Cushing, Ann M.

Joe Cutler is an associate in the Litigation group and a member of the firm's Privacy & Security group. In addition to general litigation work, he counsels clients in three major areas of practice: consumer protection law, internet law and asbestos defense. Joe provides consumer protection compliance advice to companies regarding their obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and fair debt collections practices statutes. This practice focuses primarily on the protection and safeguarding of customer personal data.

Joe provides counsel to the firm's clients on a number of regulatory issues including CPNI compliance for wireless carriers, security breach notification advice and international advice regarding compliance with data protection laws abroad.

Joe specializes in international data transfer laws, helping companies that wish to transfer data across international boundaries to do so in compliance with transnational regulations. He assists clients in joining the U.S. Department of Commerce's EU Safe Harbor certification program and counsels them with respect to compliance with European Union Directives on privacy, data protection, eCommerce and electronic communications services. He also provides advice to companies regarding compliance with United States sanctions programs (OFAC).

Joe also works with a rapid response team to vigorously defend clients against illegal spamming, phishing, pretexting, and other forms of malicious internet behavior. Actions to prosecute individuals whose actions interfere with client Web sites or internet activity can include extensive Internet forensic work, cease-and-desist actions and formal litigation.

In addition, Joe defends Honeywell International Inc. against asbestos claims related to automotive friction products, managing the pre-trial matters for approximately twenty cases each year.

Pro Bono work is central to Joe's practice. He specializes in refugee/asylum law, representing asylum-seekers at all levels of the immigration process.