Meet Zach
Zach is a shareholder on the firm’s Litigation, Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, and Technology & Digital Business teams. He chairs the Data and Technology Disputes practice group and is a member of the firm’s recruiting and ethics committees.
No business wants to deal with a cybersecurity breach or a complex technology dispute. But the reality is that it’s often unavoidable. Disputes are inevitable and have grown exponentially more common and complex as businesses integrate new technologies. And the prevailing attitude about the risk of a security incident is, quite simply, “not if, but when.”
Zach helps clients through these difficult—often crisis—situations with a steady hand, a depth of substantive and procedural knowledge, and a big-picture focus on getting to the best outcome. He’s successfully guided clients through active security breaches, post-breach notification, resulting disputes, and ultimately to business recovery. Zach’s litigation experience includes trial- and appeals-level work on high-stakes cases as varied as consumer class actions, prisoner civil rights claims, and complex business torts. He particularly enjoys working on cases involving the complex issues surrounding technology and data.
Zach earned a certificate in cybersecurity from UCLA and is Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2. He also holds the Certified Information Privacy Professional/US (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). Zach was selected to and served on Sedona Conference Working Group 11’s drafting group on the legality of ransomware payments under U.S. law.
Before joining Godfrey & Kahn, Zach spent nearly a half-decade clerking for U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller of the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Outside of work, Zach enjoys distance long-distance running and listening to and writing music. He is a former member and songwriter of several touring bands.
Education
Juris Doctor, Marquette University Law School, 2011, magna cum laude
Bachelor of Arts in English, Bellarmine University, 2008, cum laude
Activities
Bel Canto Chorus, Board Member
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block, Board Member
Godfrey & Kahn's Ethics Committee, Member
Godfrey & Kahn’s Recruiting Committee, Member
Marquette Law School’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition Moot Court teams, Coach
Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association’s Charles N. Clevert Mentorship Program, Past Mentor
Honors
Certified in Cybersecurity by (ISC)2
CIPM and CIPP/US certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
Named a 2019 "Up and Coming Lawyer" by Wisconsin Law Journal
Recognized by Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" (Appellate Practice, 2021 - present)
Am Law Litigator of the Week Runner-Up, (4th Circuit/Gruyere Case, March 2023)
Admitted To Practice
WisconsinCourt Admissions
United States Court of Appeals, Central District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
United States Supreme Court
Professional Associations
Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, International Association of Privacy Professionals, Seventh Circuit Bar Association, The Sedona Conference Working Group 11, Thomas E. Fairchild American Inn of CourtGuided many businesses through cybersecurity incidents, including the post-breach notification process, disputes, and recovery.
Advised clients on preparation of cybersecurity, data retention, and other technology-related policies.
Drafted and helped implement incident response plans, including simulations of the breach response process (tabletop exercises).
Represented U.S. dairy organizations and companies in opposing the attempted registration by Swiss and French organizations of GRUYERE as a certification mark in U.S., ultimately prevailing in a trial before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, subsequent district-court appeal, and additional appeal to the Fourth Circuit.
Successfully defended a publicly-traded company against a putative class of consumers alleging claims under the Telephone Consumer Privacy Act, resulting in a walk-away dismissal by the named plaintiff.
Prevailed on a motion to dismiss fraud and breach-of-contract claims brought by a purchaser following its acquisition of a large regional business, then obtained an affirmance of that dismissal on appeal.
Won summary judgment in one of the first pieces of wire-transfer-fraud litigation to reach a dispositive decision in Wisconsin.
Successfully opposed certiorari in cases pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In a complex business dispute with components in several different courts: defeated a motion for an anti-suit injunction filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery; obtained reinstatement of a breach of contract claim following discovery; and defeated a motion for summary judgment.
Both obtained and defended against requests for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions in multiple cases involving non-compete agreements and trade-secrets claims.
Prevailed in a pro bono appeal before the Seventh Circuit on behalf of an Illinois state prisoner alleging civil rights violations.
Won transfer of a case alleging false advertising and unfair trade practices, on the basis of a lack of personal jurisdiction, to a more favorable venue.
Compelled arbitration in a corporate governance dispute between majority and minority shareholders.
Settled multiple consumer-privacy, consumer-protection, and trade-practice claims, including putative class actions.