Kathryn E. Childress

Counsel

Dallas
T +1.214.210.1134
F +1.214.210.1201

Overview

A Texas Super Lawyer "Rising Star", Kathryn Childress focuses on guiding healthcare entities through the incident response process from start to finish with care, skill and attention to detail.

Kathryn focuses her practice on cybersecurity and data breach preparedness and response, predominantly in the healthcare sector. She works closely with clients to analyze their potential risks and create an incident response plan that complies with state and federal laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Kathryn also has experience assisting clients in responding to investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Office for Civil Rights.

Select Experience

  • Assisted clients in various sectors, including the healthcare sector, with incident response to data security incidents, including ransomware attacks, business email compromises, eCommerce platform compromises, and lost and stolen devices.
  • Prepared and managed numerous responses to HHS OCR Breach Notification Data Requests on behalf of HIPAA covered entities.
  • Prepared discovery, pleadings and motions for data privacy litigation defense, including a dispositive motion on non-existence of a legal duty to protect the privacy of a residential address that was not publicly available due to extenuating circumstances..
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Experience

  • Assisted clients in various sectors, including the healthcare sector, with incident response to data security incidents, including ransomware attacks, business email compromises, eCommerce platform compromises, and lost and stolen devices.
  • Prepared and managed numerous responses to HHS OCR Breach Notification Data Requests on behalf of HIPAA covered entities.
  • Prepared discovery, pleadings and motions for data privacy litigation defense, including a dispositive motion on non-existence of a legal duty to protect the privacy of a residential address that was not  publicly available due to extenuating circumstances.
  • Experience leading and managing incident response initiatives, including oversight of legal analyses, consumer/regulatory notification, and responses to regulatory inquiries.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Texas Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2017 to 2022)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • “Ones to Watch” Texas: Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2022 to 2023)

Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Dallas Bar Association

Prior Positions

  • Honorable Walter S. Smith, Jr., Chief U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas: Intern

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • Texas

Education

  • J.D., Baylor University School of Law, 2012, cum laude; Baylor Law Review, Administrative Editor & Associate Editor; Semifinalist, Dawson & Sodd Moot Court Competition; Champion, Naman Howell Client Counseling Competition; Finalist, ABA National Client Counseling Competition
  • B.A., Texas Christian University, 2009, magna cum laude