5 Trends to Watch: 2023 Data Privacy & Cybersecurity

Gretchen A. Ramos is Global Co-Chair of the Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice. Gretchen is a creative problem-solver that various large tech clients rely on to handle their most challenging data protection issues. Clients appreciate not only her legal skills, but also her direct, no-nonsense approach in providing advice. She works closely with her clients to manage data and leverage its value in ways to meet compliance obligations, as well as deliver value to the business and instill consumer trust. Gretchen has wide-ranging experience counseling organizations in various industries, including digital health, financial services/cryptocurrency, ecommerce, technology (SaaS), consumer products and academic institutions. She provides clients with practical business advice on compliance with state and federal U.S. laws, CCPA, CPRA, GDPR, ePrviacy Directive, and other global privacy laws in relation to their websites and internal privacy and security procedures, product and app development, and advertising practices. Gretchen also regularly drafts and negotiates contracts concerning data-related issues, assists clients in assessing privacy risks in corporate transactions, and provides guidance on and conducts privacy and security assessments. She has also managed hundreds of data breaches, and regularly assists clients prepare for, immediately respond, and determine their various notification requirements. Gretchen defends companies facing FTC and other regulatory investigations, and individual and class action claims involving privacy, information security, and consumer protection. She has litigated, mediated, and arbitrated commercial disputes, including class actions, at state and federal courts nationwide, and has tried numerous cases to verdict. Her wide-ranging litigation background allows her to advise clients on the litigation risks they face in determining how to handle data protection issues.

Viola Bensinger is Global Co-Chair of the firm's Intellectual Property Practice Group and also chairs the Technology Practice as well as the Litigation Practice in Germany. She advises clients from the technology, media, health care and other industries. Within the technology sector, Viola advises international internet, technology and healthcare companies in the areas of digitisation projects, IT outsourcing, cloud computing, e-commerce, electronic payment, data protection, software licensing as well as digital media. She has wide-ranging experience in advising media and entertainment clients such as distributors, producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, publishers and their contracting partners on licensing and distribution, as well as the legal set-up of digital platforms. Viola also advises clients on regulatory issues, especially with regard to broadcasting law and data protection law. In her litigation practice, Viola represents clients at courts or arbitration panels in contract disputes, copyright and other litigation. For many years, Viola has also gained broad experience in the areas of insolvency and restructuring relating to IP assets and licensing agreements and has advised numerous clients in large-scale insolvency proceedings relating to their German business partners. Prior to joining the firm, Viola was a partner at Olswang in Germany and spent more than 10 years working for Linklaters in London and Berlin. Concentrations IT and outsourcing Litigation Fintech Cyber security Media and technology

Jena M. Valdetero serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s U.S. Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice where she advises clients on complex data privacy and security issues. She has led more than 1,000 data breach investigations. A litigator by background, Jena defends companies against privacy and data breach litigation, with an emphasis on class action lawsuits. She has designed and conducted dozens of data breach tabletop exercises to empower clients to respond effectively to a data security incident. She also counsels companies on data privacy and security compliance programs and advises on cyber risks associated with mergers and transactions. Jena also advises a diverse array of clients on compliance with existing and emerging privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). She is a certified privacy professional through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (CIPP/US), for which she is a former KnowledgeNet Co-Chair.

David Zetoony, Co-Chair of the firm's U.S. Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice, focuses on helping businesses navigate data privacy and cyber security laws from a practical standpoint. David has helped hundreds of companies establish and maintain ongoing privacy and security programs, and he has defended corporate privacy and security practices in investigations initiated by the Federal Trade Commission, and other data privacy and security regulatory agencies around the world, as well as in class action litigation.