Data Privacy Senior Attorney
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP is a full-service law firm with over 350 lawyers and technical professionals serving clients globally across diverse industries, including trade associations, nonprofits, educational institutions, governments, family trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. Founded in 1848, the firm combines exceptional legal service with business acumen and maintains contemporary offices designed for collaboration and concentration.
About the role
The Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group is seeking a Mid to Senior-Level Associate or Senior Counsel with at least five years of experience in privacy and cybersecurity to help expand the practice. This role involves advising clients across industries on a broad spectrum of privacy and data security matters.
Responsibilities
- Review, update, or draft security policies
- Provide data breach prevention and risk-mitigation counseling, including tabletop design and delivery
- Conduct data breach investigation and response counseling
- Apply in-depth knowledge of regulatory frameworks for key international, federal, and state privacy laws (including state consumer data privacy laws, PCI-DSS, GLBA, HIPAA, and GDPR)
- Implement key components of privacy and security compliance programs
- Negotiate complex information technology, licensing, and outsourcing contracts, including privacy and data security clauses and risk allocation issues such as indemnification and limitation of liability
- Advise on data governance strategies (retention, use policies, inventories, mapping)
- Address privacy and cybersecurity due diligence in M&A transactions
- Draft company terms of service and website privacy policies
Requirements
- J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school with excellent academic credentials
- At least five years of experience handling privacy and cybersecurity issues
- Privacy professional certification preferred but not required
- Passion for staying current with technology-driven privacy and cybersecurity issues and trends
- Valid authorization to work in the U.S.
Skills
- Adaptability to learn new skills, work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and balance independent and team-based work
- Ability to develop relationships, foster teamwork, and collaborate at all levels of the firm
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including managing confidential information and sensitive situations with discretion
- Strong drafting and negotiation skills
- Confidence in identifying and analyzing issues, making decisions, and initiating solutions
- Agility in responding to unexpected challenges and developing innovative solutions to complex problems
- Professionalism and sound judgment
Benefits
- Competitive base pay and performance-based bonus program
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including medical, dental, vision, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts
- Wellness program and employee/family assistance program
- Unlimited PTO plus 10 paid holidays
- 401(k) with company contributions
- Short-term and long-term disability plans, life insurance, and optional critical illness insurance
- Parental/family leave
- ABA, state, and local bar membership fee reimbursement
- Bar exam/bar review course reimbursement
- Mentorship program and specialized training opportunities
- Career development planning, performance management, and coaching
- Flexible remote work policy (up to 2.5 days per week)
Pay
For applicants in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, and Illinois, the annual compensation range is $170,000 to $245,000. Final compensation will depend on experience, skills, and internal equity.
Schedule
This is a full-time position with eligibility for all employer-sponsored benefits, including flexible remote work options (up to 2.5 days per week).
Offices are located in Wisconsin (Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha), Illinois (Chicago), Utah (Salt Lake City), Colorado (Denver, Broomfield), Texas (Austin), North Carolina (Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington), California (Los Angeles), Nebraska (Lincoln), and Washington D.C.