Kathryn Rattigan focuses her entire practice on data privacy and cybersecurity matters and has excelled in the space during her six years at Robinson Cole. She’s strengthened her expertise and gotten the chance to grow her practice even more with the firm’s blog, Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Insider. She’s been a regular contributor since the publication’s start—right around the same time she joined the firm.
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Episode Recap
Kathryn begins the episode by detailing what her practice consists of and explaining the crossover in data security with other practice groups—noting the uptick in data issues following the pandemic and society’s hasty transition to a virtual world. She recounts how she fell into the practice and specifically got involved with Robinson Cole as well as her growing interest in autonomous vehicles and drones.
The conversation shifts to the blog and its origin six years ago. Kathryn divulges how lawyers are best motivated to write—hard deadlines and following an editorial calendar—and discusses how other practice groups fit into the blog and how she handles the organizational aspect of the publication.
Blog posts have been more beneficial than alerts in holding interest, and Kathryn stressed the firm’s desire to grab people’s attention from their inboxes and get them to subscribe. She’s even experienced attorneys at other firms sending clients her way due to the knowledge she’s shared on the blog.
Kathryn closes out the episode by encouraging other legal bloggers to offer some insight or commentary on their posts, rather than solely providing recaps/summaries.
Episode Outline
- 1:42 – Kathryn explains her practice and work in the data privacy and cybersecurity realm
- 3:34 – The increase in ransomware and security attacks as people began working from home
- 6:06 – How she came to Robinson Cole and got involved in the data privacy and security practice
- 8:16 – The blog’s origin, getting members from other practices involved, and maintaining momentum
- 11:05 – Her role in the organizational aspect of the blog
- 12:37 – Internal communication between the team regarding the blog
- 13:27 – Transitioning from other forms of legal writing (client alerts) to blogging
- 15:42 – Getting recognized from the blog, asked to speak at events
- 17:21 – Tracking engagement from the blog, getting new clients and subscribers
- 21:14 – How blogging is a “side-job” and how she balances it with her other work
- 23:18 – The scope of the blog and what the team covers
- 25:00 – Advice for other bloggers, inserting your own insights and commentary
- 26:53 – Benefits from blogging and how it’s built the firm’s reputation