Avi Rubin
Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins University & Founder and Managing Director, Harbor Experts
Harbor Labs
About
Dr. Avi Rubin is the Founder and Managing Director of Harbor Experts, a nationally recognized consulting firm trusted by leading law firms, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies for expert testimony and strategic advisory services in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, software systems, and complex technology disputes. He is also Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University. For more than two decades, Dr. Rubin has advised organizations in high-stakes litigation, investigations, and regulatory matters. He has served as an expert witness in over 120 cases and testified at more than 20 trials across the United States and internationally, including proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the U.S. International Trade Commission. He has also testified before Congress on multiple occasions. His pioneering research on electronic voting security received national recognition and influenced public policy at the highest levels. Dr. Rubin’s expertise has been featured on 60 Minutes, The Today Show, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has also delivered widely viewed TED talks and is a sought-after keynote speaker addressing executive and legal audiences worldwide on cybersecurity risk, AI, digital trust, and the intersection of technology and the law. His honors include Fulbright Scholar, Baltimorean of the Year, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award.
Sessions
Expert Witness War Stories: From the Witness Chair in High-Stakes Technology Battles
What you will learn:
What does it feel like when your technical conclusions are challenged under oath, with billions of dollars and corporate reputations at stake? In this talk, Dr. Avi Rubin shares candid stories from more than two decades serving as a technology expert witness in complex litigation involving cybersecurity, software systems, AI, and emerging technologies. Through anonymized case studies and firsthand experiences, he reveals the intensity of cross-examination, the strategic maneuvering behind the scenes, and the pivotal moments that can shift the outcome of a case. For select matters, he takes a deep dive into the specific technologies at issue and unpacks the core technical and legal questions that shaped the dispute, while also sharing some of the unexpected, lighthearted moments that arise even in the most serious proceedings. This session offers a rare look at credibility, persuasion, and the human dynamics that often determine which arguments prevail in high-stakes technology disputes.