September 5, 2023
New York, NY, September 5, 2023 -- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced the addition of Susan Rohol, who has joined the Firm as a partner in the Los Angeles and New York offices. A leading privacy and data strategy lawyer with experience in the communications and entertainment sectors and on Capitol Hill, Susan most recently served as the Chief Privacy Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery. Susan’s practice is focused on advising clients on legal issues and regulations spanning technology, privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, intellectual property and global government affairs. She joins Willkie’s Privacy, Cybersecurity & Data Strategy and AI & Emerging Technologies groups.
“Susan is a powerhouse in the media and entertainment industry who brings world class privacy experience to Willkie’s Los Angeles platform,” said Alex Weingarten, Managing Partner of Willkie’s Los Angeles office. “Susan is renowned for solving complex legal matters at the intersection of privacy, communications, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and public policy. She brings high-level industry and Capitol Hill experience and expands our outstanding privacy and cybersecurity capabilities to the West Coast – a critical step forward in our LA growth strategy. We are thrilled to welcome her to Willkie.”
For five years, Susan served as Senior Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery. In this role, she advised the company on all privacy, data, and technology issues, and managed a global team of 60+ legal, technology, and compliance professionals responsible for operations, data governance, brand engagement, data mapping and project management. Earlier in her career, Susan served as Nike’s Global Director of Intellectual Property and Privacy Policy, where she managed a global team of lawyers and policy professionals in the US, EU, and China and advised the company on intellectual property, cybersecurity, and privacy. Prior to that, she was senior counsel to Senators Al Franken (D-MN) and Russell Feingold (D-WI) on the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her time on Capitol Hill, she recommended the creation of the Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law and was the principal advisor to both Senators Franken and Feingold on privacy, intellectual property, telecommunications, and antitrust issues.
Susan commented: “As data privacy regulations, cybersecurity threats, and artificial intelligence continue to accelerate at unprecedented rates, the stakes for companies are greater than ever. I am delighted to join Willkie’s dynamic team, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to help expand the Firm’s privacy, artificial intelligence and data strategy capabilities to clients across the entertainment, media, consumer goods and technology sectors.”
Susan’s arrival follows the addition of several significant additions to Willkie’s Los Angeles office this year, including entertainment transactions partner Andrew Kramer and white-collar litigation partners Koren (Kori) Bell and Marina Torres.
Established in 2021, Willkie’s Los Angeles office has a broad practice focused on corporate and M&A transactions, private wealth, tax and litigation. The office includes more than 80 lawyers who service clients across the region, aligned with Willkie’s broad transactional, private client and litigation platforms.
Willkie’s Privacy, Cybersecurity & Data Strategy practice group provides leading-edge, practical counsel on the ever-changing digital legal landscape, the design, development, and implementation of privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity programs, and innovation in new data-driven products and services at the forefront of the digital economy.
Willkie’s AI & Emerging Technologies team brings together Willkie attorneys from diverse disciplines – including privacy, cybersecurity, IP, antitrust, litigation, compliance, and tech transactions – with experience providing sophisticated, thoughtful and innovative advice to help clients navigate the complex, fast-moving legal and regulatory challenges presented by these cutting-edge technologies, including the new issues presented by the proliferation of generative AI.
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Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provides leading-edge legal solutions on complex, business critical issues spanning markets and industries. Our approximately 1,200 attorneys across 13 offices worldwide deliver innovative, pragmatic and sophisticated legal services across approximately 45 practice areas. Learn more at www.willkie.com.
