Legal Industry

Corporate Cyber Security

Recent Cyber Attacks

  • Kirkland & Ellis, K&L Gates and Proskauer Rose. In July 2023, these three large law firms were targeted in a ransomware attack by the group Clop. The attack compromised the firms’ email systems and encrypted their data. The firms were forced to pay a ransom to the attackers in order to regain access to their data.
  • Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo. In February 2023, this large law firm in San Francisco was hit by a data breach that exposed the personal information of over 100,000 clients. The breach was caused by a phishing attack that allowed the attackers to gain access to employee email accounts.
  • Fenwick & West. In January 2023, this large law firm in Silicon Valley was hit by a data breach that exposed the personal information of over 70,000 clients. The breach was caused by a security vulnerability in the firm’s website.
  • Horvitz & Levy. In December 2022, this small law firm in Los Angeles was hit by a ransomware attack that encrypted its data. The firm was forced to pay a ransom to the attackers in order to regain access to its data.
  • Greer & Cohn. In November 2022, this small law firm in San Diego was hit by a data breach that exposed the personal information of over 50,000 clients. The breach was caused by a security vulnerability in the firm’s computer systems.
  • Littler Mendelson. In October 2022, this large law firm in San Francisco was hit by a data breach that exposed the personal information of over 40,000 clients. The breach was caused by a security vulnerability in the firm’s cloud-based document management system.
  • Stolen data: Law firms handle a lot of sensitive data, including clientPII, financial information, and intellectual property. This data is a valuable target for cybercriminals, who can sell it on the dark web or use it to commit identity theft or fraud.
  • Ransomware attacks: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands a ransom payment in order to decrypt them. Law firms are a prime target for ransomware attacks because they are often willing to pay the ransom in order to get their files back quickly.
  • Phishing attacks: Phishing is a type of social engineering attack that involves sending emails or text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source. The emails or text messages often contain a link that, when clicked, installs malware on the victim’s computer. Law firms are a prime target for phishing attacks because they often have employees who are not familiar with cybersecurity best practices.
  • Data breaches: A data breach is an incident in which sensitive data is exposed to unauthorized individuals. Law firms are at risk of data breaches due to the large amount of sensitive data they handle.
  • Compliance: Law firms are subject to a number of cybersecurity regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). These regulations can be complex and expensive to comply with, and they can add to the cybersecurity challenges faced by law firms.
  • The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR is a European Union regulation that applies to all organizations that process the personal data of individuals located in the European Union. The GDPR requires organizations to implement a number of security measures to protect personal data, including:
    • Conducting a data protection impact assessment
    • Implementing appropriate technical and organizational security measures
    • Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data
    • Providing individuals with the right to access, rectify, erase, and restrict the processing of their personal data
  • The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). SOX is a federal law that applies to public companies and their auditors. SOX requires public companies to implement a number of internal controls, including controls over information technology. These controls are designed to prevent fraud and protect the integrity of financial data.
  • The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). GLBA is a federal law that applies to financial institutions. GLBA requires financial institutions to protect the security and confidentiality of customer information, including personal financial information.
  • The Cybersecurity Act of 2015. The Cybersecurity Act of 2015 is a federal law that requires critical infrastructure entities, including law firms, to develop and implement cybersecurity plans.
  • State laws. In addition to federal laws, law firms may also be subject to cybersecurity requirements imposed by state laws.

The Law Firm was struggling with common cybersecurity threats that haunt the legal industry. Their challenges encapsulated threats like ransomware, phishing, insider threats, and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) aiming to steal highly confidential client data.

Problem

The Law Firm experienced an uptick in unauthorized login attempts and spear-phishing campaigns targeting senior partners. They needed a security overhaul to protect their critical infrastructure from cyber threats, comply with stringent industry regulations, and maintain client trust.

Solution

We initiated a multi-pronged approach to address these threats:

  1. User Behavior Analytics (UBA): We implemented UBA to identify anomalous behavior and potential insider threats.
  2. Data Loss Prevention (DLP):: We deployed a DLP strategy to prevent sensitive information from leaving their secure network.
  3. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)Security Awareness Training: : SIEM implementation enabled real-time analysis of security alerts, giving the law firm the ability to respond promptly to potential threats.
  4. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): To mitigate phishing attempts, we introduced MFA across all digital touchpoints, ensuring only authorized individuals had access to the firm’s sensitive information.
  5. Incident Response and Recovery Planning: We established a robust plan to respond to and recover from any potential breaches, minimizing downtime and mitigating damage to the firm’s reputation.

Result

After the implementation of our customized cybersecurity measures the Law Firm X reported a 75% reduction in security alerts and a 90% decrease in successful phishing attempts. More importantly, the firm now operates with a robust cybersecurity defense, aligning with industry standards and maintaining the trust of their esteemed clientele.