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Justin S. Daniels

Shareholder
Atlanta
T: 678.406.8706
F: 404.238.9643
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Justin Daniels is a corporate, M&A, and technology transactions lawyer who advises middle-market companies, executives, and deal teams on high-stakes transactions where technology, data, and risk directly impact enterprise value. He has led transactions with an aggregate value exceeding $4 billion.

Overview

  • Duquesne University, J.D. and M.B.A., 1998
  • Virginia Tech University, B.A. in political science, cum laude, 1993 
  • Georgia, 1999
  • Pennsylvania, 1998
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
AI Tokenomics Guide

Justin sits at the intersection of deal execution and complex technology, advising clients on M&A, strategic technology agreements, and transactions involving Software as a Service (SaaS), artificial intelligence (AI), data centers and crypto mining operations, drones, and other emerging technologies. His multidisciplinary practice draws on extensive experience in cybersecurity, privacy, intellectual property, and technology risk to help clients identify what matters, allocate risk, and make better business decisions.

Justin also works with legal and business teams on the practical adoption of AI. Rather than approaching AI solely as a policy or governance issue, he has designed and built AI workflows for contract review, negotiation, risk analysis, and other corporate legal processes. His approach focuses on using AI to enhance rather than replace professional judgment: AI analyzes. Humans decide. AI executes. His hands-on implementation experience also informs his advice on AI governance, model provenance, third-party risk, token economics, and data protection.

Cybersecurity has been a core component of Justin's transactional practice for more than a decade. He advises boards, executives, and deal teams on how cybersecurity risk affects valuation, representations and warranties, indemnification, insurance, post-close integration, and key commercial relationships. He has also handled numerous high-stakes data breach matters, including ransomware and wire fraud incidents, giving him firsthand experience with the consequences when technology risks become business risks.

Justin and his wife, Jodi Daniels, co-authored Data Reimagined: Building Trust One Byte at a Time, a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller. Together, they have co-hosted the She Said Privacy / He Said Security podcast since 2021, featuring conversations with executives, lawyers, and technologists navigating real-world privacy, cybersecurity, and technology challenges.

A nationally recognized writer and speaker, Justin continues to write for Bloomberg Law and has delivered presentations at TEDx and major industry conferences, including two appearances at RSA Security, on AI, cybersecurity, M&A, and emerging technology. His writing and speaking draw on his experience as a practicing lawyer working directly with new technologies and focus on translating complex technological, legal, and business issues into practical decisions.

  • M&A and Investment Transactions

  • Represented a publicly held company in the $45.2 million purchase of a mining facility and related mining equipment that included more than 6,000 of the latest-generation mining machines.

  • Represented a publicly held company in the $25.1 million purchase of a mining facility and related mining equipment that included more than 3,400 of the latest-generation mining machines.

  • Represented a publicly held company in the $50 million development of a new crypto mining facility that included the power contract, purchase of 1,000 mining machines, and procurement of facilities necessary to host the machines.

  • Represented a publicly held company in the $7 million purchase of a data center that will be redesigned into a crypto mining facility.

  • Represented the lender in the $40 million financing of a data center that included drafting operating covenants relating to ongoing cybersecurity requirements of the facility.

  • Represented the seller in the sale of 18 car wash sites in a transaction valued at more than $100 million.

  • Represented a shareholder in the $110 million sale of a management software company to a strategic buyer in a cross-border transaction.

  • Represented a shareholder in the $50 million sale of a health care business to a private equity fund.

  • Technology/Cybersecurity/Smart City

  • Represented a smart city 2,000 acre development in the state of Georgia that has a living laboratory component as part of a larger innovation hub across biosciences, agriculture, and sustainability with respect to the technology, cybersecurity, and data privacy aspects of the planned development.

  • Represented a smart city in the technology, cybersecurity, and data privacy aspects of the deployment of mobile edge computer kiosks throughout the city.

  • Represented a smart city in the technology, cybersecurity, and data privacy aspects of the deployment of four fully autonomous shuttles, including addressing data ownership, sharing, storage, and cybersecurity issues.

  • Represented a transportation lab in the development of strategy and parameters for attracting companies to test drones indoors and outdoors at the facility, as well as the evaluation and implementation of the 2021 FAA rules allowing flight over people and vehicles in certain circumstances.

  • Represented an international fintech company in deploying their fintech app in the U.S. that included cybersecurity and privacy issues on a federal and multi-state level along with derivative rights issues relating to intellectual property matters.

  • Represented a municipality on technology, cybersecurity, and privacy aspects of deploying a fintech app for use by citizens and local merchants.

  • Represented a Fortune 100 client in its negotiations with an AI human resources vendor for the global rollout of an AI tool designed to align job candidates with available employment opportunities.

  • Incident Response

  • Managed a data breach incident for a public company. Led the incident response team managing breach notification in multiple states, overseeing crisis communications, and analysis of materiality under new SEC cyber rules.

  • Managed a data breach incident for a private equity-backed health care software development company. Led the incident response team managing breach notification in multiple states, law enforcement interaction, overseeing crisis communications, and ransom negotiation with the threat actor.

  • Directed the response to a ransomware attack on a national transportation and logistics company, ensuring compliance with breach notification laws across 30 states. Managed law enforcement interaction and oversaw crisis communications, providing strategic leadership during a critical business interruption.

  • Successfully led an incident response team for a medical information technology company after a ransomware attack, mitigating operational disruptions and ensuring compliance with HIPAA. Oversaw regulatory interactions, breach notifications in multiple states, coordination with law enforcement, and effective crisis communications, minimizing litigation risks and restoring stakeholder confidence.

  • Represented a private equity-backed-technology SaaS company in responding to a ransomware incident. Led the incident response team in managing forensic analysis of the incident, law enforcement interaction, overseeing crisis communications and analysis of relevant state breach notification laws.

  • Successfully represented a U.S. distribution company for an international lubricant brand following a phishing attack resulting in substantial wire fraud. Navigated complex privacy law requirements, including GDPR and U.S. regulations, while coordinating breach notifications in more than 14 states and coordinating with law enforcement to address the cybercrime.

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Technology Law (2027)
  • Selected to Georgia Super Lawyers in Business/Corporate (2024); Mergers & Acquisitions (2025, 2026)
  • Selected to Georgia Rising Stars (2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010)
  • Named as one of Georgia's Legal Elite in Corporate Law, by Georgia Trend Magazine (2013)
  • Creator and Leader – Inaugural Atlanta Cyber Week (2017)
  • Keynote – "Real Time Deepfake Incident Response," Gasparilla Cybersecurity Summit (January 2026)
  • Panelist – "A Ransomware Tale," ATA Litigation Center's 2025 Trucking Legal Forum (July 2025)
  • "The Legal Innovation Forum's AI Workshop" (March 2025)
  • The Cryptocurrency Markets: Virginia Tech, MBA Program (January 2023)
  • "Law Enforcement and Blockchain," Atlanta Blockchain Center (October 2022)
  • "Drones and Autonomous Vehicles: Privacy & Security vs. Surveillance," RSA Conference (June 2022)
  • "A Ransomware Tale," Mississippi Society of CPAs' Health Care Services Conference (September 2021)
  • Closing Keynote Speaker – "Inconvenient Necessity: Managing Cyber Risk in Integrated Technology Solutions," Qubit Conference (May 2021)
  • "Ransomware Attacks: Prevention, Detection, and Mitigation," Cyber-Risk & Data Privacy Summit (January 2021)
  • "Phisherman Bait: A Data Breach Story and Lessons Learned," CPA Academy (October 20, 2020)
  • "Navigating the Virtual Road to Autonomous Driving: Using Simulations to Test, Train, and Validate Autonomous Vehicles," American Bar Association CLE Webinar (October 19, 2020)
  • "How a City Addressed Cybersecurity and Privacy in the DNA of its Smart Transportation Zero-Cost Testing Facility," Cybersecurity Symposium for Smart Cities '20 (October 14, 2020)
  • "Locking Down Your Data: Adapting to Lawyers Working Remotely," Practising Law Institute (September 2020)
  • "M&A and Cyber Risk: Where Opportunity and Risk Converge," CPA Academy (September 2020)
  • "Integrated AI/Blockchain Solutions: Debating Innovation vs. Privacy & Security," CPA Academy (September 2020)
  • "Lessons Learned From Tackling Cyber Threats & Vulnerabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Infosec Connect Virtual Event (July 2020)
  • Panelist – "How Do You Identify And Manage Hidden Cyber Risk You May Be Assuming In Your Third Party Contracts," Infosec Connect Virtual Event (July 2020)

Featured Media

Justin Daniels Quoted in Forbes on Dangers of AI Agent Swarm Attacks
News / October 8, 2026
Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 Listing
Press Release / August 20, 2026
Justin Daniels Discusses Risks of Using AI Notetakers for Meetings in Associated Press
News / July 6, 2026

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