Michael R. Roberts is an associate in Debevoise & Plimpton’s global Data Strategy and Security Group and a member of the Litigation Department. His practice focuses on privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging technology matters.
In 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Mr. Roberts was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers. He also counsels clients in a wide range of transactional matters regarding privacy, cybersecurity and data protection compliance and risk mitigation strategies.
Mr. Roberts serves as the managing editor for the Practising Law Institute’s 2023 and 2024 editions of the Privacy Law Answer Book. He also frequently writes on issues related to technology, data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity. His articles have appeared in the Debevoise Data Blog; the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance; the NYU Law Compliance & Enforcement blog; the Columbia Law School Blue Sky Blog; the Cybersecurity Law Report; the American Bar Association Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Computational Law Report; Pratt’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Report; and the Review of Banking & Financial Services.
Mr. Roberts received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. At NYU Law, he served as symposium editor of the NYU Annual Survey of American Law. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and was awarded the Thomas C. Cochran Prize for the best Honors thesis in American history.
During his dual degree program, Mr. Roberts completed an internship at the White House in the Office of the Counsel to then-Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., where he helped provide guidance on legal and policy initiatives. He also served as a Law Honors Program Intern at the SEC and as a judicial extern for the Hon. Ronnie Abrams in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
He is an active member of the New York City Bar Association, where he serves as a member and the secretary of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. He previously served as a member of the Technology, Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Committee and as the secretary of the Litigation Committee. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the New York University School of Law Alumni Association and the Alumni Association Executive Committee for Riverdale Country School.
At Debevoise, Mr. Roberts serves as a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee as well as its U.S. Associate and Counsel Liaison Committee. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Bar of the State of New York. He is admitted to appear before the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.