NEW YORK - Dec. 16, 2015 - The National Law Journal recently recognized Francoise Gilbert, Barry Richard, and Mark P. Schnapp from international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, in its annual Trailblazers series. The publication also recognized Obiamaka P. Madubuko as a Regulatory & Compliance Trailblazer, and Kerri L. Barsh and David Mandelbaum were recognized as Energy and Environmental Trailblazers, earlier in 2015
Gilbert, a shareholder in the firm’s Silicon Valley office, is recognized as a “Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Trailblazer” for the influence her career has had in the information privacy and security industry for the past 25 years. In 1990, she published a ground breaking analysis of the then-existing laws governing cybersecurity breaches. In 1992, she became involved in emerging health security and privacy issues in the use of technology for telemedicine services and, throughout the subsequent decade, she contributed to the drafting of several federal and state bills that were the predecessors of The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
As the industry has evolved, so has Gilbert’s practice. As a practicing attorney, she advises public companies, emerging technology businesses, and nonprofit organizations, on the entire spectrum of domestic and foreign privacy and cyber legal issues. In addition, Gilbert is the author of the leading two-volume treatise "Global Privacy and Security Law," which covers in depth the privacy and data protection laws of 68 countries across all continents.
Richard, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Tallahassee office, is recognized as a “Litigation Trailblazer” by the National Law Journal. Richard received this award in recognition of his work significantly shaping election and ethics law. Over the past three decades, he has argued many important constitutional cases and tried multiple bet-the-company cases. Richard recently represented long-time client The Florida Bar in the U.S. Supreme Court case Williams-Yulee v. The Florida Bar, successfully defending the Florida judicial canon prohibiting judicial candidates from directly soliciting campaign contributions. This case is Richard’s fourth time – and fourth win – arguing before the Court.
In addition, Richard is widely recognized for representing President George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election litigation in which he managed 46 lawsuits and argued several critical cases as lead counsel for Bush that might have changed the election result. Throughout his career, Richard has also successfully represented numerous government officials in connection with significant issues of scope of government powers, separation of powers, and ethics.
Schnapp, co-chair of the firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense Practice, is listed as a National Law Journal “White Collar Trailblazer.” He is recognized for his ability to craft unique strategic approaches in working with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other agencies as an advocate for his roster of major multinational clients often involved in inter-agency ethics and corruption investigations. Schnapp, based in Miami, has 40 years of litigation experience, including seven years at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, where he was Chief of the Criminal Division. Concentrating his practice on white collar criminal matters and advising major companies in complex investigations, he has handled numerous jury and non-jury trials.
Recently, Schnapp’s successful representation of Atkins North America (f/k/a PBSJ) Corporation in defense of both a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and DOJ investigation achieved a declination from DOJ and the second ever Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Deferred Prosecution Agreement from the SEC on Jan. 21, 2015. Following the Atkins investigation, government officials went so far as to use the company’s remediation presentations as an example to others of how to make a presentation for lenience, and touted the resolution to explain the benefits of corporate cooperation.
Madubuko, based in New York, is recognized for her innovative work in government investigations, white-collar crime, and complex civil litigation with a focus on the compliance and regulatory space. One of her more recent matters includes her work in Kyrgyzstan, where Madubuko worked with government stakeholders to reduce public sector corruption by implementing a national anti-corruption strategy. Barsh, based in Miami, is recognized for her pioneering work in floating infrastructure, which included her 2012 argument before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a landmark admiralty jurisdiction matter. The Court’s decision in January 2013 to treat Barsh’s client’s floating home as real estate made larger projects within the industry a reality. Mandelbaum, based in Philadelphia, received this recognition for his Superfund work. His contributions to one of the largest contaminated sediment sites in the nation altered the U.S. government’s enforcement strategy. Barsh and Mandelbaum are co-chairs of the firm’s Environmental Practice.