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Regulatory Tensions in Automated Decision-Making, the Digital Authenticity Crisis, and Restrictions on Professional Use
AI Governance In (and Beyond) Privacy
22 April 2026
Kathleen McConnell, Lauren Gregory Leipold & Daniel Riley
Seyfarth Shaw LLP assists clients in the financial services, healthcare, and technology industries with global compliance frameworks, data breaches, and defending privacy class action cases. The firm is also active in the field of emerging technologies and AI governance, including AI frameworks, biometrics, and website tracking technologies. The practice is jointly led by Houston-based John Tomaszewski, a dedicated privacy lawyer with cross-border specialism covering global compliance programs, including extensive experience with ‘Internet of Things’, ’Big Data’, and evolving cryptocurrency platforms using blockchain. In San Francisco, Kathleen McConnell‘s expertise intersects with data privacy, data science, electronic descovery and information governance. Based in Chicago, Kristine Argentine handles class actions involving consumer issues, consumer fraud, and data breaches, while Jason Priebe is well-versed in information governance and privacy compliance.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team's experience and response time is unparalleled, all while explaining data protection matters in plain English and in an easy-to-understand manner. ’
‘I believe it is the personalized attention to the Client's needs that makes Seyfarth Shaw, LLP stand out from the rest. It's not like speaking with a lawyer, but with someone who is there to help and go above and beyond.'
Key clients
- Allstate
- Prudential Financial Inc.
- Whirlpool, Inc.
Work highlights
Advised a major insurance services provider on complex data privacy compliance and risk mitigation issues involving cookies, Meta Pixel, and evolving state privacy laws, while simultaneously defending the company against threatened mass arbitration and individual plaintiff matters alleging novel CIPA and wiretap-based claims arising from the use of tracking technologies on its website.
Represented a global consumer retail brand in assessing and defending against threatened individual and class actions alleging improper data collection through website tracking scripts, providing forensic review, strategic counsel on compliance with CCPA, CPRA, GDPR, and other privacy laws, and advising on consent mechanisms and policy improvements to mitigate risk and maintain business continuity.
Advised a global electric vehicle manufacturer on mission-critical multinational privacy compliance, including building comprehensive HR and vehicle privacy programs across UK, EU GDPR, and U.S. laws, conducting DPIAs and regulator interactions for advanced driver assistance systems, and supporting cross-border data transfers, marketing compliance, and AI development and deployment.
Practice head
John Tomaszewski; Kathleen McConnell
Other key lawyers
Kristine Argentine; Jason Priebe