(p) 203.292.0667 (e) rsantalesa@infolawgroup.com
Richard Santalesa is Senior Counsel in Information Law Group’s east coast office, based in Fairfield, Connecticut and New York City. He focuses on representing clients on electronic commerce and internet issues, software and content licensing, privacy and data security, outsourcing, software and website development transactions and other commercial arrangements involving intellectual property and technology-savvy companies. He also counsels clients on the creation and development of technology-focused businesses and the global protection and exploitation of their intellectual property assets.
Immediately prior to joining the firm Richard served as Outside Counsel to FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, Valhalla, NY, where he provided counsel to numerous FUJIFILM entities in North America and as Legal Counsel to Ipsos America, Inc., New York, NY, the American holding company for Ipsos S.A., a publicly held global market research company headquartered in France with offices and subsidiaries around the world. Richard has also been an associate at well-respected New York and Connecticut law firms.
Prior to practicing law, Richard enjoyed a successful career in technology, initially as a computer programmer on Wall Street, and then as an award-winning journalist, editor and analyst covering internet, hardware, software and wireless issues. He held the positions of executive editor of NetGuide, editor in chief of Windows User, and technical editor of Computer Shopper. He registered his first domain name in 1994 and has authored columns for numerous publications, including Emedia Weekly (f/k/a MacWeek), Smart Reseller Magazine (f/k/a Smart Partner Magazine), WebWeek (f/k/a Internet World), Telecommute, PC Pro UK, ZDNet’s Enterprise Channel (wireless), NetGuide, Windows User and Computer Shopper. His articles on technology have appeared in The New York Times, PC Magazine, Wired, Digital Media, Windows Magazine, Windows Pro, IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Database, Small Business Computing, Home Office Computing, HomePC, and have been translated into many other languages.
As a co-founder in the late 90s of Virtual Growth, Inc., a NewYork City-based accounting firm providing outsourced financial and accounting services to New York City’s startup and new media companies, Richard served as Director of Technology to plan the firm’s infrastructure growth to keep pace as the company grew from 3 to more than 90 employees. At Virtual Growth Richard developed a first-hand understanding of the fast-paced nature and needs inherent in technology and outsourcing as the firm prepared for a nation-wide rollout.
Earlier Richard held the positions of New Media Manager and International Publishing Manager for Norwalk, CT-based Micro Warehouse, Inc.. At Micro Warehouse he crafted the company’s initial web strategy, launched the company’s Japanese language catalog and oversaw the production and development of catalogs in eleven countries.
Richard graduated from Queen College, of the City University of New York, cum laude, with a double major in Computer Science and English. He received his law degree from St. Johns University School of Law in 2005, cum laude. While at St. Johns he was the Executive Editor (Notes & Comments) of the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, and ran the St. Johns student bar association’s website, where he spearheaded a pilot program to digitize and archive streaming video of law school events.
Practice Areas
- Contracts, service level agreements, software escrow and licensing
- Privacy and data security counseling, compliance, and policies
- Data security breach notices, data security program review and analysis,
- Online sweepstakes and contests, EULAs, terms, advertising and marketing research and associated regulatory and statutory compliance
- Intellectual property (copyrights and trademarks)
- E-commerce, outsourcing, SaaS and technology infrastructure services
- Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act compliance and counseling
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Science & Technology Law: active member of the Information Security Committee
- New York State Bar Association (Intellectual Property Law Section – Internet and Technology Law Committee; Commercial & Federal Litigation Section; Real Property Law Legislative Committee)
- New York Intellectual Property Law Association
- Connecticut Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- IEEE
Education
- St. John’s University, School of Law, Jamaica, NY, J.D. (Executive Editor, Notes & Comments, American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review)
- Queens College, NY, BA Computer Science and English, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
Recent Articles
- The Supreme Court Opens a Case of Vintage Arguments, May 2005
- The New York State of Wine:e-Commerce Reaches the Supreme Court, April l2005
- A Taxing Situation for Telecommuters, April 2005
