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December 15, 2020

John Unice Takes the Helm as CEO at Pittsburgh-Based bit-x-bit


Founded in 2007 by attorney Susan Ardisson, bit-x-bit has developed into one of the premier digital forensics and e-discovery firms in the region. Established with the mission of providing legal and technical expertise to successfully guide lawyers and other professionals through e-discovery and digital forensics challenges, bit-xbit quickly garnered loyal clients and built a reputation for excellence, receiving the Allegheny County Bar Association’s exclusive endorsement in 2008 and in every succeeding year.
The firm has innovated continuously through the use of advanced-analytics tools and expanded to provide cybersecurity, incident response and information governance services. Now, following a thoughtfully coordinated transition period, Ardisson is handing over the firm’s leadership to a dynamic new CEO, attorney John Unice.

“It is a very exciting time for our company and our clients. I am honored, and humbled, to follow in Susan’s footsteps,” says Unice, who has established a national reputation through his two decades of experience with international law firms and corporations. “I am fortunate to inherit the great team that Brett Creasy and Susan have built and look forward to creatively helping our clients solve their technical and legal challenges.”

Navigating COVID 19, Adding Products & Services and Growing the Business
Unice joined bit-x-bit as Executive Vice President and General Counsel in February 2020, working closely with the firm’s leadership to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing ongoing efforts to expand its reach and service offerings.

“Susan started the company shortly before the 2008 economic downturn and oversaw continued growth through that difficult time. I joined just as COVID fundamentally changed how business is conducted. Due to the corporate culture that Susan established – where we strive to treat each client like our only client – we have been able to withstand the challenges brought on by the pandemic,” adds Unice.

“We are problem-solvers,” Ardisson agreed. “Our clients come to us with extraordinarily complex challenges that demand superior legal and technical expertise. We know the pressures they face, whether as in-house counsel, law firm litigators, business owners or information security professionals. Our team has sat in their seats and know how to give them what they need to succeed. John adds tremendous strength in that regard.”

Creasy, the company’s President and Director of Digital Forensics, added, “John’s energy and experience are exactly what our company needs, and our clients deserve. I have high expectations for where we can go from here. With our leadership team, the company is poised to take things to the next level.”

Priorities for bit-x-bit during the transition and beyond include:
Nationwide Footprint – While Pittsburgh remains the firm’s home and a key hub of client service, bit-x-bit serves a growing client roster across the U.S.

Growing Portfolio of Products & Services – bit-x-bit continues to add state-of-the-art products and services, whether a client needs to sift efficiently through terabytes of data to discover and persuasively present key evidence at trial, prevent hackers from breaching essential security measures, or retrieve stolen data.

Broad Industry Reach – Increasingly, bit-x-bit’s client base includes not only law firms and in-house counsel, but also businesses of all sizes, non-profits, government agencies, and educational institutions that rely upon the firm’s full range of services.
  
Team of Legal and Technical Experts with Client-Service Focus – From its founding, perhaps the greatest value-add for clients has been bit-x-bit’s holistic approach to solving the most complex challenges, through a team that assimilates deep legal and technical insights.

With its transition complete, bit-x-bit’s management team includes:
John Unice, Esq., CEO – Unice leads the overall management, strategic direction, and service offerings for the company, leveraging his experience as a litigator and in-house legal advisor at multinational, complex organizations.

Brett Creasy, CISSP, GCFA, CCE, President and Director of Digital Forensics – Creasy, a 12-year veteran at bit-x-bit, continues in his role directing the company’s overall operations in digital forensics, e-discovery, cybersecurity and incident response.

Susan Ardisson, Esq., Co-Founder and Board Member – Ardisson will continue to support bit-x-bit as a member of its board of directors, providing her business acumen and legal insights to the firm.

Joseph Decker, Esq., General Counsel and Board Member – Decker also continues as a board member and serves as General Counsel, offering expertise in litigation, e-discovery tools and practices, and client relations.