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Law Firms Hit By Major Data Breaches
4 Sep
Summary
- Two prominent U.S. law firms experienced data breaches recently.
- Breaches involved unauthorized access to client files and personal data.
- Law firms have notified law enforcement about the incidents.
Two major U.S. law firms, Quinn Emanuel and McDermott, recently disclosed significant data breaches, prompting investigations and notifications to law enforcement. The incidents underscore the increasing vulnerability of law firms that handle confidential client and personal data.
Quinn Emanuel confirmed on August 25 that a breach occurred less than two weeks prior, on August 14. The firm stated that an unauthorized third party gained access through social engineering, compromising a single software application via a temporarily affected user account. A limited number of client documents were impacted, and affected parties were informed.
McDermott also reported a breach last week, affecting Social Security numbers and health data among its files. The firm described the incident as isolated, involving social engineering targeting a single user and a small number of documents. McDermott has stated that the matter is resolved and systems are secure.
These events follow a pattern of cyberattacks against legal institutions. At least three other firms, including Herbert Smith Freehills, Kramer, and Goodwin Procter, disclosed breaches in the preceding month. WilmerHale also faced a proposed class action lawsuit in July following a data breach.
