Ed Hopkins is a partner in the Denver and Phoenix offices who focuses his practice on data security and workplace privacy, advising corporate clients on their data privacy programs and privacy law compliance. Additionally, Ed litigates trial and appellate court cases in state and federal courts, with a focus on employee defection and trade secret matters.

Ed helps business leaders assess, improve, design, and implement data privacy management programs that comply with state, federal, and international privacy laws. He advises corporations on data security and workplace privacy matters involving employees, former employees, independent contractors, insurance companies, and service providers. He also litigates business to business disputes and disputes with former employees involving cybercrimes, contract breaches, data breaches, deceptive trade practices, defamation, false advertising, invasions of privacy, negligence, and racketeering.

Ed is one of only a few attorneys in the world who holds all seven certifications offered by IAPP, including certifications in the laws of the United States (CIPP/US), European Union (CIPP/E), Canada (CIPP/C), and Asia (CIPP/A); United States governmental privacy laws (CIPP/G); IT privacy best practices (CIPT); and information privacy management (CIPM). In 2016, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) designated Ed a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP).

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ed served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and as an admissions officer for the U.S. Air Force Academy. After separating from the U.S. Air Force honorably in 2001, Ed formed and led a defense industry financial management and project management firm that provided specialized consulting, management, and software development services to the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense. He also worked as a business analyst and acquisition consultant for a private equity firm.

Reported Cases

• Wilson v. AdvisorLaw LLC, 2020 COA 122
• Lawson v. Stow, 327 P.3d 340, 2014 COA 26
• Fry v. Lee, 408 P.3d 843, 2013 COA 100

Honors & Awards

• “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell
• Selected as a SuperLawyers Rising Star in 2020
• Designated as an International Association of Privacy Professionals Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) in 2016
• Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy Class of 2015
• Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training (COBALT) Class of 2014
• Recipient of the Sam Cary Bar Association President’s Award, 2014
• Selected for the Law Week Colorado Up and Coming Lawyers Award in 2014
• Selected for the EBONY Magazine Young Leader of the Future Award in 2003
• Selected for the 366th Air Expeditionary Wing (Mountain Home Air Force Base, ID) Wing Staff Company Grade Officer of the Year in 1997

Professional Activities

• United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates’ Sabre Society, Member
• National Bar Association, Member
• Center for Legal Inclusiveness, Member
• Sam Cary Bar Association, Member & Former Judicial Committee Chair
• International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Member
• Association for Data and Cyber Governance, Member
• National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), Instructor

Community Activities

• Delta Eta Boulé (Denver Chapter of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc.), Member and Grammateus (Executive Secretary)
• SEED, Inc., Mentor for African American professionals
• DM 42 Foundation, Board Member

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements