Robert Stines is a Partner in the Litigation Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. Mr. Stines was a Partner at Freeborn & Peters, which combined with SGR in 2023.
Mr. Stines is a trusted advisor in the areas of cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, cyber insurance, e-discovery, and emerging technologies.
Mr. Stines counsels clients in a range of industry sectors on privacy and data security compliance, information governance, digital marketing, and emerging technology issues. He conducts risk assessments, drafts and reviews contracts, develops company information policies, and analyzes the impact of pending privacy and security laws on company operations. He advises clients on compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. In mergers and acquisitions, clients rely on him to assist with privacy and data protection due diligence. He regularly assists clients with cyber-insurance related matters.
Mr. Stines also represents clients in a variety of litigation matters including data breach class actions, fraudulent transfers of funds, business email compromise, contract, and insurance lawsuits. He has handled every stage of litigation from pre-suit negotiations, discovery, mediation, motion practice, trial, and appeal.
Through Mr. Stines’ training and education, he has gained intimate knowledge of the technical aspects of cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, and digital forensics. He has written articles analyzing the evolution of cyber law, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies and authored a chapter in the book, A Practical Guide to Cyber Insurance for Businesses (published by the American Bar Association). He also hosts a cyber law blog at techlawX.com (https://www.techlawx.com/).
With a reputation for championing innovation and creativity, Mr. Stines provides 21st-century legal service that continuously evolves to keep pace with the ever-changing business landscape.
Mr. Stines earned his B.F.A. from New York University, his Master of Science in Cybersecurity from the University of South Florida, and his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, magna cum laude, Law Review.
Federal Bar Association
American Bar Association (Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Committee)
Hillsborough County Bar Association
Author, “Retail and Consumer Products,” A Practical Guide to Cyber Insurance for Businesses 429, (Lauren D Godfrey et al. eds, ABA Book Publishing 2022).
Moderator, “NextGen Privacy: Going Beyond PHI and PII,” ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Annual Section Conference (April 27, 2022).
Presenter, “Cybersecurity Law Webinar: Reasonable measures to protect data… but what does that mean?” (ISC)² Tampa Bay Chapter (October 30, 2021).
Author, “What to Know About Florida’s Telephone Solicitation Act” Freeborn & Peters LLP (October 8, 2021).
Panelist, “What Happens After You Give Your Client’s iPhone to a Forensic Investigator?” Federal Bar Association 2021 Annual Meeting and Convention (September 24, 2021).
Presenter, “Welcome to the Cyber-Age: New Territory for Insurance Professionals,” Florida Association of Insurance Agents Convention 2021 (June 17, 2021).
Author, “Paper Discovery is Dead (Or Soon To Be),” Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine (May, 2021).
Author, “Think About Digital Forensics When You Conduct E-Discovery,” Today’s General Counsel (December 27, 2020).
Panelist, “The Legal and Personal Financial Risks of Cyber Breaches,” Workers’ Compensation Institute Cybersecurity Forum 2020 (September 16, 2020).
Author, “Client Alert: Five Cyber Issues Companies Should Consider in the Midst of COVID-19,” Freeborn & Peters LLP (March 23, 2020).
Panelist, “Managing Risk at the Intersection of Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and Business,” American Bar Association’s Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Conference (March 6, 2020).
Author, “Florida Consumer Data Privacy Act: A law that recognizes privacy rights in the information age,” Freeborn & Peters LLP (January 23, 2020).
Panelist, “Issues in Cyber Coverages for Law Firms and Their Clients Alike,” American Bar Association, TIPS Section Conference (May 1, 2019).
Author, “Blockchain 101: A Lawyer’s (Brief) Guide,” TortSource (Spring 2019).
Author, “Fla. Lawmakers Propose New Law to Address Companies’ Increasing Use of Biometrics,” Daily Business Review (April 1, 2019).
Author, “Client Alert: Florida Biometric Information Privacy Act: What It Could Mean For Your Business,” Freeborn & Peters LLP (February 26, 2019).
Author, “What Makes A Cyber Data Breach So Expensive?,” Corporate Compliance Insights, (December 18, 2018).
Author, “Virtual Reality Goes on Trial,” Communications of the ACM, (November 29, 2018).
Author, “‘Privacy’ Doesn’t Equal ‘Security’: The Importance of Knowing the Difference,” Corporate Compliance Insights, (November 21, 2018).
Author, “Professional Liability in Information Technology,” IT Business Net, (October 11, 2018).
Presenter, “Living in the Cyber-Age: Hackers, Computer Fraud Insurance, and Litigation,” Florida Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting (September 15, 2018).
Author, “Odd Laws Governing the Military,” Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine, (August 2015).
Author, “Computer fraud insurance in the cyberage,” Thomson Reuters Westlaw Journal Insurance, (July 13, 2018).
Panelist, “The Changing Landscape of Professional Liability,” Association for Corporate Growth Tampa (May 2, 2018).
Author, “Cyberclaims and litigation against insurance professionals,” Thomson Reuters Westlaw Journal Insurance Coverage, (March 2, 2018).
