Mike Hintze > Hintze Law > Seattle, United States > Lawyer Profile

Hintze Law
518 Yale Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
WASHINGTON
United States
Mike Hintze photo

Position

Member Partner

Career

Mike Hintze is a Member Partner at Hintze Law PLLC and a recognized leader in privacy and data protection law, policy, and strategy. He advises a wide range of companies, industry associations, and other organizations – from startups to largest global technology companies. With more than 25 years of experience in privacy and data protection, Mike emphasizes pragmatic and actionable advice that enables his clients to meet their objectives while complying with the law and managing risk.

Mike also teaches privacy law at the University of Washington School of Law, is a Senior Fellow with the Future of Privacy Forum, and has served as an adviser to the American Law Institute’s project on Data Privacy Principles and on multiple advisory boards for the International Association of Privacy Professionals and other organizations. Mike has testified before Congress, state legislatures, and European regulators; and he is a sought-after speaker and regular writer on data protection issues.

Mike was previously Chief Privacy Counsel at Microsoft, where, for over 18 years, he counselled on data protection compliance globally and helped lead the company’s strategic initiatives on privacy differentiation and public policy. Prior to joining Microsoft, he was an associate with Steptoe & Johnson LLP, which he joined following a judicial clerkship with the Washington State Supreme Court. Mike is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Columbia University School of Law.

Memberships

  • University of Washington School of Law, Affiliate Instructor of Law, 2014-present

  • Future of Privacy Forum (FPF), Senior Fellow, 2018-present

  • American Law Institute (ALI)
    – Adviser, Principles of the Law: Data Privacy, 2013-2019
    – Elected Member, 2014-present

  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
    – Member, 2004-present
    – Education Advisory Board, 2013-2016
    – Research Advisory Board, 2016-2018

  • Berkeley Center for Law and Technology (BCLT) Advisory Board, 2011-2016

  • Privacy Law Salon, Privacy Roundtable Advisory Board, 2011-2013

  • Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) Business Advisory Board, 2002-2007

Education

  • Columbia University School of Law, JD, 1994

  • University of Washington, BA, 1991

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)

Hintze Law specializes in privacy and data security, combining in-house experience with technical expertise and standout subject matter knowledge. Its work spans regulatory and public policy concerns, global privacy and data compliance, and is notably growing in the area of AI & financial services, advising on privacy and ethical issues in the development of AI tools. Managing partner Susan Hintze provides strategic counselling on privacy design and compliance issues from Seattle, often working with high profile clients and their complex concerns. Mike Hintze, also in Seattle, pairs ‘a uniquely practical approach‘ with ‘unsurpassed knowledge of privacy laws‘, advising global leaders in the social networking space. Chicago-based Sheila Sokolowski is a go-to for health and biotech related matters; in Ohio, Jennifer Ruehr specializes in workplace privacy issues.