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Eight MoFo Partners Named Among Lawdragon’s Leading Global Cyber Lawyers

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Eight Morrison Foerster Partners are among those listed in the inaugural edition of Lawdragon’s Leading Global Cyber Lawyers. Morrison Foerster is one of only a handful of firms with eight or more individuals included in the list, which is compiled from research, submissions by firms and clients, and peer review.

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Eight Morrison Foerster Partners are among those listed in the inaugural edition of Lawdragon’s Leading Global Cyber Lawyers. Morrison Foerster is one of only a handful of firms with eight or more individuals included in the list, which is compiled from research, submissions by firms and clients, and peer review.MoFo lawyers recognized on Lawdragon’s list of Leading Global Cyber Lawyers include:<ul><li>Alex van der Wolk – Privacy & Data Security.</li><li>Miriam Wugmeister – Privacy & Data Security.</li><li>Linda K. Clark – Privacy & Data Security.</li><li>Melissa M. Crespo – Privacy & Data Security, esp. Health.</li><li>Annabel Gillham – Privacy & Data Security, esp. Employment.</li><li>Kristen J. Mathews – Privacy & Data Security, inc. AI.</li><li>Alja Poler De Zwart – Privacy & Data Security, EU Whistleblowing.</li><li>Nathan D. Taylor – Privacy & Data Security, esp. Financial.</li></ul>Morrison Foerster is recognized as an undisputed leader in privacy and data security worldwide. Our multidisciplinary, award-winning Privacy + Data Security Group boasts more than 60 lawyers in offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The team provides creative and practical advice concerning all stages of the information lifecycle.This recognition is one of several recent wins for MoFo’s Privacy + Data Security Group, with the firm being <a href="/resources/news/240411-gdr-100s-global-elite" target="_self">ranked #1 overall in the 2024 edition of Global Data Review</a> (GDR)’s GDR 100 and being <a href="/resources/news/240325-morrison-foerster-named-by-chambers-usa" target="_self">named a finalist by Chambers USA for Privacy & Data Security Law Firm of the Year</a> in its Chambers USA 2024 Awards.Lawdragon is a leading digital media company that recognizes the most effective lawyers and legal professionals in a wide variety of industries and areas. <a href="https://www.lawdragon.com/guides/2024-04-26-the-2024-lawdragon-500-leading-global-cyber-lawyers" target="_blank">View the full list.</a>

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<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

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

Linda Clark is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Privacy + Data Security Group. Prior to joining the firm, Linda served as the Chief Data Security Counsel for RELX, where she led the data security legal compliance efforts for RELX in over 40 countries and across their operations in four different market segments worldwide. Prior to that, Linda was a litigator at a large New York law firm. She has over 20 years’ experience advising clients, including on data security best practices and obligations, designing and implementing frameworks for compliance across large multinational organizations, and in complex litigation and regulatory matters.Linda’s practice centers on crafting strategic and comprehensive data security risk management programs, providing business-focused and practical advice, and leveraging her knowledge and deep experience to help organizations and their stakeholders, at all levels, prepare for and respond to incidents on a global and operationally feasible basis. This includes working with clients to proactively prepare for cyber incidents, including by developing incident response programs and risk assessment methodologies and conducting tabletop exercises for global audiences of varying seniority and responsibility. This comprehensive approach to incident readiness helps organizations hone the skills they will need to support critical decision making in high-stakes situations, allowing organizations to implement and leverage an incident response framework that goes beyond legal compliance and supports ethical decision-making.A defining aspect of Linda’s counsel is her ability to translate complex legal issues into actionable advice while accounting for the myriad and diverse concerns of stakeholders at all levels of an organization. She combines an in-depth understanding of technology and cybersecurity with knowledge of the challenges and opportunities clients face when addressing real-world issues. She has a broad command of global privacy and data security laws, having worked on matters in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Japan, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia, China, Austria, Brazil, the Philippines, and Germany. She frequently engages with regulators and law enforcement, enabling her to understand and navigate regulatory reviews, third-party audits, and investigations on behalf of her clients around the globe.An industry thought leader, Linda frequently speaks at conferences and educational institutions and is sought out by leading publications and think tanks for her analysis on timely data security and privacy issues, including the American Bar Association (ABA) Cyber Security Institute on topics such as ethical obligations to secure client information, cybersecurity risks, trends in the law relating to data security, and risk management and minimization strategies. Linda also speaks at schools and universities to educate younger generations about safeguarding their digital identities. Additionally, Linda works with leading U.S. nonpartisan, nonprofit law-and-policy think tank, the Sedona Conference, where she has served on the Data Security and Privacy Liability Leadership Council since 2017.Linda graduated cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. While at Barnard, Linda was a Research Assistant for the Human Learning and Memory lab, and also focused her studies on human and primate cognition. She is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and a Steering Committee Member, New York City Bar’s Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, Miami Chapter of “Women in the Profession.” She previously served on the on the Steering Committee for the Cybersecurity Leaders’ Roundtable as well as on the Executive Committee of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Linda Clark

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

Annabel is a partner at Morrison Foerster and co-Managing Partner of the London office. As a member of our renowned global data privacy team, Annabel specializes in employee data protection and data crisis management. Described by clients as “excellent, very pragmatic , efficient and completely client-oriented”, she works across a variety of sectors, including technology, retail, and financial services, and frequently manages multi-jurisdictional advice for international clients. Her practice includes advice on:<ul><li>cross-border labor and employment matters</li><li>employee litigation</li><li>data privacy compliance management</li><li>data security breach management</li><li>internal and regulatory investigations</li></ul>Annabel regularly helps senior management and HR executives with the “people” aspects of takeovers, restructuring projects, business and share sales, and outsourcings. She also advises employers in relation to sensitive claims, such as unlawful discrimination, equal pay, and whistleblowing. Annabel also advises on team moves.She supports her clients on all aspects of General Data Protection Regulation compliance and regularly advises organizations facing ICO enforcement action. She has developed particular specialties in complex areas, such as the collection and use of data relating to criminal offenses and the application of data protection law to insolvency practitioners.As an experienced litigator with experience in helping clients defend group litigation, Annabel helps clients develop their strategy for responding to regulatory action and court claims relating to the use of employee and customer personal data. She regularly designs and presents employment and data protection law training and updates to senior managers and HR executives and is involved in preparing responses to UK government consultations.In addition, Annabel is qualified to practice in the British Virgin Islands, where she spent three years advising on cross border commercial litigation and insolvency matters, including high value board and shareholder disputes, freezing orders, and third-party disclosure orders.

Annabel Gillham

Managing Partner, London

Clients seek Alja for her no-nonsense approach to resolving complex local legal issues efficiently while providing strong representation for their most important privacy, whistleblowing, and investigatory matters. Alja is the go-to counsel for EU whistleblowing laws and leads strategy for the firms’ advisory efforts for compliance with whistleblowing rules and procedures globally. She founded and is one of the main contributors to MoFo's <a href="https://www.mofo.com/gdpr-european-privacy/whistleblowing">Whistleblowing Resource Center</a>, which is relied upon by many organizations to support their compliance efforts, and is also leveraged by Thomson Reuters Practical Law to provide <a href="https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-034-1767?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true">updates</a> to its subscribers. She regularly assists clients with internal investigations and their dealings with regulators and provides practical solutions that enable organizations’ overall compliance while achieving cost-efficient and business-friendly results.Alja advises European-, Asian-, Latin American-, U.S.- and Canadian-based B2B and B2C organizations from a broad range of industry sectors including technology, telecommunications, insurance, advertising, retail, consumer products, entertainment, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. She works regularly with the firm’s trusted local counsel worldwide, enabling her clients to receive high-quality advice in any jurisdiction.Alja also advises clients on important privacy matters with regard to employee monitoring, e-discovery, international data transfers and data sharing, M&A projects, vendor due diligence and contracting, profiling, BYOD/BYOC, AI, social media use, marketing and advertising, use of cookies and similar technologies, use of workplace surveillance tools (e.g., CCTV, dashcams), use of medical data of employees, job applicant background check processes, and other workplace and consumer related privacy and data protection matters.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Alja worked on the Information, Communication & Technology team at a renowned Dutch law firm in Amsterdam, and at the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/solvit/contact/" target="_blank">EU SOLVIT center</a> in The Hague where she advised businesses on difficulties caused by failure to implement or correctly interpret EU law by public authorities.Alja is a Dutch qualified lawyer and a member of the Amsterdam and Brussels Bars. She speaks fluent English and Dutch, is a native speaker of Slovenian, and has a working knowledge of Croatian, Serbian, and German languages.

Alja Poler De Zwart

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.