William J. Roberts

Partner

F: (860) 881 2431
Overview Insights News Education and Credentials Recognition and Community

Overview

William "Bill" Roberts, co-chair of the Data Privacy, Protection and Litigation practice, assists clients in developing and implementing data security systems and processes and negotiates vendor agreements that minimize the risk of data theft, piracy, hacking and ransomware attacks. He has advised manufacturers, retailers, media and technology companies, software and mobile app developers, educational institutions and other organizations on technology transactions, including the development and launch of new technology products and services. Bill has extensive, practical experience counseling clients worldwide on all aspects of cybersecurity protection and incident response, from handling data breaches affecting millions of individuals, to helping publicly traded corporations, privately held businesses and not-for-profit organizations establish compliance programs under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and related U.S. federal and state data privacy and consumer protection regimes. He has represented clients in hundreds of national and international data breach matters of all sizes and involving consumer and proprietary business information.

In the face of a suspected or actual data breach, Bill helps clients understand and comply with applicable reporting requirements and provides representation during investigations before or in connection with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Secret Service, the White House, U.S. attorney's office, state attorneys general and state departments of insurance. Among recent high-profile, broad impact matters, Bill counseled a U.K. company that suffered a global data breach and represented the target of one of the largest-known HIPAA "business associate" breaches by helping the client to avoid any penalties.

Bill is a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), and certified as an Information Privacy Professional/US (CIPP/US) and Information Privacy Manager (CIPM). His experience spans the gamut of privacy laws and regulations, including HIPPA/HITECH; Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB); Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TPA); EU General Data Protection (GDPR); New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) Cybersecurity Regulation; Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA); Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA); California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA); and Biometrics.

Bill is a prolific writer and speaker, and has presented at numerous national conferences, including the National HIPAA Summit, the Health Care Compliance Association's National Meeting, the MAGI Clinical Research Conference and the Association of Boarding Schools Annual Conference. He is also regularly sought-out by the media for his perspectives on state and national issues and has been quoted in, among others, Forbes and the Huffington Post.

Bill has been recognized for his work as counsel to businesses and organizations nationwide. He is a Fellow of Information Privacy with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), the recipient of multiple privacy certifications. He is ranked in Chambers USA* (Chambers and Partners), which quotes clients who recommend him "for his expertise in privacy and data security." Chambers USA* also notes that he is "sought out for his handling of data breach investigations" and "GDPR and HIPAA compliance." Bill is also the recipient of both the Distinguished Leaders Award and the James W. Cooper Fellowship from the Connecticut Bar Association.

* No aspect of these advertisements have been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.

Insights

News

Education and Credentials

Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D.,

cum laude, 2008

Colby College, B.A., magna cum laude, 2002
Admissions
State of Connecticut
Affiliations
International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2018-Present
Health Care Compliance Association, 2015-Present
Hartford InsurTech
American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Cyberspace Committee, 2014-Present
American Bar Association, Health Law Section, Data Breach Notification Working Group, 2013
Connecticut Bar Association, 2008-Present
American Bar Association, Business Law Section Fellow, 2014-2015
Connecticut Bar Foundation, James W. Cooper Fellow
International Association of Privacy Professionals, Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), 2019

Recognition and Community

Recognition

Recipient of WealthBriefing WealthTech Americas's Thought Leadership (US) Award by ClearView Financial Media, 2023

Recipient of the Distinguished Leaders Award by the Connecticut Legal Awards, Connecticut Law Tribune, 2022

Chosen for inclusion in the Chambers USA Legal Directory (Chambers & Partners), of recognized practitioners for Healthcare in Connecticut, 2020-2023

Awarded certification as an Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2019

Awarded certification as an Information Privacy Professional/US (CIPP/US) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2018

Selected to the list 40 Under Forty, Hartford Business Journal, 2018

Selected to the list of Connecticut Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), Rising Star, Health Care, 2008-2017

Chosen for inclusion in the Pro Bono Honor Roll, Connecticut Bar Association, 2011-2014

Selected to the Pro Bono Partnership Volunteer Honor Roll, 2014

Selected to the New Leader of the Law, Connecticut Law Tribune, 2013

No aspect of these advertisements have been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.