The legal industry is famously fast-paced and constantly evolving. We sat down with Jason Kravitz, leader of the Cybersecurity & Privacy practice, to learn his team’s secret for exceptional client service, his tricks of the trade, and his advice for early-career attorneys navigating their professional development.
Describe your leadership philosophy when guiding your practice group.
I want the members of my practice group to feel a sense of belonging and purpose. The Privacy team is unique in that our members are not all connected by a common practice area or discipline (we have privacy lawyers, art lawyers, trade secret lawyers, a licensing specialist, and general commercial litigators). I believe our practice’s diversity is our greatest asset because no one practices law in a vacuum; lawyers need to be familiar with other areas of the law.
I also think it’s important for everyone in my practice group to stay abreast of developments and trends within the overall economy. I urge our team members to read publications daily to understand the business world and market forces impacting our clients. Great client service is a mindset. We lead with curiosity and treat every client challenge like it’s our own.
What concerns or questions are you hearing most often from clients right now?
Clients are hyper-focused on how to prepare for and respond to a data breach. They look to us to help them implement practical cybersecurity policies and procedures that will help them navigate a cyberattack and recover as quickly as possible.
On the compliance side, clients continue to struggle with the constantly changing landscape of privacy law and data protection regulations. We partner with clients to balance compliance with state and federal privacy requirements with the need to run a profitable business.
Finally, clients are noting the emergence of new AI opportunities in the legal space and are interested in how this technology will help manage the cost of litigation, particularly for complex cases. Of course, human intervention is still necessary to assess the performance and relevance of any new technology, especially as we tailor services to meet the specific needs of clients. Our teams are always looking for ways to enhance our efficiency with the assistance of AI and other software tools.
What professional quality has been most instrumental to your success, and how does this translate to better client service?
Ownership. When you take on a case—whether you are a junior associate or a seasoned partner—you have to own your role. Approach it the way you would want an attorney to handle your case if you were the client. Their problems should become your problems. That mindset builds trust and accountability and leads to favorable outcomes—as does hard work, which is very much a key part of our ethos.
What's one piece of advice you'd give to attorneys just starting their legal careers?
You’re going to make a lot of mistakes; it’s part of learning. Don’t let those mistakes define you. What matters most is how you respond. Acknowledge them, learn from them, and let them fuel your development as an attorney.
The most successful attorneys are defined by their ability to adapt, improve, and stay committed to delivering their best. Let that define you.
What podcasts are you currently listening to?
I just finished listening to To Catch a Thief: China’s Rise to Cyber Supremacy, a great podcast series by Nicole Perlroth, a former NYT reporter. I highly recommend it. I don’t know if you know this, but Jenny Holmes and I host a video series called A Little Privacy, Please! We’ve had some great guests—some real academic stars, cybersecurity experts, and thought leaders from around the world. We would love to have Nicole Perlroth on if she’s interested.
