jura.zibas@wilsonelser.com

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Jura Christine Zibas is cochair of the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Practice and a member of the Information Governance Leadership Committee. She has an extensive technology background and focuses her legal practice on intellectual property, technology and commercial matters. Relying on her scientific and analytical skill sets, Jura assists in solving legal issues that involve intellectual property rights, cybersecurity and complex business disputes.

Jura has broad experience with matters involving the protection, licensing and acquisition of patents, copyrights and trademarks; privacy and data security issues; technology/software disputes; and professional liability. Jura’s work on intellectual property, data privacy and security matters, directors and officers, and civil matters includes the management of clients’ risks and expansion activities. She handles a number of copyright infringement disputes, defending against allegations on behalf of different industries that all have an online presence. She applies her experience to the innovative fields of RFID, security-related software and other emerging applications of technology. Further leveraging her experience in complex disputes, representation includes, for example, online retailers in data breach, software failures and intellectual property; health care companies in government investigations and regulatory issues; and software developers in breach and fraud. In addition, Jura has advised on cyber risks in protecting millions of patient health information records and data privacy breach cases for various businesses.

Trained in chemistry and dentistry, combined with training in computer science, Jura handles various types of complex civil matters that involve a scientific, software or technology component, as well as the defense of medical institutions, dentists and other medical professionals in malpractice cases. Jura continues to handle general liability and all civil litigation matters for various types of businesses.

Jura takes an analytical approach in providing her clients with logical solutions to help meet their business challenges and goals. She quickly processes technical and financial data to gain an understanding of her clients’ overall business model as well as the economics behind a particular case. Her science and technology background is of particular value to her clients in the computer and engineering fields, online businesses, hardware/software development, medical, durable medical equipment, health care, construction and manufacturing. In resolving government investigations, Jura assists health care companies and pharmacies with oversight in dealing with federal and state regulations. She represented clients in lengthy corruption and money laundering/wire fraud cases brought by the U.S. Attorney and defended a utility company executive in the bribery of public officials.

Areas of Focus

Cybersecurity & Data Privacy
In the growing area of cybersecurity, Jura provides cyber risk management advice to CEOs, develops cybersecurity compliance programs, advises on current compliance programs, litigates data privacy cases, develops strategy for immediate response when a breach is reported, advises on technology and data gathering during a breach, and develops incident response plans. In addition, she negotiates resolutions with regulators and defends parties in litigation after a breach occurs. Jura presents to business owners, lawyers and medical/dental professionals on cyber risk management.

Intellectual Property/Commercial/Technology
As a litigator, Jura effectively resolves copyright, patent and trademark infringement actions for both rights holders and defendants. Relying on her technology background, she achieves excellent results in software and hardware disputes. Leveraging her passion for technology, she understands the underlying issues and quickly evaluates the exposure in order to develop the best strategy for her clients. Jura’s experience includes copyright, trademark, patent, trade dress, trade secret, breach of contract, false and misleading advertising, defamation of business, breach of confidentiality, breach of privacy and data security, domain name misappropriation, contract disputes, counterfeiting matters, torts and allegations of failed software, and complex business torts and liability.

In the commercial arena, Jura negotiates and drafts contracts that include intellectual property rights and develops enforcement programs for trademarks and patents. She handles large transactions for engineering, construction and real estate firms as well as a variety of privately held companies distributing and manufacturing a number of different products. She works with clients on acquisitions and performs due diligence, including intellectual property assets. In addition, Jura assists clients in patent mining and sourcing deals for joint ventures, licensing, cross-licensing and distribution based on the evaluation of current and future intellectual property assets. She also manages trademark and patent portfolios. Jura resolves conflicts related to trademarks, copyrights, patents, confidentiality, trade secrets, trade dress, privacy and security, and regulatory compliance. She reviews websites, advertising and company practices for compliance with laws.

Clients that Jura has represented in intellectual property and related commercial matters include health care companies, software developers, RFID manufacturers, hardware and software companies, pharmacies, engineering firms, construction firms; apparel, jewelry and consumer goods manufacturers and distributors; medical device manufacturers and distributors; nutraceutical companies; biotech companies; and companies in the music and entertainment industries. She frequently provides general counsel services for small to mid-size businesses.

    Education

    • Capital University School of Law (J.D., 1990)
    • Tulane University (B.S., 1984)
    • Ohio State University College of Dentistry (Doctor of Dental Surgery Program)

    Bar Admissions

    • New York
    • New Jersey
    • California
    • Ohio
    • Florida
    • U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

    Court Admissions

    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
    • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

    Professional Affiliations

    • American Bar Association
    • American Intellectual Property Law Association
    • Intellectual Property Organization

    Awards & Honors

    • Selected for inclusion in New York Metro Super Lawyers® in the Intellectual Property Law category, 2013-2023, 2025
    • Recognition by the National Cancer Society for distinguished research achievement
    • Quantum Mechanics integrating design of computer programs with Dr. Melfi, Tulane University

Events

Jura Christine Zibas is cochair of the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Practice and a member of the Information Governance Leadership Committee. She has an extensive technology background and focuses her legal practice on intellectual property, technology and commercial matters. Relying on her scientific and analytical skill sets, Jura assists in solving legal issues that involve intellectual property rights, cybersecurity and complex business disputes.

Jura has broad experience with matters involving the protection, licensing and acquisition of patents, copyrights and trademarks; privacy and data security issues; technology/software disputes; and professional liability. Jura’s work on intellectual property, data privacy and security matters, directors and officers, and civil matters includes the management of clients’ risks and expansion activities. She handles a number of copyright infringement disputes, defending against allegations on behalf of different industries that all have an online presence. She applies her experience to the innovative fields of RFID, security-related software and other emerging applications of technology. Further leveraging her experience in complex disputes, representation includes, for example, online retailers in data breach, software failures and intellectual property; health care companies in government investigations and regulatory issues; and software developers in breach and fraud. In addition, Jura has advised on cyber risks in protecting millions of patient health information records and data privacy breach cases for various businesses.

Trained in chemistry and dentistry, combined with training in computer science, Jura handles various types of complex civil matters that involve a scientific, software or technology component, as well as the defense of medical institutions, dentists and other medical professionals in malpractice cases. Jura continues to handle general liability and all civil litigation matters for various types of businesses.

Jura takes an analytical approach in providing her clients with logical solutions to help meet their business challenges and goals. She quickly processes technical and financial data to gain an understanding of her clients’ overall business model as well as the economics behind a particular case. Her science and technology background is of particular value to her clients in the computer and engineering fields, online businesses, hardware/software development, medical, durable medical equipment, health care, construction and manufacturing. In resolving government investigations, Jura assists health care companies and pharmacies with oversight in dealing with federal and state regulations. She represented clients in lengthy corruption and money laundering/wire fraud cases brought by the U.S. Attorney and defended a utility company executive in the bribery of public officials.

Jura Christine Zibas

Mangano, Zibas and Rolland Prevail in Significant Privacy Litigation Matter

Shawn Mangano (Of Counsel-Las Vegas, NV), Jura Zibas (Partner-New York, NY and Sarasota, FL) and Sean Rolland (Of Counsel-Orlando, FL) successfully defended a hybrid managed services provider in litigation before the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

Plaintiffs’ claims involved the unauthorized access and alleged dissemination of personally identifiable information (“PII”) related to potentially over 600,000 potential data breach claimants that received services for a health provider with which Wilson Elser’s client was providing data storage and security services. The data breach at issue involved sophisticated Russian cybercriminals who allegedly gained access to another party’s protected data through cyber-spoofing, resulting in access to the provider’s information containing Plaintiffs’ PII. Plaintiffs filed a complaint for damages seeking recovery for negligence/negligence per se, breach of third-party beneficiary contract, invasion of privacy or intrusion upon seclusion, and unjust enrichment.

On August 18, 2026, our client received a report and recommendation recommending its motion to dismiss be granted on several key damage recovery issues that have not otherwise been confirmed in data breach actions filed in the jurisdiction.

These recommendations include the requirement that, for a negligence per se claim, a plaintiff must allege that his or her PPI was subject to an increased risk of fraud, identity theft, or nefarious misuse. Likewise, for a plaintiff seeking to recover for “lost time” under a negligence/negligence per se claim, recovery must be tied to out-of-pocket expenses for said lost time. Finally, a plaintiff’s claims of increased anxiety and emotional distress must assert the existence of a physical injury or illness to warrant recovery of damages for the unauthorized disclosure of his or her PII.

Regarding breach of third-party beneficiary contract, the Court concluded that mere allegations that “Defendant entered into contracts to provide IT services” were insufficient to establish data protection obligations on our client.

Finally, the Court determined that to recover for invasion of privacy/inclusion upon seclusion for the data breach, a Plaintiff must be under “highly offensive” circumstances. In this case, those “highly offensive” circumstances were determined to be possession of PII by a notorious cybercriminal gang, of which at least one Plaintiff had failed to assert.

Overall, this result serves to delineate the allegations necessary for Plaintiffs to survive a motion to dismiss in cyber breach cases in the District of Nevada, despite multiple other decisions that essentially rubberstamped allegations. 

Shawn A. Mangano, Jura Christine Zibas and Sean Rolland