What do you do?
I began my career as a technology transactions attorney, working on IT and licensing agreements. However, I was very interested in privacy on a personal level and loved reading about it in my spare time. I was such a nerd that I read privacy treatises for fun, and I jumped on any privacy-related work that came in. Mayer Brown’s cybersecurity and data privacy practice has grown substantially since then, and I’m fortunate that I am now able to focus my entire practice on privacy.
Career highlights?
Preparing my clients for the EU GDPR was certainly a highlight. More broadly, I’ve enjoyed leading global projects, in part because they raise privacy issues in dozens of countries, and in part because I have the opportunity to work as a team with local counsel around the world. On a personal level, I felt great satisfaction, particularly as a working mother, when I was promoted to partner here at Mayer Brown.
Influences and mentors?
When I began my career, I worked almost exclusively with Geff Brown (currently at Microsoft), who was a generous mentor and an incredibly talented attorney. In addition, my Mayer Brown colleague, Rebecca Eisner, has long been my champion. She supported my interest in privacy from the start, and has provided valuable and unwavering support as I balance my roles as both a mother and a partner at a large law firm.
Advice for young lawyers?
This field is constantly changing at a very fast pace. New laws and new developments occur almost daily, so you will need to have a genuine interest in order to keep up.
What’s everyone talking about?
Many four letter words – the GDPR, of course, as well as the new wave of laws that has been triggered by the GDPR, including the new CCPA in California.
Most significant current trend in your jurisdiction?
California just enacted the CCPA, which provides GDPR-like rights and obligations. It’s likely that other states will follow suit shortly, similar to how California started the wave of data breach notification laws.
Favourite restaurant?
Alinea is an amazing molecular gastronomy restaurant here in Chicago. I’ve been a big fan of Chef Achatz since he was at his prior restaurant, Trio.