Pierce T. Cox

Associate

Houston
T +1.713.646.1325
F +1.713.751.1717

Overview

Pierce Cox focuses his practice on digital risk advisory and cybersecurity, particularly in the areas of regulatory compliance, fraud investigation and electronic discovery. He advises clients regarding compliance with data privacy laws, preparing for and reducing exposure to data privacy threats and mitigating potential losses from data breaches or misuse of information assets.

Prior to attending law school, Pierce was an Internet enforcement investigator for the Consumer Protection Division of the Texas Attorney General's Office, where he developed cases under Texas statutes governing privacy and data protection, identity theft and spam email while working to raise constituent awareness of information privacy issues.

Pierce has earned the Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). He is also a member of the Order of Barristers and an Eagle Scout.

Select Experience

  • Evaluated medical services provider's risk reduction, indemnification and insurance strategies in connection with transaction involving access and use of protected health information.
  • Advised consulting firm after social engineering attack in assessing, managing and mitigating damage while reducing future exposure with no lost customers or revenue from incident.
  • Prepared briefing resulting in recovery of more than $1.3 million in attorney's fees for client sued under Texas Theft Liability Act; fee award affirmed on appeal (Atom Instrument Corp. v. Petroleum Analyzer Company, LP, 969 F.3d 210 (5th Cir. 2020)).
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Experience

  • Evaluated medical services provider's risk reduction, indemnification and insurance strategies in connection with transaction involving access and use of protected health information.
  • Advised consulting firm after social engineering attack in assessing, managing and mitigating damage while reducing future exposure with no lost customers or revenue from incident.
  • Prepared briefing resulting in recovery of more than $1.3 million in attorney's fees for client sued under Texas Theft Liability Act; fee award affirmed on appeal (Atom Instrument Corp. v. Petroleum Analyzer Company, LP, 969 F.3d 210 (5th Cir. 2020)).
  • Obtained dismissal of Mexican law firm client from state court lawsuit filed in Harris County, Texas seeking damages of over $1 million through Special Appearance arguing lack of personal jurisdiction.
  • Drafted insureds’ summary judgment briefing in highly contested insurance coverage action regarding insurer’s duty to defend former C-level executives in ongoing underlying litigation pursuant to D&O policy which resulted in insurer agreeing to accept defense and pay incurred costs before decision was rendered.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Certified Information Privacy Professional - U.S. (CIPP/US)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® "Ones To Watch"
    • Commercial Litigation (2022)
    • Insurance Law (2022)
  • Texas Bar Foundation: Fellow

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Texas Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Young Lawyers Association
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals

Prior Positions

  • Office of the Attorney General of Texas 
    • Information Technology Services Division, Electronic Discovery Services: eDiscovery Technician 
    • Technology and Multistate Litigation Section, Consumer Protection Division: Investigator 

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • Texas

Education

  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 2015; Order of Barristers; Articles Editor, Board 38, Houston Journal of International Law; UHLC Moot Court Team and Mock Trial Team
  • B.A., University of Oklahoma, 2007

Blog

In The Blogs

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Data Counsel
For Educational Institutions, Post-Ransomware Harassment Requires A+ Messaging
By Pierce T. Cox, Benjamin D. Wanger
February 3, 2023
Educational institutions have not been excluded from the ransomware epidemic, and stakeholder communications are critical to an effective response. In a typical double-extortion ransomware attack, threat actors demand that victims pay a...
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