Eric Hirst is an accomplished Chief Information Officer with extensive experience in law firm IT strategy, infrastructure management, and cybersecurity. As a leader, Eric is a consensus-builder, leading diverse, high-performance development teams in achieving technical and project objectives. He proactively collaborates with senior-level management and the IT community to define network and software architecture, with an outstanding ability to gather and translate complex user requirements into practical, cost-effective technical solutions. In a career spanning over two decades, Eric has led technology transformations within legal and public defense organizations, leveraging innovation to enhance operational efficiency, security, and compliance.
Prior to joining Groom, Eric was Chief Information Officer for The Public Defender Service for Washington, D.C. In that role, he directed IT strategy, enterprise system implementations, and cybersecurity initiatives. He was instrumental in ensuring compliance with FISMA and ISO 27001 security standards, and strengthened the organization’s risk management framework. His leadership drove critical projects, including the seamless relocation of the headquarters and IT data center with zero downtime, the deployment of a mobile case management system, and the automation of essential business workflows.
Prior to this, Eric was the Director of Practice Technology at a specialty law firm, where he oversaw litigation technology and IT infrastructure. He spearheaded the virtualization of the firm’s environment, implemented a new secure phone system, and developed robust policies for network security and mobile device management. His expertise in managing complex litigation technology supported high-stakes civil cases in both federal and state courts.
Eric has also held key IT positions at several other prominent law firms. His strategic vision guided these firms through major system upgrades, document management transitions, and cybersecurity enhancements. His ability to integrate cutting-edge technologies into legal workflows consistently improved efficiency and security in highly regulated environments.
Certified in mobile forensics, Eric brings a deep understanding of forensic technology and e-discovery solutions to his work. His expertise in full lifecycle IT management, system architecture, and security compliance makes him a vital asset in safeguarding and advancing legal technology infrastructures.
