Over the years, many clients have come to know The CommLaw Group as the law firm they turn to first, whenever a regulatory issue arises. We‘ve become trusted advisors on all matters regulatory, whether before the Federal Communications Commission or the multitude of state & local governmental agencies with jurisdiction over your communications business. We appreciate your loyalty, faith, and trust in our expert professional guidance in these areas.
But did you know we are more than just a regulatory law firm?
Through a series of e-mail advisories The CommLaw Group will be introducing you some of our other, lesser known Practice Areas, competencies and skills. We will also introduce you to the distinguished professionals leading these Practice Areas and share with you representative examples of our many achievements assisting clients with legal matters outside our traditional regulatory core. We hope you‘ll be pleasantly surprised by the breadth and depth of our firm‘s experience.
Since the firm‘s inception, our attorneys have represented clients in all facets of their business lives, from formation to dissolution — cradle to grave – the ups and downs — and everything in between. While we pride ourselves on our specialized skills in the area of regulatory law, we also want our clients to consider contacting us anytime legal questions or issues arise in other areas of the law. In short, we want you to be aware of the full scope of our legal skills and experiences with the hope you‘ll soon feel just as comfortable contacting us with regard to issues arising in these areas as you currently feel with regard to regulatory matters.
Information Privacy, Data Security and Consumer Protection
Our experienced attorneys provide creative, practical, specialized legal counsel and support to enable companies to successfully manage their compliance risks. Specialized in representing all aspects of the communications sector, including providers of cloud communications, broadband and Internet access, and VoIP services, we carefully weave privacy and security in all aspects of a business to minimize exposure while optimizing permitted uses of information for the benefit of our clients and their customers. We offer comprehensive assessments of privacy and security requirements to ensure compliance with the myriad U.S. federal and state laws, regulations and policies addressing privacy issues.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE:
Information Privacy and Data Security Risk Management Checklist
The CommLaw Group offers comprehensive guidance in the areas of privacy, data security and consumer protection.
We help clients realize business goals, manage risk, and comply with privacy and data protection laws. Our attorneys, consultants and staff can help guide you through an array of privacy, data security and consumer protection matters, including:
- General Privacy and Security Counseling
We assist clients in developing data security plans, policies and programs necessary for compliance with TCPA, CAN-SPAM, CPNI, HIPAA, “Red Flag” Rules, PCI Data Security Standards, FTC standards, and state data and consumer protection laws. All of this guidance starts with a clear and deep understanding of a client’s business, the type of data involved, and the business relationships among those involved in the provision of the product or service.
- Privacy Reviews and Assessments
Our privacy assessments involve a thorough evaluation of how our clients collect, use, share and maintain personal and other sensitive data. These assessments enable our clients to incorporate privacy and data security measures throughout the life cycle of a product or service, from the development stage. With this understanding of our clients’ data collection and use practices, we follow up with additional practical guidance and checklists for compliance with applicable privacy frameworks.
- Privacy Policies and Website Disclosures
We work with clients to develop privacy practices that support business success. Published privacy policies must reflect actual practices of a company and must not over- or understate the commitments a company makes concerning its use of personal data. Procedures used by another company could be irrelevant to the practices or type of data that another company collects and uses for different purposes. We draft clear, complete, accurate privacy or security policies relevant to the applicable laws and the company’s activities concerning the collection and use of personal data.
- Contract negotiation among business partners to address privacy concerns
Intelligent allocation of risk among business partners starts well before contract terms are finalized. We assist with due diligence review of privacy and data security policies and capabilities, negotiation and drafting of privacy and data security provisions among business partners who collect, share and maintain personal or other sensitive data, and implementation of ongoing monitoring, data retention and destruction, and other ongoing compliance with contractual obligations.
- Handling Data Security Breaches and Privacy-Related Complaints
Breach incidents that might have allowed personal information to be accessed by unauthorized third parties are governed by differing federal, state and territorial laws. Accordingly, each breach requires careful attention to the unique circumstances of data involved and the varying obligations under applicable laws. We assist companies to prepare for a possible breach of security of their systems. If a breach occurs, we assist clients in responding, evaluating the breach, determining whether security breach disclosure laws apply to the incident, addressing associated contractual issues, and complying with breach notification requirements under various state laws as required.
- International Privacy and Data Security Laws
The CommLaw Group offers international privacy counsel, working with local counsel worldwide, as clients launch global products and services that involve multijurisdictional privacy considerations.
Why might you need The CommLaw Group’s privacy lawyers?
One of the greatest risks in the realm of privacy and data security is damage to a company’s reputation and its relationships with customers and business partners. Our privacy professionals help clients implement best practices in information privacy and data security. We are aware of the potential for domestic and international enforcement actions for failure to protect consumer information. We have advised clients dealing with security breach and unauthorized disclosures of personal information, including state breach notification requirements. To ensure adequate protections, companies must work directly with vendors, employees, independent contractors and customers to obtain, use, secure and protect internal and external customer data. We also recognize the need to address legal and reputational risks while preserving an organization’s ability to use information in ways that achieve organizational goals.
Meet our Practice Leader!
Linda McReynolds practices primarily in the areas of telecommunications and privacy law. Ms. McReynolds is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US). In private practice for the past 17 years, Linda began her career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and later practiced at Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis before joining The CommLaw Group. Linda is a member of the District of Columbia and Missouri bars and belongs to the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Federal Communications Bar Association. Linda delivers “partner” service for the price of an associate attorney ($275 hourly rate).
Ms. McReynolds counsels clients on issues arising under the Telecommunications Act and federal and state laws addressing privacy and data security. As a practitioner, she recognizes clients’ needs to develop good practices and address compliance with applicable laws while achieving business success in the fast-paced technology and telecommunications sectors.
If you have questions about Privacy, Data Security or Consumer Protection matters or are simply interested in learning more about this rapidly growing practice area, please contact Linda McReynolds at lgm@commlawgroup.com or 703-714-1318.
