James “Jim” Ickes focuses on commercial and regulatory litigation, and regulatory compliance. He has over 23 years of experience in litigation, including experience in all phases of litigation, from pre-complaint strategy through trial and appeal. He often works in highly regulated industries. Mr. Ickes has extensive experience defending companies in data breach incidents and cybersecurity matters. He has represented organizations in investigating data breaches, responding to regulatory inquiries relating to data breaches, and litigating lawsuits arising from data breaches. In defending companies in the wake of data breaches, Mr. Ickes leverages a deep understanding the technical intricacies of cybersecurity, as well as relationships with digital forensics experts, to construct robust defenses customized in each instance to the unique characteristics of the client, the data breach, and affected persons.

In addition to his information security and privacy practice, Mr. Ickes assists clients in proactively mitigating cyber risks through comprehensive information security programs tailored to their industry’s standards.

Mr. Ickes is a HCISPP (Healthcare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner) and builds HIPAA compliance programs for his clients in the healthcare and medical cannabis industries. Mr. Ickes’ comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of these sectors enables him to provide relevant clients with invaluable guidance on maintaining privacy and security standards in ever-evolving legal and regulatory landscapes.

Mr. Ickes worked with ISC2 (a top cybersecurity credentialing organization) on exam development for its certifications.

Mr. Ickes multi-disciplinary background enables him to provide well-rounded counsel on data protection mandates, incident response strategies, and dispute resolution.

Mr. Ickes has a particularly deep interest in emerging industries and technologies, including legalized cannabis and blockchain.

Honors and Professional Affiliations

• Former President, Portage County Bar Association, 2010-2011.
• Former Adjunct Professor, Hiram College where he taught business law in 2009, 2010, and 2012.
• Recipient, Community Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award, 2007.
• Member, Ohio State Bar Association.
• Member, Akron Bar Association.