Cybersecurity and Privacy Law: In an era where data breaches cost businesses an average of $4.88 million globally and AI-driven threats are evolving faster than regulations can keep up, cybersecurity and privacy law stands as a critical frontline. As we step into 2025, the landscape is more complex than ever. New state privacy laws in the U.S.—like those in Texas, Oregon, and Montana—join federal pushes for comprehensive data protection, while the EU’s AI Act and global standards demand agile legal expertise. Cyberattacks surged 30% in 2024, per IBM reports, making incident response and compliance non-negotiable for enterprises.
This article spotlights seven standout attorneys shaping the future of cybersecurity and privacy law. Selected from prestigious rankings like the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers and Chambers USA, these legal minds blend deep regulatory knowledge with battle-tested litigation prowess. From defending tech giants against platform liability to guiding healthcare firms through breach notifications, their work anticipates 2025’s hotspots: AI ethics, quantum-resistant encryption, and cross-border data flows. Whether you’re a C-suite executive, compliance officer, or tech innovator, these attorneys to watch offer insights into navigating tomorrow’s risks. Let’s dive in.
1. Jane C. Horvath: The Privacy Pioneer Redefining Tech Governance
Jane C. Horvath, partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Washington, D.C., is a cornerstone of modern privacy law. With a career spanning Big Tech’s formative years, Horvath served as Chief Privacy Officer at Google and Apple, shaping policies that influenced billions of users. Earlier, as the first Chief Privacy Counsel and Civil Liberties Officer at the U.S. Department of Justice, she tackled national security intersections with data rights. Her AOL tenure in the 1990s even included drafting some of the internet’s earliest privacy frameworks.
Horvath’s 2025 relevance? She’s at the vanguard of AI and data innovation challenges. In recent years, she’s advised on GDPR compliance for U.S. multinationals and defended against FTC enforcement actions. Looking ahead, expect her to lead on emerging U.S. federal privacy legislation, potentially harmonizing patchwork state laws. “Privacy isn’t just compliance—it’s a competitive edge,” Horvath noted in a 2024 panel, emphasizing proactive risk modeling.
Clients praise her for blending policy acumen with courtroom tenacity. In a high-stakes 2023 case, she represented a major cloud provider in a class-action suit over data encryption lapses, securing a landmark dismissal that set precedents for cloud liability. For 2025, Horvath’s focus on ethical AI auditing positions her as essential for firms rolling out generative tools. As quantum computing threats loom, her DOJ roots will prove invaluable in advising on resilient cybersecurity postures. At 150 words per profile, her story underscores why pioneers like Horvath remain indispensable.
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2. Lisa J. Sotto: Global Chair Tackling Breach Response at Scale
Lisa J. Sotto, chair of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s global privacy and cybersecurity practice and managing partner of its New York office, is a force in international data protection. Recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Top Lawyers in 2025, Sotto advises Fortune 500 clients on everything from breach notifications to cross-jurisdictional compliance. Her expertise spans consumer data privacy, biometrics regulations like Illinois’ BIPA, and cybersecurity incident response for sectors including finance and retail.
What sets Sotto apart is her hands-on approach to crises. She’s led responses to over 1,000 data incidents, including mega-breaches affecting millions. In 2024, she guided a healthcare conglomerate through a ransomware attack, minimizing regulatory fines under HIPAA and state laws while negotiating with threat actors ethically. Chambers profiles her as a “market leader” for risk analysis, noting her ability to “identify and mitigate privacy pitfalls before they escalate.”
For 2025, Sotto’s eye is on harmonizing U.S. state privacy acts with global regimes like Brazil’s LGPD. As supply chain attacks rise—up 42% last year—she’ll champion vendor risk assessments. Her role on the National Security Data and Policy Institute board signals deeper involvement in U.S. government collaborations. Sotto’s mantra: “Anticipate the breach; architect the defense.” In a field where seconds count, her scalable strategies make her a must-watch for global enterprises.
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3. Jennifer C. Everett: The Compliance Architect for Emerging Tech
Jennifer C. Everett, partner at Alston & Bird in Washington, D.C., excels in weaving regulatory threads across privacy, cybersecurity, and healthcare. Featured in the 2025 Lawdragon 500, Everett advises on enforcement actions, transactions, and compliance for AI, biometrics, and children’s data. Her breadth covers state-federal-international laws, making her a go-to for multinationals navigating the “privacy patchwork.”
Everett’s track record includes structuring data-sharing deals under CCPA and CPRA, and defending against class actions involving workplace surveillance. In a 2024 merger, she integrated privacy due diligence for a $2B tech acquisition, averting post-deal liabilities. “The future of privacy lies in adaptive frameworks,” she shared in an Alston & Bird webinar, highlighting her work on emerging tech like edge computing.
Why watch in 2025? With the EU AI Act’s high-risk classifications rolling out, Everett’s health-tech focus positions her for breakthroughs in telehealth data security. She’s also vocal on consumer privacy rights, predicting a surge in opt-out mechanisms. For innovators, her transactional savvy—blending legal with business strategy—offers a blueprint for sustainable growth amid SEC cybersecurity disclosures.
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4. Alexander A. Berengaut: Litigation Titan Defending Digital Platforms
Alexander A. Berengaut, partner at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., is the litigator’s litigator in cybersecurity disputes. Honored in Lawdragon’s 2025 list, Berengaut specializes in platform liability, data privacy, and government challenges. His defenses of TikTok against U.S. operational bans and Microsoft/Xiaomi in extraterritorial data seizures showcase his prowess.
Berengaut’s “panoply of knowledge,” as peers describe, shines in complex trials. He led a 2023 victory quashing state privacy suits against a social media giant, arguing First Amendment protections for algorithmic moderation. His work extends to incident response, advising on FTC and state AG probes.
In 2025, as deepfake litigation explodes—projected to double per Deloitte—Berengaut’s platform expertise will be pivotal. He’ll likely spearhead challenges to overreaching state AI regs, balancing innovation with accountability. For clients, his blend of appellate strategy and policy advocacy ensures resilient defenses. “Litigation isn’t reactive; it’s strategic foresight,” Berengaut asserts. In a year of heightened scrutiny, he’s the shield for digital frontiers.
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5. Marcy Wilder: Healthcare Privacy Guardian in Breach Storms
Marcy Wilder, partner at Hogan Lovells in Washington, D.C., co-leads the firm’s global privacy and cybersecurity practice with a laser focus on healthcare. Ranked Band 1 in Chambers USA for Privacy & Data Security: Healthcare, Wilder manages high-profile cyberattacks and regulatory defenses. She’s handled hundreds of incidents, from phishing epidemics to ransomware in hospitals.
Wilder’s hallmark? Turning chaos into compliance. In 2024, she orchestrated a response to a nationwide health data breach, coordinating with HHS and state attorneys general to limit exposure. Her success in federal investigations underscores her negotiation finesse. “Healthcare data is the new oil—protect it fiercely,” she told Business Insider.
For 2025, with HIPAA updates emphasizing AI in diagnostics, Wilder’s sector depth will drive interoperability standards. She’s poised to influence ONC rules on patient consent, amid rising telehealth vulnerabilities. Clients value her proactive audits, which preempt multimillion-dollar fines. As cyber threats target vulnerable populations, Wilder’s empathetic yet rigorous approach makes her indispensable for health leaders.
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6. Imran Ahmad: The Tech-Savvy Strategist Bridging Borders
Imran Ahmad, senior partner at Norton Rose Fulbright in Toronto, heads Canada’s technology sector and co-leads its cybersecurity and data privacy practice. An adjunct professor at the University of Toronto teaching cybersecurity law, Ahmad fuses academia with practice. His global lens covers breach response, AI governance, and cross-border transfers.
Ahmad’s feats include advising on Canada’s PIPEDA reforms and defending against class actions in fintech hacks. In 2024, he supported a bank through a supply-chain attack, integrating quantum-safe encryption strategies. “Cybersecurity is a legal priority now,” he emphasized in a CyberSecure Catalyst interview.
2025 watchlist status? As U.S.-Canada data pacts evolve under USMCA, Ahmad’s bilingual expertise will streamline compliance. His AI privacy focus anticipates tools like ChatGPT risks, per his Les Affaires commentary. For North American firms, his forward-thinking counsel on emerging regs positions him as a bridge-builder in fragmented landscapes.
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7. Demian Ahn: Incident Response Leader from Prosecution to Prevention
Demian Ahn, partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Washington, D.C., leads the firm’s incident response practice within its data, privacy, and cybersecurity group. A former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ahn brings enforcement insight to private practice. He’s advised on hundreds of incidents across health, fintech, and finance.
Ahn’s edge lies in his dual prosecutor-client perspective. In 2023, he represented a SaaS provider in an SEC probe post-breach, negotiating a deferred prosecution agreement. His team excels in rapid triage, from ransomware decryption to stakeholder notifications.
Heading into 2025, Ahn’s regulatory foresight targets CISA’s evolving directives on critical infrastructure. With insider threats up 44%, his investigative chops will fortify defenses. “From prosecution to prevention—that’s the pivot,” Ahn shared in a firm insight. For startups scaling amid cyber risks, his blend of speed and strategy is game-changing.
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Conclusion: Navigating 2025’s Cyber Horizon with Expert Guidance
As 2025 unfolds, cybersecurity and privacy law will pivot from reaction to resilience, driven by AI proliferation and geopolitical tensions. The attorneys profiled here—Horvath’s innovation savvy, Sotto’s global command, Everett’s compliance craft, Berengaut’s litigation might, Wilder’s health focus, Ahmad’s border-spanning insight, and Ahn’s response agility—embody this shift. Collectively, they represent firms like Gibson Dunn, Hunton Andrews Kurth, and Norton Rose Fulbright, ranked among the elite by Vault and BTI.
For businesses, partnering with such experts isn’t optional—it’s survival. Expect intensified focus on zero-trust architectures, ethical AI audits, and unified privacy standards. By watching these leaders, you’ll not only mitigate risks but seize opportunities in a data-driven world. Stay vigilant; the digital frontier rewards the prepared.
