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CharlesNerko

Partner

"I thrive on helping clients solve problems and achieve their goals."

Overview

Biography

Charles is team leader for data security litigation in Barclay Damon's Data Security & Technology Practice Area. In this role, he principally represents clients in complex commercial litigation matters involving data protection, privacy, technology, and commercial contracts. Charles advises and litigates on behalf of clients whose critical business relationships, reputations, and confidential information are at risk. He also advises clients on strategies to achieve business goals while minimizing legal risks.

Charles serves as lead counsel to financial institutions and businesses throughout the United States in litigation matters against some of the largest providers of outsourced technology services. He also represents a wide range of clients in bet-the-company disputes concerning the protection of trade secrets as well as competitor law firms in matters implicating legal ethics and the protection of privileged information.

Charles serves as the chaplain and advisory board chairperson of his community's rescue squad and volunteers as an emergency medical technician. He dedicates his pro bono practice to emergency medical services advocacy and education.

Bar Associations

  • Federal Bar Council
  • Chaminade Lawyers' Association

Selected Memberships & Affiliations

  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
Experience

Representative Experience

  • Advising numerous financial institutions on technology contract issues.
  • Defended the New York Credit Union Association in a dispute with a technology vendor.
  • Represented a data center owner in a data security incident and negotiating confidential pre-litigation settlements with the responsible vendor and affected customers.
  • Defended an accounting firm in a dispute with a competing firm arising from the alleged misappropriation of the competitor’s confidential information, and defeating the competitor’s application for a preliminary injunction.
  • Obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction requiring a client’s competitor to cease disparaging the client.
  • Prosecuted trade secret misappropriation claims on behalf of a leading optics manufacturer.
  • Advising entertainers and corporate executives on strategies to protect their personal information. 
  • Won a favorable arbitration award as lead counsel in an equipment leasing dispute.
  • Served on the trial team for a prominent bank in aircraft finance and collection litigation and obtained a substantial settlement after presenting the client’s case-in-chief.
  • Representing numerous foreign financial institutions and judgment creditors in enforcing foreign judgments in New York.
  • Defended a bank accused of infringing copyrights in electronic news publications.  
  • Obtained dismissal of a securities fraud class action brought against a professional services firm.
  • Defeated several Section 1782 applications seeking discovery from law and accounting firms.
  • Served as national coordinating counsel in multistate litigation arising out of a corporate merger.
  • Represented a nationally known entertainment company in a dispute concerning access to Michael Jackson’s medical records.
  • Won dismissal of misconduct charges brought against a college instructor in a Title IX proceeding.
  • Advising clients on complex discovery issues, including discovery strategy, cost recovery, privilege protection, evidence spoliation, and discovery abuse.

Prior Experience

  • Offit Kurman, PA, Principal
  • Vedder Price PC, Associate
  • O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Associate

Judicial Clerkships

  • US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Chief Judge Loretta A. Preska

Selected Community Activities

  • Fordham University Advisory Board, Member
  • New York City Bar Association New Lawyer Enrichment Program, Faculty
  • KAFAS Volunteer Ambulance Service, Chaplain, Advisory Board Chairperson, and Emergency Medical Technician

Selected Honors

  • Selected to Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars: General Litigation, 2015–2023
  • Empire State Counsel Honoree, 2010
  • Fordham University School of Law, Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award, 2009
  • Fordham University School of Law, Moot Court Board, 2007–2009
  • Fordham University School of Law, Legal Writing Award, 2007
Knowledge

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Inclusiv (National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions), "Negotiating and Exiting Technology Vendor Contracts"
  • New York Credit Union Association's Compliance & Legal Conference, “Contracts & Vendor Due Diligence”
  • Initial Assessment Conference, “Cybersecurity: Scene Safety in a Digital Environment”
  • University of Vermont Health Network/Elizabethtown Community Hospital, “Privacy & Risk Management”
  • St. John's University School of Law's Cyber Law Symposium, "Attorney-Directed Incident Response"

Selected Media

Selected Podcasts

Featured Media

Alerts

OMIG's Abbreviated Self-Disclosure Process: What Providers Need to Know

Alerts

Massachusetts High Court Ruling Raises Standard of Care, Stakes for Broker-Dealers

Alerts

New York State Passes Law Barring Employers From Mandating Employee Attendance at Captive Audience Meetings

Alerts

Second Department Declines to Expand Scope of Arons

Alerts

NYS DOH Issues New Notice Requirement for Facility Fees

Alerts

Massachusetts Proposes Adoption of 2022 UCC Amendments for Hybrid Transactions

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