Sheryl Falk & Alessandra Swanson Discuss How Winston’s Newly Launched Data Privacy Team is Helping Clients

Partners Sheryl Falk and Alessandra Swanson, who co-lead Winston & Strawn’s newly launched data privacy team, spoke with Business Insider about the regulatory climate that catalyzed the team’s formation and how law firms can help their clients navigate an increasingly tricky privacy landscape.

Alessandra shared, “The pandemic has caused a huge shift in how clients operate. A large remote workforce brings with it a number of privacy and data security issues. Like with company-issued computers—hackers are having a field day.” Alessandra added that, “As people are starting to return to offices, employers are required by law to collect a host of health information from their employees, which also stirs up privacy issues.”

Sheryl added that the type of work has changed, too. The initial team dedicated to this area originally dealt with larger-scale compliance projects, but now, “it’s shifted to smaller, more frantic work like data breaches and ransomware attacks,” she said.

To address clients’ growing concerns, Winston expanded its small privacy task force into a large, cross-department practice group comprised of around 70 attorneys whose work—whether in litigation, corporate, or intellectual property—substantially dealt with privacy issues. These lawyers continue to work within their original practice groups, but are pulled onto data protection cases as needed.

“We work seamlessly, and are able to leverage expertise across various practice groups to quickly and cohesively counsel clients,” Alessandra explained. “We’ve been able to cross-train everyone.”

Sheryl concluded, “Our clients are really recognizing privacy as a top-level risk.”

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