Mr. Cole is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) who represents organizations of every size and in every industry in their data security and privacy legal issues. His work includes: (1) advising on regulatory compliance with U.S. federal and state data security and privacy laws; (2) serving as legal counsel to provide 24/7 emergency response in the event of a data security incident, such as a ransomware attack, data breach, wire transfer fraud, or extortion demand; and (3) defending organizations in litigation of data security and privacy claims, including class action data breach cases, technology errors and omissions claims, and enforcement actions and investigations by government regulators. Mr. Cole is a recognized industry leader in this field of law and was honored in 2019 by The National Law Journal as a "Georgia Trailblazer" for Data Security & Privacy Law.
Mr. Cole is also a leading attorney in Labor & Employment, having been recognized multiple times as a Georgia "Super Lawyer" and Benchmark Litigation "Labor & Employment Star." He represents businesses and local governments in all aspects of employment law and litigation, including (1) discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims under Title VII and other state and federal discrimination laws; (2) wage and hour claims and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act; and (3) trade secret and restrictive covenant claims like non-compete, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure agreements. Mr. Cole also has extensive experience defending local governments in employment litigation under § 1983 for alleged violation of public employees’ constitutional rights. Beyond litigation, Mr. Cole serves as outside counsel to business owners, human resources professionals, and in-house counsel on issues ranging from the preparation of personnel policies, employment contracts, arbitration agreements, and severance agreements, to advice and counseling on day-to-day employment law issues.
Mr. Cole is a frequent author and speaker on Employment Law and Data Security & Privacy Law issues. He speaks on a national basis at industry and insurance-related conferences, has been featured on television, and quoted in multiple publications for his expertise within his practice areas. He has received a number of accolades, including his selection three times as a Georgia Super Lawyers "Rising Star" by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine, being honored as a 2019 "Georgia Trailblazer" by The National Law Journal for his work in the area of Data Security & Privacy Law, and in 2021 being selected as both a “Litigation Rising Star” and “Labor & Employment Star” by Benchmark Litigation. Mr. Cole currently is the President-Elect of the Atlanta Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and serves as General Counsel and an Executive Committee member of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Cole received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington, magna cum laude, with a concentration in Computer Information Systems. He then received his Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he was a member of the National Moot Court team and Student Trial Bar, and was selected to the National Order of Barristers.