Jones Day has announced the appointment of several partners to Firm leadership positions, effective January 1, 2026:

Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection

• Mary Alexander Myers – Practice Leader

Environmental, Social & Governance

• Howard Sidman – Global Chair

Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement

• Walt Davis – Practice Leader

• Nina Yadava – Practice Leader

Mary Alexander Myers – Practice Leader, Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection

Ms. Myers is a trusted advisor for clients on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), data privacy matters, and strategic technology transactions focused on protecting key intellectual property and data assets. She develops strategic compliance approaches relating to obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other U.S. state and federal privacy and data security requirements. Ms. Myers also counsels clients on data sharing and licensing, outsourcing and technology transactions, data monetization, and other related matters, and represents buyers and sellers in domestic and cross-border corporate transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, counseling on cybersecurity, privacy, AI, and intellectual property matters, including due diligence and transitional services arrangements. She frequently speaks on technology, generative AI, and privacy-related issues and serves on the National Board of Techbridge, a leading technology nonprofit.

Howard Sidman – Global Chair, Environmental, Social & Governance 

Mr. Sidman has been named Global Chair of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) after serving as Deputy Chair. He represents financial institutions and other corporations in ESG-related investigations and litigation and regularly counsels clients on a broad range of risk issues connected with ESG-related compliance and regulations, including Fair Access statutes, Executive Orders, along with issues relating to energy security and energy transition. Mr. Sidman also has more than 20 years of experience with litigation involving financial institutions, including disputes and counseling relating to residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and other complex commercial disputes. Named an MVP in Banking by Law360, Chambers describes him as, "an excellent litigator," noting that , "he is always thinking two moves ahead and structures our defense accordingly." 

Walt Davis and Nina Yadava – Practice Leaders, Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement

Walt Davis

Mr. Davis is a trusted boardroom advisor and among the most well-regarded business lawyers in the Southeast. His practice focuses on complex business disputes, corporate governance and shareholder issues, internal investigations, and special committee representations. Mr. Davis is credited with starting the Georgia State-wide Business Court, following his appointment by Governor Brian P. Kemp, and served as the Court's first judge from 2019 to 2022. Mr. Davis also serves on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the State of Georgia, the Board of Councilors for The Carter Center, is a Master in the Clarke-Carley Inn of Court, and an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia School of Law, where he lectures on securities and corporate governance issues. He previously served as president of the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and co-chair of the Securities and Corporate Litigation Section of the Atlanta Bar. 

Nina Yadava

Ms. Yadava has almost two decades of experience defending public companies in shareholder litigation and in complex business disputes. She has served as lead counsel for a variety of Fortune 500 companies, along with their officers and directors, in federal securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation in courts around the country. Ms. Yadava regularly counsels boards of directors of these companies on governance issues and has become a trusted advisor to many. She also has extensive experience representing companies, including major financial institutions, in complex contractual disputes primarily related to structured products and business combinations. Ms. Yadava is ranked by Chambers USA, which describes her as, "very talented," "highly intelligent and great with clients and adversaries," included in Legal 500, and named a "Rising Star" in Securities by Law360. She serves on the Board of Directors of Summer Search NYC, a national youth development non-profit.