Cognetti, Maria P.

As a member of both the Privacy and Data Security practice group and the Technology, Media & IP practice group, Eric advises corporations, healthcare providers and other entities on compliance with state and federal data breach notification laws and identity theft regulations.  This includes counseling with respect to responding to breaches of sensitive personal information and/or protected health information, establishing written information security programs, crafting identity theft prevention programs pursuant to the FTC's Red Flag Rules and maintaining the security of personal health information pursuant to HIPAA and HITECH.  Eric has also advised clients on regulatory investigations arising from data breaches, including investigations by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the U.S. Department of Education and various State Attorneys General.   

Additionally, Eric has defended clients in computer security and privacy actions under various Federal Laws, including The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and The Stored Communications Act.  He has also handled numerous litigation matters concerning software and website development and represented consultants and software developers in complex actions involving the design and implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning/Management software.  He has also represented numerous clients in copyright infringement matters and trade secret claims.   

Eric brings a unique technology expertise and perspective to his practice pursuant to his background as an Information Technology professional for both a Fortune 500 Company and a large media/publishing enterprise, designing and administering complex computer systems. He is also a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

In 1984 Eric graduated from Muhlenberg College, where he received his B.A. in Business Administration and then attended Villanova University School of Law and received his J.D. in 1987.