Lisa chairs the firm’s top-ranked global privacy and cybersecurity practice and is the managing partner of the firm’s New York office.
Lisa has received widespread recognition for her work in the areas of privacy and cybersecurity. Chambers USA quotes clients who call her a “market leader,” noting that she is “widely considered the best.” Another client reported that “she is a strong leader with fantastic advice. She does great work on advisory boards and her leadership in the industry has really moved it forward.” Chambers and Partners honored Lisa with the 2021 Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession award, which is given to only one lawyer each year for exceptional achievements, and noted that a peer enthused, “Lisa Sotto is a legend.” Clients have called Lisa “the high priestess of privacy” and “the queen of breach.” She was named among The National Law Journal’s “100 Most Influential Lawyers,” an honor bestowed on practicing attorneys who are making the biggest impact in the legal world.
A preeminent lawyer and dynamic problem solver, Lisa assists clients in identifying, evaluating and managing risks associated with privacy and data security practices. She advises clients on the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 and other comprehensive state privacy laws, GLB, HIPAA and state health privacy laws, COPPA, CAN-SPAM, FCRA, VPPA, data breach notification laws, and other U.S. state and federal privacy and cybersecurity requirements (including HR rules), and global data protection laws (including those in the EU, Asia and Latin America). She provides extensive advice on cybersecurity risks, incidents and policy issues, including proactive cyber incident readiness. Through the firm’s privacy and security in M&A transactions team, Lisa also guides clients on risks and potential liabilities associated with inadequate privacy and data security practices in high-stakes corporate transactions. She conducts all phases of data privacy assessments and information security policy audits. She also develops corporate records management programs, including policies, records retention schedules and training modules.
Lisa has been rated the “No. 1 privacy professional” in all surveys by Computerworld magazine. She is recognized by Chambers and Partners as a “Star” performer (the highest honor) for privacy and data security—the only privacy lawyer in the United States to receive this distinguished ranking. She also is ranked among the leading lawyers in Band 1 for incident response. Lisa is recognized as a leading lawyer for cyber crime, data protection and privacy by The Legal 500 United States. In addition, Hunton Andrews Kurth’s privacy and cybersecurity practice has received the topmost national rankings in privacy and data security both from Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.
Lisa speaks frequently at conferences, has testified regularly before the US Congress and other legislative and regulatory agencies, is the author of numerous treatises and articles, has been tapped to lead several industry committees and organizations, is sought after by media outlets and industry publications for her professional insights, and appears regularly on national television and radio news programs. She is the editor and lead author of the Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Deskbook, published by Aspen Publishers, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.
Relevant Experience
Appointed by Secretaries Mayorkas, Nielson, Johnson and Napolitano as Chair of the US Department of Homeland Security’s Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee (2012-present); previously served as Vice Chair (2005-2009).
Testified in FTC Hearing on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century, focusing on the US framework related to consumer data security.
Testified before the European Commission and five EU Supervisory Authorities during the Annual Review of the EU-US Privacy Shield.
Selected by the European Commission and US Department of Commerce as one of a small group of 16 arbitrators in connection with the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework Binding Arbitration Program.
Selected to represent the US Chamber of Commerce in Brussels to present “Global Best Practices Around Data Breach Notification,” a report prepared by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP and the Chamber.
Selected to represent the US Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia to present “Business Without Borders: The Importance of Cross-Border Data Transfers to Global Prosperity,” a report prepared by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP and the Chamber.
Selected as member of US government delegation to Brazil to brief Brazilian government officials on US privacy and cybersecurity policy.
Selected to advise Commissioner Shimpo of the Personal Information Protection Commission of Japan on US privacy and data security law.
Selected to advise the Serbian government on global data protection law and to draft the country’s data security and breach notification laws. Lisa was sponsored by the USAID-funded Judicial Reform and Government Accountability Project.
Testified before US House of Representatives, “Data Protection and the Consumer: Who Loses When Your Data Takes a Hike?”
Testified before US Department of Health & Human Services’ Subcommittee on Privacy and Confidentiality of the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics regarding RFID use in health care.
Testified before CSIS Commission on Cyber Security for the 44th Presidency.
Briefed the Secretary of the Army’s cyber strategic group on current issues in cybersecurity
Briefed congressional staffers in preparation for data breach hearings held by the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology, and in connection with drafting of a comprehensive privacy bill.
Selected to advise DHS’s Homeland Security Science and Technology Committee (HSSTAC) regarding Third Party Pre-Screening Program.
Selected by US Government Accountability Office to provide advice for a GAO study on data security breaches.
Selected by US Office of Management and Budget to participate in OMB analysis of DHS Privacy Office.
Routinely assists clients in developing policy positions regarding privacy and cybersecurity legislative and regulatory proposals both in the US and abroad.
Advising over 80 clients on compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA) and other state privacy laws, including conducting due diligence, preparing gap analyses, developing remediation plans, and undertaking compliance projects.
Advises clients on FTC, OCR, SEC and state Attorney General (including Multistate Taskforce) investigations and enforcement actions for alleged data security and privacy violations.
Advises clients on managing FTC Consent Orders and CIDs in connection with data security incidents.
Advises major health care providers and health plans on all aspects of HITECH security breaches, including OCR and state enforcement.
Advises numerous major retailers, financial institutions and other companies on proactive cybersecurity readiness, including developing and conducting full-scale tabletop exercises for C-suite executives and boards of directors.
Since 2005, advised on over 3,000 cybersecurity and data breach incidents in the United States and abroad, including many of the world’s seminal events (such as the Colonial Pipeline ransomware incident and Yahoo! breaches affecting 3.5 billion user accounts).
Advised well-known telecom manufacturer on extensive APT attack involving significant loss of intellectual property.
Advised numerous major retailers on security breaches resulting from criminal tampering of POS terminals, including FBI involvement, forensic investigations, breach notification and PR efforts.
Advised Texas State Comptroller in connection with well-known data security incident involving 3.5 million state workers.
Advised many multinational clients on EU-US Data Privacy Framework and Privacy Shield certifications and annual recertifications.
Counseled numerous technology companies (both as publishers and advertisers) on data collection and sharing issues (including online behavioral advertising and Big Data initiatives), and the collection and use of geolocation data.
Counseled major consumer goods companies on privacy issues associated with the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) and data collection from mobile devices.
Advised multiple clients on employee monitoring and surveillance issues under federal, state and international laws, and prepared related policies (including BYOD).
Conducted comprehensive privacy and information security policy assessments of major US electric utility and retail and consumer goods companies, including extensive data flow mapping, remediation, and development and implementation of multiple privacy, information security and records management policies and procedures.
Served as HIPAA privacy counsel to large health care system, including over 40 hospitals and long-term care and assisted living facilities, and major academic medical center.
Developed and implemented comprehensive global records management program in over 100 countries for one of world's largest software companies (under court supervision), including preparation and implementation of policies and procedures, numerous records retention schedules, in-person and web-based training and audit program.
Books
Editor and lead author, Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Deskbook (1,400-page treatise and annual updates), Aspen Publishers, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2010-2024
Contributing editor and co-author, Data Protection & Privacy, United States, Getting the Deal Through, 2014-2021
Co-author, Navigating The Digital Age, The Definitive Cybersecurity Guide For Directors and Officers Vol. 3, Lessons From Today’s World, How to Manage a Data Breach, January 2021
Co-author, Cybersecurity and Data Breach, Bloomberg BNA Privacy & Data Security Portfolio Series, 2019
Co-author, Chapter 11 European Union Data Protection, Data Security and Privacy Law: Combating Cyberthreats, West, Thomson Reuters, 2010
Co-author, Data Security Handbook, ABA Section of Antitrust Law, 2008
Co-author, Privacy Primer: An Overview of Global Data Protection Laws, 2006
Thought Leaders in Privacy, DataGuidance (Sotto interviewed), May 1, 2017
Bisnow Morning Brief NY, “16 Things You Need to Know This Morning” (Sotto interviewed), February 6, 2017
Electronic Discovery Institute’s Distance Learning Initiative, Information Security 101 (Sotto interviewed), February 2017
Interview, Cybersecurity Risks and Legal Landscape, KUCI 88.9 FM (National Public Radio), “Privacy Piracy: Protect Your Privacy in the Information Age” (Sotto featured in 30-minute interview), July 25, 2016
AskForbes Twitter Chat, What Companies Should Do When They’re Breached, August 26, 2014
Interview, Female Powerbrokers Q&A: Hunton & Williams’ Lisa Sotto, Law360, December 4, 2013
Interview, Cybersecurity Risks and Legal Landscape, KUCI 88.9 FM (National Public Radio), Privacy Piracy: Protect Your Privacy in the Information Age (Sotto featured in 30-minute interview), June 3, 2013
Interview, Should There Be a “Right to be Forgotten” Online? (Sotto interviewed), CBSnews.com, May 10, 2013
Legal Trends Roundtable: Parts 1-5, 2013 The Year Ahead in Privacy and Data Security (Sotto interviewed), com, January-February 6, 2013
Privacy Law Expert: Many Companies Waiting for a Hack (Sotto interviewed), Bloomberg Law, November 1, 2012
Radio Television of Serbia, Data Protection Act Good (English translation) (Sotto interviewed), July 18, 2012
B92 (Serbian radio and television broadcaster), Careful Sharing Data (English translation) (Sotto interviewed), July 18, 2012
Privacy Bill of Rights: A Step Forward, “Can’t be a Back-Burner Issue,” Privacy Lawyer Argues (Sotto interviewed), March 20, 2012
Interview (podcast), Privacy Bill of Rights: Not Be-All, End-All, Security Media Group, February 24, 2012
Breach Response: The Legal View, Fast Action Can Save Reputation and Ensure Compliance (Sotto interviewed), com, December 15, 2011
Breach Response: Reputational Risk, Your Organization’s Name Hinges on Data Value and Security (Sotto interviewed), com, November 30, 2011
Law360, Q&A with Hunton & Williams’ Lisa Sotto (Sotto interviewed), November 4, 2011
KUCI 88.9 FM, Protect Your Privacy in the Information Age (Sotto featured in 30-minute interview), September 19, 2011
FoxLive.com, Is There Need for a Data Privacy Law? (Sotto interviewed), September 6, 2011
End to End Trust, Microsoft Corporation, regarding cross industry collaboration and a safer Internet (Sotto interviewed), September 2009
CNN’s American Morning, Privacy in the Obama Administration (Sotto interviewed), December 8, 2008
ClearChannel Radio, “Tech Talk with Craig Peterson,” regarding the use of RFID in health care (Sotto interviewed), March 4, 2006
Memberships
Chair, US Department of Homeland Security’s Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, 2012-present; appointed to Committee by Secretaries Mayorkas, Nielson, Johnson, Napolitano, Chertoff and Ridge; Chair, Policy Subcommittee, 2010-2012; Committee Vice Chair, 2005-2009; Member, Cybersecurity Subcommittee, 2013-present (requiring Top Secret security clearance)
Member, New York State Department of Financial Services’ (NYDFS) Financial Innovation Advisory Board, 2022-Present
Chair, New York Privacy Officers Forum, 2007-present
Lead Advisor, DataGuidance US Panel of Experts, 2008-present
Member, American Law Institute
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Member, Board of Directors, International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2010-2015
Member, Board of Directors, Identity Theft Resource Center, 2010–2012
Awards & Recognition
Recognized as one of the world’s leading practitioners in Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders: Data 2019-2024; and Who’s Who of Information Technology Lawyers 2011-2023
Honored as a Client Choice Award winner by Lexology, 2022
Recognized as a Distinguished Leader by New York Law Journal, 2022
Named a “Client Service All‐Star” by BTI, 2022
Recognized as a Star Individual in Privacy & Data Security for USA-Nationwide, 2013-2024; Band 1, 2007-2013; and a Leader in Band 1 in Incident Response for USA-Nationwide, 2021-2024, Chambers USA and Chambers Global
Recognized as a Leader in Legal: Data Protection & Cyber Security, USA; Band 1, Chambers FinTech, 2019-2024
Recognized as Hall of Fame for Cyber Law (including Data Privacy and Data Protection) (2020-2023) and as a Leading Lawyer (2013-2019) and for Cyber Crimes (2009-2016), Legal 500 United States
Recommended for FinTech, Legal 500 United States, 2019-2023
Recognized as a Women in Data by Global Data Review, 2022
Selected for Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession, Chambers and Partners, 2021
Recognized among Women in IT Security as a 2020 Veteran, SC Media, 2020
Recognized among Women in Security PowerPlayers, SC Media, 2019
Named among the 100 Most Influential Lawyers, National Law Journal, 2013
Named among Incident Response 30, Cybersecurity Docket, 2016 and 2018
Named among the 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, 2014-2016
Named among Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Trailblazers, National Law Journal, 2015
Named among 45 Regulatory & Compliance Trailblazers, National Law Journal, 2015
Named among the 75 Outstanding Women Lawyers, National Law Journal, 2015
Named among Attorneys Who Matter, Ethisphere Magazine, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015
Voted Number 1 in all Computerworld polls of global privacy advisors
Named among Women in Law, Lawyer Monthly Magazine, 2017
Selected among New York County Lawyers Association’s Outstanding Women in the Legal Profession, December 11, 2017
Selected as Lawline’s Top 20 Women Faculty of 2016, April 18, 2017
Selected for Expert Guides’ “Best of the Best Expert Guide” as a Top 30 Privacy and Data Protection Practitioner Worldwide, 2017-2019
Recognized as one of the world’s leading practitioners in The International Who’s Who of Information Technology Lawyers 2011-2021, Who’s Who Legal, ABA Section of International Law and the International Bar Association
Selected as a Super Lawyer for Technology Transactions Law, The New York Times Magazine, 2006-2023
Selected as one of The Top Women Attorneys for Information Technology/Outsourcing in the New York Metro Area, Super Lawyers
Honoree, Empire State Counsel Program, New York State Bar Association, Pro Bono Affairs, 2011, 2014
2000 Champion of Justice Award, New York City Bar Association, 2000
Designated a Privacy Law Specialist, International Association of Privacy Professionals, American Bar Association Accredited Lawyer Certification Program
Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US and CIPM), International Association of Privacy Professionals
Westin Emeritus Fellow, International Association of Privacy Professionals
Fellow of Information Privacy, International Association of Privacy Professionals
Insights
Events
Speaker, Digital Threat Landscape and Cyber Breach Scenario, KPMG Board Leadership Conference, April 9, 2024
Chair, 2024 Cambridge Forum for Cybersecurity Leaders, Washington D.C. March 3-5, 2024
Speaker, The Current Threat Landscape & Key U.S. Cybersecurity Legal Developments, Midwest Legal Conference on Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, February 8, 2024
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