Baker Donelson

This month, we're celebrating our annual Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year Awards, honoring attorneys throughout the Firm for their Pro Bono work. Today, we recognize Ben Janke, our New Orleans Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. #probonomonth Mr. Janke was recognized for his long-time involvement with the Pro Bono Project in New Orleans, which provides free legal services to underserved members of the community. Throughout his entire career, Mr. Janke has dedicated time and talent to address needs in the area of family law, including regularly handling family law matters through the Pro Bono Project, hosting several CLE panels on family law, and overseeing dozens of pro bono cases in the New Orleans office.

Baker Donelson has added Kevin Baltz, an experienced business counselor and trial attorney, to its Commercial Litigation Group. Marcus Maples, chair of Baker Donelson's Commercial Litigation Group, said, "Kevin is known for being a problem solver and achieving the best possible outcome for his clients. He brings those skills and significant experience in dispute resolution to every matter he handles. We're proud to welcome him to our team of attorneys who are committed to the effective, goal-oriented representation of clients' interests across the nation." Mr. Baltz, who joins as a shareholder in the Firm's Nashville office, litigates complex commercial disputes in a variety of industries, including real estate, health care, manufacturing, construction, and finance. He has tried cases in state and federal courts, the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He was previously a partner with Butler Snow, where he most recently served as practice group leader for the Commercial Litigation Group. "I was drawn to join Baker Donelson because of its strong leadership, deep bench of talented professionals, and the stability that comes with being part of a well-established institution," said Mr. Baltz. "There is real momentum in terms of the Firm's growth and strategic vision, and I look forward to contributing and being a part of that." Allen Roberts, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Nashville office, added, "As a native Nashvillian, Kevin has long been an active and respected member of not only the Nashville legal community but the Nashville community at large. We're extremely pleased to add someone of his reputation and caliber. He exemplifies the high-level talent we are proud to offer our clients as we continue to expand our team of professionals in this market." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eSt5QUP5

Sheila Burke, the chair of Baker Donelson's Government Relations and Public Policy Group, has been recognized by the University of San Francisco with two prestigious alumni awards: the Public Service Award and the School of Nursing and Health Professions Legacy Award. Ms. Burke was honored during CelebrateUSF, the school's annual alumni weekend, which was held October 17 – 20. A 1973 graduate of the University of San Francisco, where she earned her B.S. in nursing, Ms. Burke also holds an M.P.A. from Harvard University. She served for 19 years on Capitol Hill. Early in her career, she was a member of the staff of the Senate Finance Committee responsible for legislation relating to Medicare, Medicaid, and other health programs. Ms. Burke ultimately became Deputy Staff Director of the Finance Committee, then she went on to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and later as his Chief of Staff. In 1995, she was elected as Secretary of the Senate, the chief administrative officer of the United States Senate. Ms. Burke also served from 2000 to 2007 as a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). In addition to her government experience, Ms. Burke served as the deputy secretary and chief operating officer of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum and research complex. She was also a faculty member at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she taught a number of health policy courses and served as executive dean. Read more: https://lnkd.in/exNeXriG

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated a proposed class action by Michael Salazar against a professional sports organization on October 15, 2024, alleging violations of the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA). The decision clarifies key aspects of the VPPA, specifically regarding what it means to be a "subscriber of goods or services" under the Act, and broadens the scope of potential VPPA claims against commercial websites. The Second Circuit's decision is notable in that it signals a reversal of the recent trend of dismissals of VPPA claims in courts across the country and could trigger a significant increase in VPPA lawsuits. Although organizations have grappled with VPPA claims for several years, this decision is another red flag to organizations to take immediate steps and ensure compliance with privacy laws to mitigate the risks of VPPA claims. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eKvyiDii By Aldo M. Leiva and Alex Koskey, CIPP/US, CIPP/E, PCIP

This month, we're celebrating our annual Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year Awards, honoring attorneys throughout the Firm for their Pro Bono work. Today, we recognize Tom Aumann, our Nashville Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. #probonomonth Mr. Aumann was recognized for his efforts as part of a team of Baker Donelson attorneys who secured asylum for a client from Afghanistan. The client, an English speaker, and accomplished musician, worked as a muralist and mural coordinator for a company that promotes ideals such as democracy and women's rights by creating murals in public areas. When the Taliban took over the Afghan government and implemented its strict, oppressive rule, the client feared he would be persecuted, and his life put in danger due to his beliefs and activities. After the client fled Afghanistan and was placed in Nashville, Mr. Aumann and his team helped the client complete his I-589 asylum application and prepare him for his asylum interview, leading to the client being granted asylum.

In this episode of the Everybody Leads podcast, Tim Lupinacci sits down with Sarah Duggan, the Executive Director of Wholesale Banking / Seniors Housing Healthcare Lending at Synovus. Sarah shares her leadership journey, her passion for the senior housing and healthcare sectors, and the importance of succession planning. She also discusses the importance of giving situations time to settle before making quick decisions. Find this episode and past episodes of Everybody Leads on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows: https://lnkd.in/gikmzMRV

Baker Donelson has added William Gruitza, Esq. CHC as of counsel in its Fort Lauderdale office, further strengthening the Firm's nationally recognized health care practice. Mr. Gruitza provides legal counsel to a diverse range of industry clients, including solo practitioners, physician groups, hospital systems, universities, laboratories, and durable medical equipment suppliers. He is certified in health care compliance by the Health Care Compliance Association and is a Florida Continuing Medical Education (CME) lecturer on medical ethics, law, and policy. His experience includes serving as in-house corporate compliance counsel with the Cleveland Clinic Florida and as the former chief compliance officer for one of Palm Beach County's premier regional medical centers. Michaela Poizner, chair of Baker Donelson's Health Law Group, said, "We are thrilled to welcome William to the Firm and the Group. His background in both private practice and in-house compliance roles will be an asset to our clients, and his extensive experience in health care transactions and regulatory compliance makes him a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to working closely with him to continue growing our practice and serving our clients." Mr. Gruitza's practice focuses on health care transactions, complex referral source arrangements, and regulatory compliance. He has extensive experience addressing federal health care program requirements, health care marketing, Medicare Part B, physician contracts, and group service agreements. His background includes designing, implementing, and managing large-scale ethics and compliance programs and successfully guiding clients through government and commercial payer audits, OIG self-disclosure protocols, and various administrative enforcement actions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/grFyYMdg

Baker Donelson shareholder Sara M. Turner has been elected Second Vice President of DRI. With more than 16,000 members, DRI is the largest international membership organization of attorneys defending the interests of businesses and individuals in civil litigation. DRI's national elections were held at the organization's annual meeting in Seattle, Washington, on October 16 – 18, 2024. "We are extremely proud of Sara's election to this prestigious role," said Baker Donelson Chair and CEO Tim Lupinacci. "This achievement is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the legal profession and her dedication to DRI. Sara has been an exceptional leader, and I am confident she will continue to serve the organization and its members with passion and excellence as Second Vice President." A shareholder in Baker Donelson's Birmingham, Alabama, office, Ms. Turner is committed to advancing the interests of her clients through her experience and innovative legal solutions. Serving as the chair of the Firm's Hospitality Industry Service Team, she proactively connects with in-house counsel and other professionals to exchange insights and promote growth. Ms. Turner said, "My dedication to the development and success of the civil defense bar has been a cornerstone of my career, and I look forward to continuing to serve DRI in my new role as Second Vice President." Ms. Turner's extensive involvement with DRI has spanned many years, including successful tenures as DRI's Secretary-Treasurer, a member of DRI's Board of Directors, and chair of both DRI's Retail and Hospitality and Technology Committees. She has refined her skills in managing a wide array of litigation claims, including hospitality, franchise, timeshare, human trafficking, product liability, drug and medical device, class action, and commercial litigation. She also excels at coordinating nationwide defense strategies for her clients, and when alternative dispute resolution methods fail, she skillfully represents clients before arbitrators, judges, and juries, leveraging her considerable trial experience and deep industry knowledge. #DRICommunity Read more: https://lnkd.in/dYttBppZ

This month, we're celebrating our annual Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year Awards, honoring attorneys throughout the Firm for their Pro Bono work. Today, we recognize Drew Hutchinson, our Johnson City Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. #probonomonth Mr. Hutchinson was honored for his ongoing efforts to help people through difficult housing and real property issues and with other legal challenges commonly experienced by seniors and people whose family members have disabilities. His work has included conservatorships, grant applications for home improvements, and basic estate planning. Mr. Hutchinson, who has twice been recognized for his service with Legal Aid of East Tennessee's Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award, also contributes to the ABA Free Legal Answers programs in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

In December 2021, Suffolk County, New York, experienced a significant cybersecurity breach that culminated in a ransomware attack in September 2022. The attack went undetected for months, allowing the attackers to install remote-access tools and steal sensitive files before encrypting the county's data. This incident, which cost taxpayers $25 million, serves as another data point about the vulnerability of IT systems, especially public ones. Governmental agencies are particularly vulnerable to ransomware attacks due to budget challenges and the high cost of downtime. However, governments are no different from other organizations in balancing the tension between the allocation of scarce budget resources to projects that drive revenue and profitability, as opposed to managing risk. The key lesson for any organization from the Suffolk County experience is clear: spend your budget to focus on the basics. Here are some important steps that organizations, especially municipal governments, can take to bolster their cybersecurity defenses: https://lnkd.in/e34UGQVz By Justin Daniels