Overview
John is a member of the Constangy Cyber Team and is based in Indianapolis, IN.
He regularly defends clients in a variety of complex and high-stakes privacy and cyber-related litigation, including class action data breach suits, wire fraud litigation, and employee data theft actions. John’s experience includes defending both class actions and single-plaintiff cases alleging violations of various state and federal data privacy-related statutes in both state and federal courts across the U.S.
John counsels businesses facing investigations and suits brought by state attorney generals related to data breaches and other business practices. He works diligently with clients to defend their interests and strives to resolve these matters with regulators in a manner favorable to his clients.
John also provides proactive compliance advisory services by helping organizations navigate the evolving legal landscape of data privacy and security. He advises clients on a wide range of state and federal privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and other state and federal privacy laws.
John uses his depth of complex litigation experience to guide clients away from liability via policies and data privacy and security-related agreements. He brings experience drafting privacy policies to help businesses communicate their practices to consumers and analyzing contracts to address privacy and cybersecurity issues related to collecting and processing information.
John is a Certified Information Privacy Professional for U.S. law (CIPP/US) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
Honors & Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America® for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants (2024-2026)
- "Lawyer of the Year" for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, Indianapolis for The Best Lawyers in America® (2025)
- Indianapolis Bar Foundation Distinguished Fellow, 2019
Credentials
Education
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- J.D., 2001
- Indiana International & Comparative Law Review
- Student Note Published, 11 IND. INT’L & COMP. L. REV. 115 (2000)
Indiana University Bloomington
- B.S. in Environmental Science
Professional & Civic Associations
Civic
- St. Mark’s United Methodist Church
- Trustees President (2022)
- Trustees Committee (2020-2022)
- Stafford Place Board of Directors (2016-2023)
- Joy’s House, a non-profit adult daycare organization in Indianapolis
- Board of Directors (2013-2016)
- Board adviser and chair of the Governance Committee
(2009-2016)
- Indianapolis Bar Association
- Ask a lawyer and Legal Line volunteer (2006-2012)
Professional
- Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity (IECC)
- Advisory member (2019-present)
- Personally Identifiable Information Working Group (2019-present)
- International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
- Indianapolis KnowledgeNet Chapter co-chair (2020-2021)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Privacy SLG, vice chair (2019)
- Data Management and E-Discovery SLG
- InfraGard
- Indianapolis Bar Association
- E-Discovery, Information Governance & Cybersecurity Steering Committee
- Georgia Bar Association
- Privacy & Technology section
Certifications
- Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) for United States law (US) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
- Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
Admissions
- Georgia, 2001
- Indiana, 2002
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."
Robert Collier