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Morrison Foerster named by Chambers USA as a finalist for Privacy & Data Security Law Firm of the Year

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Morrison Foerster has been shortlisted and named a finalist by Chambers USA for Privacy & Data Security Law Firm of the Year in its Chambers USA 2024 Awards. 

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Morrison Foerster has been shortlisted and named a finalist by Chambers USA for Privacy & Data Security Law Firm of the Year in its Chambers USA 2024 Awards. The awards reflect firms’ achievements over the past 12 months including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth, and excellence in client service. The recognition follows MoFo’s renowned Privacy + Data Security Group achieving a Band 1 practice area ranking from Chambers USA. The firm has been consecutively ranked Band 1 in the Chambers USA Privacy & Data Security rankings for well over a decade.Labeling MoFo “a market-leading data security and privacy firm” that offers “the full suite of privacy law services,” Chambers cited clients who report that “the group has a unique ability to provide invaluable and practical solutions to extremely complex issues.” Another adds: “Morrison Foerster’s practitioners offer a quick and expert response. The depth on the bench of the team means they also always know the answer immediately.”We are grateful to our clients for their continued trust and for allowing us to provide them with exemplary service across industries, jurisdictions, and borders.Lawyers in MoFo’s preeminent Privacy + Data Security Group were also highly recognized in Chambers USA, with six individuals being ranked as individual practitioners, including Miriam Wugmeister, Kristen Mathews, Julie O’Neill, Nathan Taylor, Melissa Crespo, and Rick Fischer, more than any other privacy team in the rankings.<a href="https://chambers.com/events/chambers-usa-awards-2024" target="_blank">View the full awards shortlist for the Chambers USA 2024 awards</a>. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which will be held virtually on June 13, 2024. According to Chambers, the awards recognize law firms’ pre-eminence in key jurisdictions in the United States. They honor the work of national and international law firms across the region based on the research for the recent edition of the Chambers USA Guide.

Morrison Foerster named by Chambers USA as a finalist for Privacy & Data Security Law Firm of the Year

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Few lawyers in the world have Miriam Wugmeister’s breadth and understanding of privacy and data security laws, obligations, and practices. As co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s preeminent global Privacy + Data Security Group, Miriam is regularly called upon by some of the world’s largest and most complex multinational organizations to confront their most difficult U.S. and international privacy and cybersecurity challenges. Ranked among the top in the profession by all major directories, her clients say: “Miriam is the best privacy counsel in the country that I have ever worked with. Her advice is always spot-on, practical, and helpful, and her judgment is impeccable.” “Miriam is a true leader in her field. I appreciate her brilliance and expertise.” “She keeps up with a rapidly evolving area and is quick to answer the most challenging questions with practical guidance a business can use.” (Chambers USA).Miriam’s counsel is particularly prized for complex global privacy and data security incidents. She has navigated some of the largest and most consequential incidents in history, including assisting Mandiant when it discovered and warned the world about the SolarWinds compromise. Having helped hundreds of clients respond to cybersecurity incidents, Miriam is called upon to advise and educate boards of directors regarding cybersecurity and the key role that boards play in understanding and overseeing the potential risks. Miriam works with companies to develop comprehensive customized incident response plans, train staff, conduct extensive tabletop exercises, and address key issues with executive management. While she regularly advises clients on responses to ransomware attacks and other cyber extortion incidents, she works on all other aspects that arise in the context of large security incidents including communication strategies, notifications to customers, consumers, and regulators; public disclosures; interactions with law enforcement globally; litigation; and investigations by regulators around the world. Miriam advises organizations on the planning and execution of complex global compliance efforts and defends regulatory matters relating to privacy and cybersecurity in the United States and internationally.Miriam serves as a board member of the <a href="https://sustainability.adp.com/adp-innovation-strategy.html#:~:text=In%20harnessing%20the%20power%20of%20big%20data%20through,that%20involve%20artificial%20intelligence%2C%20ML%20and%20big%20data." target="_blank">ADP AI & Data Ethics Committee</a> and is a leader in <a href="/capabilities/artificial-intelligence" target="_self">MoFo’s AI Group</a>, a cross-practice team that provides sophisticated, full-service representation to a wide range of clients with companies that both develop and use cutting-edge, rapidly changing technology in the AI space. Miriam uses her extensive industry experience and collaborative global approach to provide her clients with fast access to the newest trends and developments in AI.As founder and leader of the Global Privacy Alliance (GPA), Miriam encourages the development of rational privacy laws around the world and monitors privacy practices, laws, and regulations globally. On behalf of the GPA’s members, she takes an active role in anticipating upcoming privacy legislation and educating regulators on the commercial implications of proposed regulations.Chambers USA and Chambers Global recommend Miriam in the top tier of privacy and data security lawyers worldwide, with clients commenting to Chambers USA that she is “extremely practical and phenomenally smart. Just about one of the best privacy advisers there is,” and The Legal 500 US recognizing her as a leading lawyer for her “professionalism and strong international presence.” For her work in data protection and privacy, Miriam was an inaugural inductee into The Legal 500 Hall of Fame, which is comprised of outstanding U.S. lawyers who have been recommended as The Legal 500’s Leading Lawyers for the last six consecutive years. The Cybersecurity Docket has recognized Miriam as one of its Incident Response 50, a list of the top data breach response lawyers globally. She has been named one of Financial Times’ Top 10 Innovative Lawyers in North America and a National Law Journal Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Trailblazer for her breakthrough work in this space. Miriam was also previously designated as an Ethisphere Attorney Who Matters and a BTI Client Service All-Star.

Miriam Wugmeister

Partner

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe title="Meet Alex van der Wolk, Privacy and Data Security Partner" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/DP4avINgkB8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="1" class="sticky-video" title="iframe"></iframe></div>Alex van der Wolk, co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s preeminent Global Privacy & Data Security practice and managing partner of the firm’s Brussels office, employs his nearly 20 years of experience to advise global companies on their most complex data strategies and compliance programs governing all aspects of information management. Alex’s clients benefit from his practical approach and global perspective, saying: “he quickly gets to the heart of the issue and provides solid, pragmatic advice based on the experience he has gained,” “in addition to having very strong legal knowledge, he has a commercial understanding and provides great insight in global matters,” and  “Alex is a true privacy expert with the ability to offer practical guidance on complex problems” (Chambers EU).Alex helps clients develop privacy and data strategies at the forefront of their digital and data-driven endeavors, especially those involving new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the metaverse. He has particular experience assisting clients with structuring their approach to data in specialized areas, such as health-tech, Agtech, and Adtech. Alex is an experienced litigator, representing clients in privacy litigation in Europe, including successfully representing clients in the first class action cases in the Netherlands and the UK. Additionally, Alex is often called upon to head crisis management teams for clients facing investigations by data protection authorities or responding to cybersecurity incidents. He counsels clients on their incident and cyber preparedness and has done significant work advising clients on EU cyber and data regulatory frameworks, such as NIS2, DORA, the Cyber Resilience Act, and the EU Data Act.Notably, Alex was one of the first practitioners in Europe to help companies set up Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs), and since that time has used this deep knowledge to develop a longstanding and unparalleled track record in obtaining regulatory approval for BCRs, both in the EU and in the UK.Alex is a frequent speaker at high-profile international conferences, including IAPP and South by Southwest (SXSW), and is a guest lecturer at the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society. He is a Dutch-qualified lawyer and a member of the Amsterdam and Brussels Bars. He speaks fluent English and Dutch.

Alex van der Wolk

Managing Partner, Brussels

Clients seek out Julie because of her practical advice on cutting-edge issues at the intersection of privacy and consumer protection laws. She provides clients with practical solutions to compliance challenges around a wide variety of both online and offline privacy issues, including tracking, interest-based advertising, geo-targeting and other mobile tracking, personalization, and cross-device tracking. Recognized in The Legal 500 US 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2020 and Chambers USA 2021 for her exceptional legal work, her clients praise her saying, “She is really good at giving practical, targeted advice and taking stock of what the risk profile of the client is, so that the advice is holistic.” (Chambers USA 2021).Julie provides clients with creative and practical advice on meeting the requirements of state and federal privacy laws, including the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). She crafts guidelines and compliance programs for clients’ collection, use, and disclosure of personal information in diverse contexts and throughout the life cycle of their initiatives, such as for connected products (the Internet of Things) and mobile services. She also drafts privacy and cookies policies, online service terms of use, agreements involving online and offline advertising and marketing practices, and agreements concerning a variety of data uses. In addition, Julie helps clients assess and manage privacy risks, including in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.Julie creates compliance programs for clients’ use of a wide variety of channels for communicating with and marketing to consumers, including email, telephone, text message, and fax, both in the United States and around the world. She works with clients to develop their social media strategies and to clear their social media content. She also reviews advertising in both traditional and new media for compliance with applicable laws, including Section 5 of the FTC Act and various FTC rules and guides. In addition, she works with clients to structure, market, and implement their sweepstakes, contests, and other promotions in compliance with applicable laws.As a former FTC staff attorney, Julie regularly defends companies in investigations by the FTC and before data protection authorities around the world.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>A company that creates online software used by schools in an FTC investigation of alleged COPPA violations.</li><li>A consumer services company investigated by the Korean data protection authority for alleged privacy violations</li><li>A manufacturer in connection with a challenge of its environmental advertising claims by the FTC </li><li>An advertising services company in an investigation of alleged privacy-related violations of the FTC Act</li><li>An online provider of entertainment services in an FTC investigation of alleged COPPA violations</li><li>A beverage company in an FTC investigation of alleged COPPA violations</li></ul>Before attending law school, Julie was a Peace Corps volunteer in The Gambia, West Africa.

Julie O'Neill

Recognized as an authority on financial privacy issues, Nathan helps financial institutions and other companies develop practical solutions for complying with privacy and data security laws. In particular, Nathan tackles the most complex issues relating to the privacy and security of financial information.Co-author of the leading financial privacy treatise, The Law of Financial Privacy, Nathan is recognized in the industry for his exceptional legal work, including being named as an Up and Coming Nationwide Privacy & Data Security practitioner on Chambers USA’s 2018, 2019, and 2020 lists. In his many accolades, his clients praise him as “a tremendous lawyer” who is “smart and quick on his feet,” with a “strong depth of knowledge and experience.” Nathan is also known as “a go-to guy for a deeper dive on bank privacy issues, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other matters. When he gives you a memo, it is gold-plated – you know that you can rely upon it and that it will be thoughtful” (Chambers USA 2021). Nathan is ranked in Chambers USA and Chambers Global 2021, with clients noting his exceptional work in financial privacy law, proficiency at handling various governmental investigations, and his “deep well of knowledge, which he delivers in a well-organised, thoughtful and extremely helpful manner."As state privacy law appears to be entering a new era with the adoption of the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), Nathan is assisting many banks, insurance companies, broker dealers, and other financial institutions in making sense of the complex law and the challenges presented by significant, but often confusing, new privacy obligations. Given the breadth of his work on CCPA issues, Nathan provides clients with valuable benchmarking across the financial industry.Nathan also continues to help companies across industries develop solutions to comply with the myriad state data breach and data security laws that have been enacted since 2003. Understanding the complexities that businesses face in complying with these laws, Nathan testified before Congress on the <a href="https://financialservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/02.14.2018_nathan_taylor_testimony.pdf" target="_blank">challenges</a> that the ever-growing patchwork of state laws present. These are complexities that he understands intimately, having advised companies on hundreds of significant data incidents, including many of the nation’s largest and highest-profile data breaches.Nathan also has defended companies in Congressional and state AG investigations regarding privacy and data security. He represented Target in its defense of a multistate AG investigation into the company’s 2013 data breach, resulting in a settlement with 47 states and the District of Columbia, at the time the largest-ever multistate settlement for a data security incident.Nathan contributes to the development of the firm’s <a href="/privacy-library/">Privacy Library</a> and MoFoNotes subscription database, which help companies keep apprised of privacy and data security compliance requirements in jurisdictions around the world.

Nathan Taylor

Melissa Crespo helps clients navigate a wide range of challenging privacy compliance and data security matters with a focus on the health information and the health care sector. She regularly helps clients develop and implement privacy compliance programs and advises companies on managing risk in connection with cutting-edge technologies and data initiatives.Melissa has particular experience in advising clients on compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other laws governing the collection and use of medical and health information.Melissa regularly counsels clients responding to data breaches and security incidents. She has successfully defended clients in numerous regulatory inquiries regarding data security practices, including investigations by the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, state attorneys general, and foreign regulators following data security incidents.Melissa also advises multinational companies on the privacy and data security aspects of their M&A transactions and has experience drafting and negotiating tailored privacy and data security contract provisions.In 2019, 2020, and 2021, The Legal 500 US recognized Melissa as a “Rising Star” in the area of cyber law, data privacy, and data protection. In 2016, she was shortlisted for the “Future Leader – Gender Diversity” award at the inaugural Chambers USA Diversity Awards. Melissa was a 2015 recipient of the Burton Award for Legal Achievement, which honors excellence in legal writing.Melissa earned her J.D., cum laude, from Howard University School of Law.

Melissa Crespo

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe title="Meet Washington, D.C. Senior Partner Rick Fischer" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/31XvoRyZXJc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="1" title="iframe"></iframe></div>Rick has nearly 50 years of experience advising banks, retailers, insurers, and other companies throughout the United States on the full range of financial services and payment system issues. His practice focuses on retail financial services with a special emphasis on privacy, data security, e-commerce, and financial services joint ventures, as well as compliance and enforcement matters involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, federal banking agencies, and the Federal Trade Commission.Rick has worked closely with clients on every major legislative and regulatory initiative affecting financial services and payment systems since the 1970s. He also has been successful in obtaining important legislative changes and regulatory clarifications relating to many retail banking and consumer lending issues.Ranked in U.S. News – Best Lawyers, The Legal 500, Chambers USA, and Chambers Global for his work in financial services and privacy and data security, Rick is ranked as a senior statesman, whose clients say, “Rick Fischer is the oracle on financial privacy law” (Chambers USA 2021).

Rick Fischer

Senior Partner

Privacy + Data Security

Privacy + Data Security Litigation