Stuart Panensky

Partner | Litigation
Co-Chair, Cyber, Privacy & Technology

About

Stuart Panensky is a nationally recognized cyber and privacy attorney, commercial litigator, and Co-Chair of the Cyber, Privacy & Technology practice at Pierson Ferdinand. He serves as both a “wartime” and “peacetime” advisor to companies navigating the legal and operational fallout of cyberattacks, data breaches, and privacy incidents.

  • Stu represents clients in high-stakes regulatory investigations, litigation, and technology-related disputes. He is regularly trusted by general counsel, CISOs, insurers, and boards to manage fast-moving crises, regulatory inquiries, and complex compliance matters. His practice spans nearly every industry sector, with a particular focus on guiding insured and self-insured businesses through emerging cyber risks.

    Beyond incident response, Stu advises clients on proactive risk management—helping businesses build defensible privacy and information security programs, meet evolving regulatory requirements, and reduce exposure in an increasingly hostile digital landscape.

    Stu is one of Pierson Ferdinand’s founding partners and serves on the Firm’s Management Committee.

Practices

  • Commercial Litigation

  • Cyber, Privacy & Technology

  • Environmental, Health, and Safety

  • Insurance

  • Civil Pretrial and Trial Services

  • Litigation and Risk Management

  • Arbitration and Mediation

  • Professional and Management Liability

  • Technology

  • Media Liability

  • Wire Fraud Liability

  • Technology Liability (Tech E&O)

  • Privacy-Breach & Wrongful Collection Liability

  • Information Security

Admissions

  • New Jersey

  • New York

  • United States District Court – District of New Jersey

Education

  • Syracuse University College of Law, Juris Doctor, 2003

  • Ithaca College Roy H. Park School of Communications, Bachelor of Science in Cinema Studies, 2000

Experience

  • FisherBroyles, LLP

  • Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP

Summary

Stuart Panensky has built a national practice representing companies in the most urgent and complex matters at the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, and technology. He is regularly called upon by leading organizations across industry sectors—including healthcare, financial services, legal, professional services, hospitality, tech and the public sector—to advise on data breaches, security compromises, ransomware attacks, and regulatory enforcement actions.

Stu has served as breach counsel in incidents involving sensitive data such as PHI, PCI, and proprietary business information, guiding clients from initial containment through post-incident investigations and stakeholder communications. He frequently represents clients facing scrutiny from state attorneys general, federal regulators, and industry-specific oversight bodies.

In parallel, Stu defends technology service providers and software developers in high-stakes litigation involving alleged product defects, system vulnerabilities, and contractual disputes. He also serves as outside counsel to cyber insurance carriers and underwriting and claims teams, advising on product strategy, exposure analysis, and emerging legal trends. Across these matters, Stu is known for his decisive crisis management, strategic litigation instincts, and deep fluency in both the technical and legal dimensions of cyber risk.

Thought Leadership

Stu Panensky is a frequent speaker, published author, and recognized thought leader on cybersecurity, privacy law, and technology risk. He has presented at dozens of premier national conferences—including RSA, NetDiligence, CLM, ExecuSummit, and PLUS—on topics ranging from ransomware and data breach response to cyber claim handling, regulatory liability, and emerging threats in technology and the legal profession. His audiences span technologists, underwriters, claims professionals, risk managers, and legal counsel across the insurance, technology, healthcare, retail, and legal sectors.

In addition to his work on the national speaking circuit, Stu maintains an active digital presence, regularly publishing insights and commentary on LinkedIn and appearing on industry podcasts and webinars. His writing has appeared in Zywave Front Page News, CLM Magazine, Insurance Thought Leadership, and Financier Worldwide, and he has contributed to leading legal treatises and journals addressing the legal dimensions of cyber risk. His commentary blends sharp legal analysis with real-world pragmatism and is frequently sought out by insurers, law firms, and business leaders navigating a fast-moving cyber threat landscape.

In the News