Robert J. Hanna
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Rob Hanna is a trial lawyer with broad experience in all aspects of business litigation. He is chair of the firm’s Privacy & Data Security Group.
He concentrates a significant portion of his practice on unfair competition claims, fiduciary duty claims, non-competition agreements, trade secret, real estate litigation, and other business-related torts. He is also experienced in matters involving data security breaches and notification laws, class actions, securities litigation, professional liability, accountant liability, broker-dealer cases, officer and director liability issues, and manufacturing disputes.
Rob has tried and arbitrated cases in a half-dozen states, including Ohio, California, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and West Virginia and before the FINRA (formerly NASD) and the American Arbitration Association. On behalf of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Rob serves as lead trial counsel, prosecuting disciplinary violations by attorneys. He routinely counsels and lectures on electronic discovery, data security, trade secrets, non-competition, and UCC matters.
Rob is the proud father of a growing family and a lifelong Cleveland sports fan.
- Education
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1986)
- Cleveland State University (M.B.A., 1983)
- Ohio Wesleyan University (B.A., 1981)
- State Admissions
- Ohio, 1986
- Federal Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
trade secret and data security litigation
- Defended and counseled a broker-dealer in a breach of data security
- Defended major pharmaceutical manufacturer in the trial of a theft of trade secret case in San Jose, California
- Prosecuted theft of trade secrets for a local colorant manufacturer where theft occurred in Brazil
non-competition claims
- Prosecuted claims on behalf of an Ohio screen manufacturer whose sales contractor improperly competed in the southwest United States
- Prosecuted claims against a Michigan sales representative violating his non-compete agreement with a paint manufacturer
- Defended a broker’s non-competition agreement and theft of trade secrets case brought by broker’s former firm
securities fraud/broker-dealer arbitration
- Successfully defended securities fraud claim brought in Arizona Federal Court by a former major league baseball player
- Successfully prosecuted claims of defamation brought against a representative of a multinational broker dealer
- Defended numerous claims of unsuitability, fraud, and other torts brought against former representatives of various firms
business litigation
- Successfully prosecuted warranty and product liability claims in an arbitration on behalf of an Ohio manufacturer
- Successfully arbitrated a shareholder dispute and business valuation claim against an owner and his companies
- Tried a software licensing case in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio on behalf of a computer software company
- Successfully represented a trustee and a bond holder in foreclosure actions of TIF-financed landmark properties in downtown Cleveland and the City of University Heights
attorney disciplinary proceedings
- As lead trial counsel, successfully prosecuted attorney disciplinary claims through hearings and ultimately to the Ohio Supreme Court
Speaking Engagements
- “Living at Work: Practical Advice on Data Privacy for Your Business and Your Family,” Moderator, 2020 In-House Counsel Summit Webinar, Tucker Ellis LLP (December 2020)
- “Incident Response,” 2020 Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection Conference, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (September 2020)
- “It’s No Secret, Trade Secrets Have to Be Protected,” 2019 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (November 2019)
- “Cyber Ohio Business Summit on Cyber Risk Assessment,” Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Columbus, Ohio (March 2018)
- “Data Breach Class Actions,” 2017 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2017)
- “Coordinating Data Security and Incident Response Efforts with the Government,” A Different and Better Data Security Guide: Counseling Clients and Managing Crises, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (July 2017)
- “Incident Response,” 2017 Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection Conference, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio (April 2017)
- “Tax Increment Financing: Cradle to Grave,” 38th Annual Real Estate Institute 2016, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio (November 2016)
- “Surviving the Breach: Immediate Steps and Responses,” Tucker Ellis Privacy and Data Security Risks: Are You Prepared?, Cleveland, Ohio (July 2015)
- “What Are the Risks: An Introduction to Exposures, Costs, and Trends,” Tucker Ellis Privacy and Data Security Risks: Are You Prepared?, Cleveland, Ohio (July 2015)
- “Protecting the Net: Cybersecurity,” Tucker Ellis/McGladrey Marching Through the Madness: Making Your Financial Services Team a Winner in Risk and Compliance, Cleveland, Ohio (March 2015)
- “Data Security: Managing the Crisis,” 2014 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2014)
- “Trade Secrets Damages: A Framework for Success at Trial,” AIPLA Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. (October 2013)
- “Use of Online Evidence in the Courtroom,” National Business Institute, Cleveland, Ohio (June 2013)
- “Preparing for and Taking the Deposition,” Cleveland-Marshall School of Law, Cleveland, Ohio (February 2013)
- “Data Breach: Understanding the Risk and Managing a Crisis,” Cleveland, Ohio (2010)
Publications
- “Roundtable: Cyber Risk & Security,” Panelist, Financier Worldwide (May 2018)
- “Data Security Plans: Why Financial Institutions Must Continuously Assess and Update Their Data Security Plans,” Bloomberg BNA (June 2015)
- “A Murky Trade Secret Landscape: What Employers Can Do,” Law360 (December 2014)
- “Trade Secrets Damages: Understanding the Law is a Framework for Success,” AIPLA White Paper (October 2013)
- “Data Security: What You Don’t Protect Can Cost You,” FOCUS, ACC Northeast Ohio Chapter (2013)
- “SEC Adopts Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Rules,” Client Alert (June 2010)
media
- “Why You Should Create a Forward-Looking Privacy Policy,” InformationWeek (August 2019)
- “Banks Feeling the Heat Over Fintech Partners’ Cyber Risks,” Law360 (June 2019)
- “Data Breach Legislation Proposes Jail Time for CIO, HR Execs,” TechTarget (April 2019)
- “Legal Tech’s Predictions for 2019 in Cybersecurity and Privacy,” Legaltech News (December 2018)
- “Not Just a Nice to Have. 7 Reasons an All-in-One Cloud Archive Is a Business Necessity,” Mimecast.com blog (October 2017)
- “The 5 Biggest Challenges of Mobile Email Management,” Mimecast.com blog (September 2017)
- “CSU Law Arms Attorneys, Execs for Cybersecurity Frontlines,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (August 2016)
- The Best Lawyers in America® (2013-2022)
- Ohio Super Lawyers® (2006-2016)
- Women’s Recovery Center
- Board of Directors, President
- Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
- Past President and Executive Committee Member
- Padua Franciscan High School, Past Trustee of the Endowment Trust
- Federal Bar Association
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- E-Discovery Roundtable, Member
