Sean Hoar and Lindsay Nickle Named to Cybersecurity Docket’s "Incident Response Elite" for 2026

Constangy is pleased to announce that Sean Hoar and Lindsay Nickle have once again been recognized by Cybersecurity Docket, in its "Incident Response Elite," an honor highlighting the leading lawyers in data breach response and cybersecurity incident management. Honorees were announced yesterday at a reception following the Incident Response Forum D.C. 2026, in which Sean Hoar joined a panel exploring considerations for engaging with law enforcement during a cyber incident.

The “Incident Response Elite” recognizes a select group of attorneys who are considered among the “best of the best” in advising organizations on high-stakes cybersecurity incidents, ransomware events, and complex data privacy challenges.

Sean and Lindsay are both key members of Constangy’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice, where they regularly advise clients on incident response, regulatory compliance, and litigation arising from data security events. They are frequently called upon to help organizations navigate rapidly evolving cyber threats and the legal and operational challenges that follow.

Cybersecurity Docket’s annual list is based on extensive research, nominations, and input from industry leaders, recognizing attorneys who are often the first call for companies responding to data breaches and other cybersecurity incidents.

Sean Hoar is a partner and chair of Constangy’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice, with more than 25 years of experience in data privacy, cybersecurity, and incident response. A former cyber attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Sean has worked closely with federal law enforcement agencies on complex cybercrime investigations and now leads a national team assisting organizations with data breach response, regulatory compliance, and cyber risk mitigation. He holds multiple industry-recognized certifications, including CISSP and CIPP/US, and is widely recognized for his leadership in the cybersecurity space.

Lindsay Nickle is a partner and vice chair of Constangy’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice, based in Dallas, where she advises organizations on data breach response, regulatory compliance, and cyber risk management. She has extensive experience managing large-scale and complex data security incidents, particularly in the healthcare sector, and regularly helps clients navigate obligations under frameworks such as HIPAA and PCI DSS. With a background as a trial attorney in healthcare and financial regulatory matters, Lindsay brings a practical, risk-focused perspective to incident response and compliance counseling.