Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Expands Privacy Practice

- Former FTC Attorney Margaret Lassack Named Of Counsel at the Firm -

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Oct 20, 2014, 09:30 ET

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the premier provider of legal services to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, is pleased to announce that Margaret L. Lassack has become Of Counsel at the firm. Formerly an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the Bureau of Consumer Protection's Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, Lassack brings extensive experience with the investigation of unfair and deceptive acts and practices involving data protection, privacy, and violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. She will be based in the firm's Washington, D.C., office.

"From start-ups to established enterprises, consumer protection and privacy matters continue to top the list of concerns for clients worldwide as they strive to maintain the highest standards for the collection, protection, and use of information," said Doug Clark, co-managing partner. "We're fortunate to have one of the country's foremost practices dedicated to advising clients on privacy and data protection matters, and we're pleased Maggie has joined our expanding team. Her substantial FTC and regulatory experience will be of great value to the firm's clients."

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's privacy and data protection practice, with more than 30 attorneys globally, includes former government officials, leading privacy litigators, compliance attorneys, transactional lawyers, and legislative and regulatory strategists. With an insider's perspective on policy and enforcement culture, coupled with a real-world understanding of litigation risk and industry practices, the group provides practical and policy experience on a wide range of matters, including government investigations, enforcement actions, and complex multi-jurisdictional privacy investigations and litigation.

"With her diverse experience at the FTC, Maggie has a first-hand understanding of the complexity and intricacy of the global regulatory climate and the consumer protection issues faced by our clients on a daily basis," said Lydia Parnes, a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and former director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "As news headlines continue to focus on privacy and data breaches, it is of paramount importance for companies to safeguard against potential problems. Maggie and others in our privacy and data protection practice have the scope of experience to help clients take a proactive, comprehensive approach to these issues."

Before joining Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Lassack spent four years (2010-2014) as an attorney at the FTC in the Bureau of Consumer Protection's Division of Privacy and Identity Protection and Division of Marketing Practices. While serving at the FTC, she investigated and prosecuted deceptive and unfair practices related to data security, consumer privacy, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, credit card payment processing, and marketing practices. Prior to joining the FTC, Lassack spent four years as an associate with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in New York and Washington, D.C., where she focused on antitrust, litigation, and regulatory investigations, including those related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. She began her legal career by serving as a clerk to the Honorable James L. Ryan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 2005 to 2006.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
For more than 50 years, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has offered a broad range of services and legal disciplines focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities litigation, employment law, intellectual property, and antitrust, among many other areas of law. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has offices in Austin; Beijing; Brussels; Hong Kong; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.