May 10, 2021
New York, NY (May 10, 2021) --- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced that Laura E. Jehl has joined the Firm as a partner in the Communications & Media Department and Co-Chair of the Cybersecurity & Privacy Practice Group. She is based in the Washington, DC office. Ms. Jehl is a leading cybersecurity and privacy lawyer who focuses her practice on the intersection of data, law and emerging technologies. She was previously global head of the Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice at McDermott Will & Emery.
“Laura is a pioneer and well-known leader in the cybersecurity and privacy field, with substantial experience advising major companies on their most critical data challenges, and our clients and colleagues are going to benefit tremendously from her presence at Willkie,” said Daniel Alvarez, partner and Co-Chair of the Cybersecurity & Privacy Group. Elizabeth Bower, partner and Co-Chair of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Group added, “Her considerable experience, including in senior in-house counsel and C-Suite executive roles, will add to the deep bench of talent on our multidisciplinary team. We are thrilled to welcome her to the firm.”
Ms. Jehl brings to the firm substantial experience identifying and mitigating privacy and data protection issues arising out of the collection, use and storage of data as well as the design of new business models, products and technologies. On behalf of her clients, she handles complex data security incidents, including large data breaches in the healthcare, internet, social media and hospitality sectors, among others. She directs forensic investigations, advises on notifications to US and international regulators, and leads sensitive interactions with law enforcement and national security agencies related to cyber incidents. She also regularly represents clients in connection with legal and regulatory issues presented by emerging technologies, including blockchain, cryptocurrencies and digital identity solutions.
A former senior in-house counsel and C-suite executive, Ms. Jehl understands the business, legal and technological challenges and opportunities her clients face and helps develop innovative approaches to maximize the value of their data-based assets. She previously served as general counsel, chief privacy and security officer at a healthcare data analytics company, and as chief privacy counsel at a major health insurer, where she helped lead the company’s response to one of the largest ever reported data breaches. Earlier, she served as vice president and chief litigation counsel at America Online, Inc. (AOL), where she played a critical role in the development of internet law, including early cases establishing the scope of ISP immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and efforts to protect anonymous speech online. She also led AOL’s response to a number of high-profile government investigations, including some of the first US and EU investigations into data privacy and antitrust matters in the technology industry.
Ms. Jehl commented: “Willkie’s strong corporate, communications and technology platforms, as well as the firm’s global reach and collaborative approach are a natural fit for my practice. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the firm to help our clients navigate the rapidly changing privacy laws and regulations as well as emerging cybersecurity threats, incident response and compliance measures.”
Ms. Jehl is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), International Association of Privacy Professionals. She was honored at the Corporate Counsel Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards in 2020 for her thought leadership in the field. She is ranked in the Chambers FinTech guide for Legal: Data Protection & Cyber Security – USA.
Willkie’s Cybersecurity & Privacy Practice provides clients around the world and across various industries with insight and counsel on managing an array of privacy and data security issues. Our team includes attorneys with many years of experience advising clients on a wide range of privacy and cybersecurity issues, including regulatory lawyers, securities lawyers, transactional lawyers, and litigators. Our multidisciplinary team has in-depth technical experience in privacy and data security law that we pair with our substantive industry depth in complementary areas, including technology and communications law, financial institution and securities law, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, antitrust and competition, employment law and consumer protection.
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Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of approximately 850 attorneys with offices in New York, Washington, Houston, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Milan and Rome. The Firm is headquartered in New York City at 787 Seventh Avenue.
Tel: 212.728.8000.
