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Christine Lyon

Christine Lyon

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Freshfields LLP

Freshfields LLP

United States • Media, technology and telecoms

1

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)

Freshfields advises clients as claimants and defendants in a wide array of litigation, including class actions and enforcement actions. Its lawyers are experienced in forensic investigations as well as in conducting reviews of company governance policies. Working in Silicon Valley and New York respectively, Christine Lyon, an expert in privacy programs, GDPR and CCPA, and Timothy Howard, a specialist in white-collar crime and data protection, oversee the practice. Advising on risk management and governance, Beth George is based in Silicon Valley. Washington DC-based Brock Dahl is expert in global incident response. Megan Kayo, in Silicon Valley, leads forensic investigation and global response.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Phone
+1 650 461 8209
Email
[email protected]
Profile
freshfields.com

Profile

Work Department
Data Privacy and Security
Position

Partner

Career

Chris helps companies develop privacy and data protection strategies for new products and services and privacy compliance programs for their customer and employee data, enabling them to leverage the value of their data while complying with evolving global privacy and data protection laws.

Working across a broad range of industries—including technology, consumer products, e-commerce, life sciences, retail, hospitality, social media and professional services—Chris assists clients in navigating privacy risks as they develop innovative new products, services and data-driven initiatives. Chris advises clients on building privacy protections into cutting-edge B2B and B2C offerings, including connected products and services (Internet of Things), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and marketing platforms. She conducts privacy assessments of new products and services, as well as company-wide data protection compliance reviews. She helps structure and negotiate the privacy aspects of M&A and other strategic transactions to both achieve compliance and manage data risks.

Chris works with clients to develop privacy programs that span multiple jurisdictions and data protection laws, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including with respect to cross-border data transfers. She advises clients on workplace and employee privacy issues, such as employee monitoring. Chris has coordinated projects spanning privacy law requirements in dozens of countries, consolidating this information into practical, actionable advice for clients. She also advises on privacy-related issues arising from litigation and enforcement matters.

Chris frequently writes and speaks on the topics of the intersection of privacy and technology, and won the Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing. She is ranked among leading lawyers for Data Privacy and Security by Chambers USA and recommended for Cyber Law: Data Privacy and Protection by Legal 500 US. In 2022, she was shortlisted for Privacy & Data Protection Lawyer of the Year by Euromoney's America Women in Business Law Awards.

Education
  • Stanford Law School
    • J.D., 1999
  • University of Iowa
    • B.A., 1996

Content supplied by Freshfields LLP

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Freshfields does an amazing job of building a close relationship across a business such that they can really share the global business view of the client and tailor their guidance based on that understanding. They answer the questions you should be asking but didn't know to ask.' 'Christine Lyon's insights and guidance are targeted, practical, and balanced.'

Key clients

  • Google

Work highlights

Filed a civil lawsuit, on behalf of Google, against two members of a criminal scheme for engaging in an online consumer investment fraud scheme known as “pig butchering”.