Shook Enhances Business Litigation Team to Defend Biometrics Lawsuits and Complex Disputes

CHICAGO, Feb. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Shook, Hardy & Bacon welcomes new Partner Melissa Siebert and Of Counsel Erin Bolan Hines to the firm's Business Litigation, Employment and Privacy and Data Security Practices, where they will continue to defend manufacturers, retailers and other employers against class actions alleging violations of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Siebert and Hines will provide Shook's health, science and technology clients with 360-degree counseling. Specifically, Siebert focuses on BIPA matters, complex employment litigation and counseling, while Hines provides strategic guidance in complex commercial disputes, BIPA lawsuits and data privacy issues.

"We have worked with Shook for many years on creative challenges to these BIPA lawsuits," said Siebert, who has built her practice around previous roles as in-house counsel and director of human resources for multiple organizations.

Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough highlighted the pair's business acumen. "Melissa and Erin are both seasoned trial attorneys with a deep knowledge of our clients' core industries. They have honed their litigation strategy both in contentious disputes and before boardrooms and the media."

Siebert and Hines have handled more than 20 BIPA matters in Illinois State and federal courts since 2017. The pair will be joining Shook's Business Litigation Practice led by Gary Miller and Michael Cargnel and collaborate closely with Shook's Privacy and Data Security Practice Chair Al Saikali.

"We are excited to welcome Melissa and Erin to Shook's deep bench of biometric privacy litigators and counselors," stated Saikali. "With the addition of their experience, our combined practice has managed more than two dozen of the 150-plus BIPA class actions that have been filed to date and more than any other defense firm in the country."

Siebert and Hines were also attracted to Shook's demonstrated commitment to diverse leaders and litigators throughout the firm's ranks, with women comprising five of the firm's 11 executive committee members and 45 percent of firm leadership roles. Hines elaborated, "In-house counsel continue to express a need for outside legal teams that reflect their organizational perspectives and values. Shook has created an inclusive culture dedicated to launching the next generation of top-tier lawyers, and we are excited to help shepherd those opportunities along."

About Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Founded in 1889, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. has 12 offices in the United States and London, with attorneys and professional staff serving clients in the health, science and technology sectors in areas ranging from product liability defense and commercial litigation to intellectual property prosecution and litigation, environmental and toxic tort, privacy and data security, and regulatory counseling.

SOURCE Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.