Jon has appeared in courts across the country on matters including constitutional issues, privacy issues, voting rights, and defamation. His experience also includes appellate practice, cybersecurity, and privacy issues, and he has represented clients in the Florida Supreme Court more than 30 times.

He has litigated issues involving international jurisdiction and constitutional issues involving presidential budget cutbacks, laws protecting victim’s privacy, a governor’s gaming compact with Indians, Florida reapportionment plans, and proposed constitutional initiatives. Jon has been counsel in high-profile litigation, including protecting privacy rights of the families of  Dale Earnhardt, Giannni Versace, Dawn Brancheau (the trainer who died in an accident at SeaWorld), and others. His work included serving as counsel to the CEO of a major corporation in a case that successfully prevented disclosure of sensitive information. He has a history of success dealing with complex and critical legal problems.

Jon is a recognized thought leader on privacy and cybersecurity, having written multiple books and articles on privacy and security including: “Privacy in the New Media Age” and “Privacy the Lost Right” (Oxford University Press). He has taught privacy to judges and lawyers worldwide, lectured in Latin America as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Speakers Program, and presented continuing legal education courses on privacy and security to corporate leadership and general counsel. He has provided commentary to multiple media sources, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, PBS, CBS, BBC, The Guardian, and many others.

Jon has experience in representing a broad range of clients and interests, with his main focus on appeals, constitutional law issues, privacy issues, and cybersecurity. His clients have included: The Academy of Trial Lawyers; Gannett Newspapers, the First Amendment Foundation; Dale Earnhardt Inc.; and the Florida House of Representatives. He has been counsel to Fortune 100 and 500 companies on data breach responses and cybersecurity.

His courtroom experience is augmented by 10 years as a member of the Florida Legislature, including holding the position of speaker of the house. He also served on Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission-a once every 20 year position. Jon chaired the drafting committee and was chosen the commission’s most valuable member. He also has been a tenured professor for more than 20 years, teaching in the areas of cybersecurity, privacy, and constitutional law. He was dean of the University of Florida College of Law from 1999 to 2003.

Jon brings a diverse background and experience to address the most complex legal problems. His history of courtroom experience, legislative expertise and academic perspective provides a unique insight in high profile crisis situations.

Privacy: The Lost Right (Oxford Univ. Press 2008)

Voting Rights and Democracy: The Law and Politics of Districting, co-author with Richard Scher and John Hotaling (Chicago, IL: Nelson-Hall Publisher, 1996)

Conflitos Jurídicos, Econômicos E Ambientais, (Economic & Environmental) Conflicts: A Case Study with Parana (Brazil) and Florida (USA), co-editor with Paulo Roberto Pereira de Souza (Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Brazil, 1995).

Selected Articles: 

Co-author, Is Cyber Insurance a Modern-Day Imperative?, The New York Law Journal (October 2022)

Co-author, The Pandemic and Privacy: The Global Culture of Intrusion, Legislation and Policy Brief: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 5

FTC Consent Decrees Are Best Guide to Cybersecurity Policies, Daily Business Review (September 22, 2015)

The Rewards of Citizenship & Perils of Identity: How the Law Defines You in the Globalized World, III:2 Warsaw U. L. Rev. 95-127, Special Edition (June 2004)

Responding to Terrorism and Achieving Stabilities in the Global Financial System: Rational Policy or Crisis Reaction?, 11:4 J. of Financial Crime 380-396, Henry Stewart Publications, UK (May 2004)

Principles for Constitutions and Institutions in Promoting the Rule of Law@, 16:1 U. Fla. J. of Int'l L., 115-131 (2003)

Federalism in the 2000 Presidential Election: Florida on Trial, 13:1 Stanford L. & Policy R. 83-99 (2002)

Internet Casinos: A Sure Bet for Money Laundering, 19 The Dickinson J. of Int'l L., 77-116 (2000)

Resolving Property Claims in Post Socialist Cuba, 27 Georgetown J. of L. and Policy in Int'l Business 1:137-191 (1995)

Budget Reform and Impoundment Control, Co-author. 27 Vand. L. Rev. 615 (1974)

  • University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D., with honors; Order of the Coif; Associate Editor, Florida Law Review; Phi Kappa Phi; Moot Court
  • Stetson University, B.A., Economics

Bars

  • Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida

Fellow, American Bar Foundation Member, Advisory Committee World Justice Project, ABA (2007-) Member, American Bar Association

Member, Florida House of Representatives; Speaker, Florida House of Representatives; Most Valuable Member Florida House Florida Constitution Revision Commission; Most Valuable Member Constitution Revision Commission

  • Chief Judge Robert T. Mann, Florida Second District Court of Appeal