Overview

Gary Klubok is a Washington, D.C., and Miami lawyer and member of Holland & Knight's Consumer Protection Defense and Compliance Team. Mr. Klubok's practice focuses on data privacy compliance, incident response to data compromises and regulatory enforcement matters involving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general in the data privacy and consumer protection space.

Mr. Klubok has extensive experience on matters related to consumer protection enforcement and regulatory investigations, with particular emphasis on alleged unfair or deceptive acts or practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act and compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). He regularly advises clients facing scrutiny from the FTC and state attorneys general by evaluating consumer-facing advertising, privacy disclosures, data collection practices and security representations to assess regulatory risk and respond to government inquiries.

As a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), Mr. Klubok advises clients on U.S. privacy law and cyber-related regulatory matters that arise in enforcement and compliance contexts, including data security incidents, breach notification obligations and compliance with federal and state privacy requirements. This work frequently intersects with consumer protection investigations involving online services, advertising and data practices, particularly where privacy issues form the basis of regulatory action.

Mr. Klubok has gained further insight by completing coursework in managing cybersecurity risk and computer science.

While in law school, Mr. Klubok was selected to intern for the Honorable John D. Couriel of the Florida Supreme Court as part of the court's Internship Program for Distinguished Florida Law Students. He also interned for the Honorable Jose E. Martinez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Community Involvement

Mr. Klubok is the founder and leader of the nonprofit organization Homeless Helpers, which gives supplies and food directly to the homeless in Virginia and Washington, D.C. He also maintains an active pro bono practice. Mr. Klubok was a pro bono attorney with Florida's guardian ad litem office, where he helped represent abused, abandoned or neglected children in Miami-Dade County courts. In addition, Mr. Klubok has provided pro bono assistance to asylum seekers, particularly Spanish-speaking clients, and parents in Hague Convention child abduction proceedings. One client in a Hague Convention matter thanked Mr. Klubok for Holland & Knight's "wonderful humanitarian gesture" for helping to return the client's child after 15 months. Since beginning his legal career, Mr. Klubok has contributed more than 100 hours of pro bono service annually.

In addition, Mr. Klubok volunteered as a big brother in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area from 2024 to 2025. An avid animal advocate, he donates monthly to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States. He has served multiple times as a judge for the "Do the Write Thing" writing competition, part of the National Campaign to Stop Violence.

Representative Experience

  • Represented companies before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general on whether large-scale data breaches resulted from alleged unfair practices
  • Counseled companies before the FTC and state attorneys general in investigations assessing alleged deceptive or unfair cybersecurity practices
  • Counseled companies on incident response after data breaches, including advising on cyber-forensic investigations
  • Advised a company before the FTC regarding whether its business practices violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
  • Counseled companies before the FTC regarding whether their advertisements were deceptive or misleading
  • Advised a company on how to join the Data Privacy Framework for personal data transfers from the European Union to the U.S.
  • Reviewed privacy notices to assess whether they comply with applicable federal and state privacy laws
  • Advised multiple companies on reporting requirements to states, individuals and regulators following data breaches
  • Helped design a regulatory database for a major national bank to track and manage compliance obligations across its financial operations, including compliance with laws regarding data privacy and unfair and deceptive practices

Credentials

Education
  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice, M.S., Protection Management, emphasis in Emergency Management
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice, B.S., Security Management, with honors
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
Certifications
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US)
  • Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS) Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS)
Memberships
  • American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
  • Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States)
Spoken Languages
  • English

Publications