric privacy class action cases across the country, in addition to partnering with clients to proactively address issues raised by biometric privacy laws through counseling and compliance efforts.

With more than 25 attorneys, Seyfarth’s multidisciplinary Biometrics Privacy Compliance & Litigation Group is one of the industry’s largest and most experienced, led by Labor & Employment attorneys Karla Grossenbacher and Thomas Ahlering.

“Today, more and more clients are turning to biometric technology in the workplace, while legislation across the country concerning biometric privacy continues to accelerate,” said Grossenbacher. “With this rapidly shifting landscape, advice from counsel that has significant experience with biometric privacy compliance issues is invaluable.”

“Beyond compliance challenges, we are uniquely positioned in defending both class action and labor and employment related litigation—helping clients navigate the novel litigation theories being tested in the courts for the first time in this cutting-edge area of the law,” explained Ahlering.

Based on this deep knowledge of the issues involved in compliance with biometric privacy laws and its unique track record in biometrics litigation, Seyfarth’s new Biometrics Privacy Compliance & Litigation Group features a team of experienced counselors, litigators, and strategists who work alongside clients in three core areas:

• Counseling & Compliance: Provide counsel on the unique considerations and requirements imposed by the patchwork of state biometric privacy laws. This includes proactive efforts to manage and minimize the risk the risk of potential biometric privacy violations, and assist in crafting workplace policies and procedures that comply with legislative requirements related to the collection and storage of biometric data.
• Class Action Litigation: Develop and litigate strategies designed to defeat and reduce potential exposure related to biometric class actions, based on the firm’s successful playbook detailing the procedural nuances of these cases.
• Legislative Landscape: Actively monitor all proposed and existing biometric legislation, and represent organizations and employers to advance their interests in collaboration with the firm’s Government Relations and Policy Group.

About Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Seyfarth Shaw has more than 850 attorneys in 15 offices providing a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation, corporate and real estate. Seyfarth’s clients include over 300 of the Fortune 500 companies and reflect virtually every industry and segment of the economy. A recognized leader in delivering value and innovation for legal services, Seyfarth has earned numerous accolades from a variety of highly respected industry associations, consulting firms and media.