Ann LaFrance co-chairs the firm’s global Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice and is a senior member of the international Communications Practice.
In addition to advising clients on national and cross-border data privacy and cybersecurity matters, Ann has experience counselling clients on a broad range of legal and regulatory issues affecting the provision of internet and digital services, as well as advanced technologies. She has particular expertise advising on issues of concern to technology, media and telecommunications companies and she frequently serves as an adviser to governments and regulatory authorities on legislative and policy matters in these areas. Her practice is global, spanning the US, the EU and emerging markets in the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Until September 2019, Ann was a partner in the firm’s London office, where she advised clients on the full range of compliance issues arising under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the ePrivacy Directive and the Network and Information Security (Cybersecurity) Directive. She has also counseled clients on compliance with the EU telecommunications regulatory framework and, most recently, legislative drafting and implementation issues related to the adoption of the new EU Electronic Communications Code.
Drawing on her extensive GDPR experience, Ann now leads the firm’s US team of data protection practitioners advising on compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act, as well as other federal and state privacy and cybersecurity laws and regulations. She has particular expertise in assisting clients with the design and implementation of integrated global compliance solutions and regulatory risk mitigation strategies.
Ann brings to the table an in-house perspective on top of her 25 years of experience advising clients as external counsel. From 1996 to 2004, she served as Chief International Counsel of MCI Communications Corp. (now Verizon), based in Brussels and London.
Ann is a member of the board of directors of the International Institute of Communications (IIC) and serves as Vice President. She is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals and is regularly called upon to speak on data privacy and digital economy issues.
Latest Legal and Business Bylines From Ann J. LaFrance
- “Dark Patterns” Are Focus of Regulatory Scrutiny in the United States and Europe - (Posted On Thursday, May 05, 2022)
- Colorado Becomes Latest State With a Comprehensive Privacy Law - (Posted On Friday, July 09, 2021)
- DFS Enters Into $1.5 Million Consent Order With Residential Mortgage Company In Wake of Widespread Data Breach - (Posted On Tuesday, April 13, 2021)
- Will Oklahoma Be the Next State to Enact a Comprehensive Privacy Bill? - (Posted On Tuesday, March 30, 2021)
- Off to the Races: Over 50 Privacy Bills Introduced in the State of New York - (Posted On Wednesday, February 24, 2021)
- Watch Out for These Very Important Documents on “Transfers” and “Processing” of Personal Data - (Posted On Wednesday, November 18, 2020)
- Voters Approve California Privacy Rights Act - (Posted On Wednesday, November 04, 2020)
- New Data Protection Law for the Dubai International Financial Centre - (Posted On Tuesday, September 22, 2020)
- Final CCPA Regulations Are Now in Effect – With a Few Changes - (Posted On Tuesday, August 18, 2020)
- CJEU Invalidates the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework but Leaves the Standard Contractual Clauses Intact, Subject to Major Caveats - (Posted On Friday, July 17, 2020)
The National Law Review recognizes the Data Privacy and Security Practice Group at Squire Patton Boggs as a Go-To Thought Leader for their contributions related to Privacy legislation in California. With the year-long implementation of the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and the recent CPRA (California Privacy Rights Act), Squire Patton Boggs wrote consistently on CCPA compliance, including updates from the California Attorney General on changes to the CCPA, updates to CCPA Regulations and the progression of the CPRA to the ballot box and eventual law. The articles provided guidance for businesses including health care systems and financial institutions on CCPA compliance. The following NLR authors from Squire Patton Boggs were regular contributors on data privacy and security: Glenn A. Brown, Lydia de la Torre, Elliot Golding, Michael W. Kelly, Lauren Kitces, and Ann J, LaFrance.