Armstrong Teasdale Invests in Growing Privacy and Data Security Practice, Adds Attorneys Nationwide

Over the past year and half, Armstrong Teasdale has invested heavily in its Privacy and Data Security practice, which has a strong reputation for handling compliance, litigation, and data breach matters, both domestically and internationally. The firm has nearly doubled the size of its practice in that same timeframe, most recently adding Senior Associate Dustin Berger in Denver, Colorado, and Associate Jared Keetch in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Privacy and Data Security practice consists of a cross-disciplinary team of lawyers experienced with matters involving both U.S. and international privacy and data security laws, including a Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH), Certified Information Privacy Professionals (CIPP/US, CIPP/C and CIPP/E), a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and Technologist (CIPT). Members of the team routinely advise clients ranging from internet startups to Fortune 100 companies. In 2021 to-date, Armstrong Teasdale also added Partner Romaine Marshall, Of Counsel Jose Abarca and Associate Casey Waughn to its roster.

“There has been a steady increase of regulation in privacy and cybersecurity at the state and federal levels, and these recent additions are an indicator of the increasing complexity this creates for businesses around the world, related to data protection, as well as general digital transformation,” said Partner Jeffrey Schultz, who leads the practice. “We are proud to have such a deep bench in this area, with attorneys positioned across offices and a wide range of experience and professional backgrounds.”

Berger has decades of experience working with clients on matters involving technology, cybersecurity, data privacy and human capital. His experience—directing the in-house privacy program for a top 10 global IT services provider, working with clients on data security and privacy matters in private practice and as a hands-on technology professional—makes him a valued asset to his clients and peers. Berger has advised clients on data privacy laws around the world, including the Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the California Consumer Privacy Act/California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA) and emerging privacy laws in states such as Colorado, Virginia and Nevada. He also regularly advises clients on contractual data protection obligations with their customers, service providers and other vendors. He has worked with clients to develop global privacy programs to address privacy law obligations in a structured, practical and risk-based manner.

Keetch formerly served as a law clerk to the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) in Washington, D.C., and has a wealth of experience relating to state and federal cybersecurity and data privacy regulations. His technical background enables him to easily communicate with engineers, network analysts and cybersecurity specialists, as he understands their most significant challenges and pain points. Keetch has experience guiding clients on data breach notification requirements across the U.S and in Canada, including HIPAA and state data breach laws. He has drafted policies and user agreements, helped clients expand and refine their cybersecurity strategies, and performed research and reviewed documents related to document and data retention, schedules and the publication of international historical documents containing sensitive data.

In addition, the firm is hosting a three-part Digital Transformation Webinar Series this fall designed to provide legal solutions and strategies obtained from frontline experiences to help organizations comply with evolving legal, regulatory and industry standards. The series will address the growing patchwork of laws, supply chain risk management, and emerging technologies including IoT. The second virtual event in the series, “Supply Chain Risk Management: A Legal Imperative for Cybersecurity and Data Privacy,” takes place Oct. 26. To learn more and register, visit our website.