Locke Lord Bolsters Midwest Presence With Additions of Transactional Insurance Partner J.P. Hong and Privacy and Cybersecurity Partner James Shreve in Chicago

(CHICAGO) July 31, 2024 – J.P. Hong and James Shreve have joined Locke Lord as Partners in the Firm’s Chicago office in the Regulatory and Transactional Insurance and Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Groups, respectively.

Joining Locke Lord from Sidley, Hong is an insurance lawyer focusing on a variety of corporate, securities and regulatory matters relating to the insurance and financial services industry. He represents sponsors, issuers, underwriters and investors in connection with insurance-linked securities offerings, corporates in connection with their captive insurance and reinsurance programs and financial institutions in connection with stable value transactions.

“J.P.’s vast international insurance-linked securities experience, which is a strategic growth area for us, will be an incredible asset to our current and prospective clients,” said Jon Biasetti, Co-Chair of Locke Lord’s Regulatory and Transactional Insurance Practice Group.

Previously partner and chair of Thompson Coburn’s cybersecurity practice, Shreve is a trusted adviser to clients facing complex cybersecurity and privacy issues, particularly those in the country’s most highly regulated industries. He advises all types of companies on the myriad legal concerns surrounding confidential information and how such information is stored and transmitted. Applying the law to rapidly changing technology and software capabilities, Shreve provides clients with a profile of their potential risk, then works closely with executive leadership, legal, IT and compliance information security teams to develop a comprehensive and practical plan for risk avoidance and responding to cyber and data-related issues.

“Jim’s impressive experience guiding clients through challenging privacy and cybersecurity issues and thousands of data security incidents, coupled with his deep understanding of the regulatory environment for privacy and security specific to financial services and fintech, securities and other industries, make him an invaluable addition to our team,” said Ted Augustinos, Co-Chair of Locke Lord’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group.

Andrea Verney Kerstein, Managing Partner of Locke Lord’s Chicago office, added: “J.P.’s and Jim’s practices both intersect across an array of diverse industries. Their additions will help further expand Locke Lord’s strong presence in the Midwest and grow our capabilities in key practice areas, both in Chicago and Firmwide.”

In addition to being sought-after thought leaders, Hong and Shreve have both been recognized for their contributions to their respective legal fields. Hong was recently named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list, and Shreve has been recognized as a Next Generation Lawyer in Cyber Law by Legal 500.

“Locke Lord is well regarded for its substantial group of corporate lawyers with deep insurance regulatory knowledge and extensive transactional experience, and I am thrilled to join such an accomplished bench,” said Hong.

“I was drawn to Locke Lord for its far-reaching national platform,” said Shreve. “Cybersecurity and data privacy touch every sector, and I am excited to leverage the Firm’s extensive resources to help our clients navigate these complex challenges.”

With more than 100 years of experience serving all segments of the insurance industry, Locke Lord helps its insurance industry clients meet today’s challenges while preparing for the opportunities of tomorrow. The Firm’s deep experience in insurance regulation enables it to provide enhanced value and insight into many issues associated with mergers, dispositions and acquisitions of insurance companies or their insurance-related assets and liabilities through various forms of reinsurance and the sale of renewal rights.

Locke Lord’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group guides clients in meeting legal, regulatory and contractual obligations concerning the collection, use, transmission, storage and destruction of data, and in mitigating cybersecurity risks. With a range of backgrounds in insurance, finance, retail, health care, energy, IP and litigation (among others), Locke Lord lawyers provide advice that takes into account the standards and practices of the industries and legal frameworks in which its clients operate, as well as laws and regulations of countries worldwide.

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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service law firm with global reach and 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs in the United States and around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 135 years and is a leader in the middle market arena. Locke Lord focuses on providing the highest levels of commitment, quality and service to clients across its five Key Sectors: Energy and Infrastructure; Finance and Financial Services; Insurance and Reinsurance; Pharmaceutical; and Private Equity. In addition, the Firm advises clients across a broad spectrum of other industries, including fund formation, venture capital, health care, public finance, real estate, technology, cybersecurity and white collar, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.