Kimberly A. Verska

Ms. Verska concentrates her practice on corporate and technology transactions as well as regulatory issues, particularly in the arena of data privacy and security.

A major component of Ms. Verska’s practice centers upon technology transactions.  She represents a wide variety of providers of SaaS platforms, other types of software and professional services in transactions with counterparties ranging from the largest multinational financial institutions to consumers.  Many of these transactions are cross-border, with the full panoply of regulatory and contractual issues presented in such settings.  She has particular expertise in issues related to resale of hardware, managed services and other licensed technology.  Key industries and areas of focus have included financial services and supply chain finance, as well as e-commerce enablement for medium and small businesses.

Ms. Verska has also been practicing in the area of cross-border data privacy and security law since the advent of the EU Data Directive more than 20 years ago.  On an everyday basis, she now advises clients large and small on compliance with global privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Privacy Shield program.  She has been certified as an Information Privacy Professional (US) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals.  Her particular areas of experience in US privacy law include compliance with COPPA, FCRA, FACTA, CAN-SPAM, Gramm Leach Bliley, TCPA and HIPAA, as well as state laws with respect to data breach and data sharing (including the California Consumer Privacy Act).  Her key industries and clients for this area of practice include B2B service providers, mass-market consumer websites, auto manufacturers, service providers to healthcare providers and plans, and digital advertising platforms.

As a member of the firm’s Government, Regulatory and Compliance team, Ms. Verska also has experience advising clients in a wide range of regulated areas beyond the area of data privacy and security, including online auctions, consumer payments (including blockchain-enabled systems), and OFAC/SDN compliance.  She serves as outsourced general counsel to numerous small businesses, as well as multi-million dollar enterprises that value having an affordable solution to their legal needs short of hiring in-house counsel.

Ms. Verska’s approach to her legal work is informed by her experience managing fast-growing and innovative law firms like CM Law, where she currently serves as the Managing Partner of the Atlanta office.  Since 2005, she has been part of the management team of two such firms that have grown from their inception to over 70 attorneys during her tenure.  Her experience in this entrepreneurial setting gives her a rare perspective that contributes to her ability to provide clients with legal advice calibrated to their size and budget.  She prides herself on identifying and addressing key risks — instead of treatise-writing or similar efforts resulting in needlessly high legal expenses – and concise communications tailored to busy C-suite executives.

Awards & Recognitions

• Certified Information Privacy Professional (US) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals
• AV Preeminent® Rating in the Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory
• Recognized by her peers as a Best Lawyer® in Privacy & Data Security, 2018- present

Selected Presentations & Publications
Ms. Verska is an influential leader in her field and has been featured numerous times in CIO Magazine and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution with respect to the special considerations in managing a cloud-based law firm.  In the area of data security and privacy, she has authored and co-authored numerous articles on the laws of foreign jurisdictions relating to data privacy and e-commerce appearing in publications such as The Computer & Internet Lawyer and GigaLaw.com. In 2019, she was featured in Automotive News on the subject of data privacy for automobile owners, and in SC Magazine regarding cybersecurity risk in the C-suite.  She is a frequent speaker concerning evolving legal issues for the technology industry and other businesses.

Interesting Facts
As a linguistics major in college, Ms. Verska loves foreign languages. She can easily return to conversational ability in Russian, German and Spanish after short periods of immersion.  Ms. Verska is also happy to share her stories of working in Moscow in the late 80’s at the American Embassy and elsewhere – she is fairly certain that she is the only corporate attorney in Atlanta who once made a report to the CIA about an attempt by the KGB to compromise her!