Information security and privacy lawyer Ronald Plesco joins DLA Piper's Intellectual Property and Technology practice as a partner in Philadelphia

DLA Piper announced today that Ronald Plesco has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice as a partner in Philadelphia.

Plesco, a former prosecutor, is an internationally known information security and privacy attorney with more than 20 years of experience in cyber investigations, privacy, threat intelligence, information assurance, identity management, cyber threats and cyber-enabled frauds, data analytics and artificial intelligence. Plesco joins DLA Piper from KPMG LLP, where he was a partner and national leader in the Cyber Security Services practice. His clients there represent the top global retail, financial, manufacturing, automotive, technology, communications, defense, life sciences and private equity corporations. He previously served as CEO of the National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA), where he managed the development of intelligence that led to more than 400 worldwide cybercrime arrests in four years and prevented over $2 billion in fraud.

“Ron brings a deep understanding of cybersecurity and forensics to our data privacy practice, and his skillset and experience is unparalleled,” said Ann Ford, global co-chair and US chair of DLA Piper’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice. “As US and international privacy and security requirements grow increasingly complex, clients will find tremendous value in Ron’s knowledge of the regulatory and technical risks they face, as well as the compliance measures needed to mitigate them.”

“The demand for data privacy legal advice and data security services continues to grow dramatically as companies struggle to identify and respond to the rapidly evolving landscape of data-related risk,” said Andrew Serwin, US chair and global co-chair of the firm’s Cybersecurity and Data Protection, Privacy and Security practices. “The addition of Ron to our team will enable us to deliver a sought-after suite of legal, advisory, assessment and risk management services to clients seeking to protect themselves from cybersecurity threats.”

Plesco is the latest addition to bolster the firm’s growing privacy and cybersecurity capabilities. The firm has also welcomed partners Marius Domokos and Michael Hazzard in Washington, DC, Scott Weber in New York and Edward McAndrew in Wilmington, as well as Serwin in San Diego, since early 2019.

Plesco previously served under Governor Tom Ridge as the Director of Public Safety Policy for Pennsylvania. Immediately after 9/11, he was also selected to serve as chair of the Cyber Attacks Committee for the Pennsylvania Homeland Security Council. Plesco also supported Secretary Tom Ridge at the US Department of Homeland Security in the development and deployment of the National Cyber Security Division, US-CERT, TSA Secure Flight and US-VISIT programs. He received his J.D. from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and his B.A. from Washington and Jefferson College.