Ropes & Gray Bolsters Privacy & Data Security Practice with Addition of Highly Regarded Partners in London and Boston

BOSTON and LONDON, Aug. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Global law firm Ropes & Gray today announced that Heather Egan Sussman and Rohan Massey have joined the firm as partners, bringing their widely recognized skills to the firm's leading privacy & data security practice. Ms. Sussman joins the firm as a partner in Boston, and Mr. Massey joins the firm as a partner in London.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140130/CL56024LOGO

Ms. Sussman and Mr. Massey previously served as leaders of privacy & data security and technology practices at McDermott Will & Emery and, together with Doug Meal, will lead the privacy & data security practice at Ropes & Gray. Their arrival enables Ropes & Gray to provide greater depth of counsel to multinational clients with respect to regulatory approaches in both the EU and the U.S. on important privacy, data security and technology compliance issues.

Described as a leader in the privacy and data security space by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 United States, Ms. Sussman co-chaired the global privacy and data protection practice at her former firm. At Ropes & Gray, Ms. Sussman will continue to counsel multinational clients, including retail, technology, health care, consumer product and financial services companies, on privacy, information security and consumer protection issues.

Ms. Sussman is recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for her "savvy acumen" in navigating clients successfully through the patchwork of U.S. state privacy and data security laws, including California's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), state breach notification laws, state consumer protection laws, state information security laws and self-regulatory frameworks, including laws and regulations related to payment card processing and online advertising. She also advises on GLBA, HIPAA, FCRA, TCPA and CAN-SPAM, and the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, FISMA, the FTC Act and related requirements. Ms. Sussman frequently speaks and writes on data issues, has served as the co-chair of the Boston Bar Association's Privacy Law Committee, and was recently named one of the "Top Women of Law" for 2015 by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Mr. Massey led the intellectual property, media and technology practice in London at his former firm. At Ropes & Gray in London, he will advise clients on EU and UK privacy and data protection matters as well as media, e-commerce, outsourcing, IT and intellectual property matters. Mr. Massey is particularly known for his work in media and marketing, advising on a wide range of data privacy, advertising, and sales promotions arrangements, technology and brand licensing issues, and other transactional matters involving rights and technology. The "approachable and energetic" Mr. Massey has been acclaimed for his "deep understanding of relevant law and ability to apply it in a practical way," as described by The World Trademark Review 1000.

Ms. Sussman graduated from Boston College Law School, and Mr. Massey from the City College of Law in London.

"Heather and Rohan are important additions to Ropes & Gray's already strong privacy & data security platform," said Doug Meal, a lead litigation partner with Ropes & Gray's privacy & data security practice. "They are both big-picture thinkers, with an impressive track record of helping clients innovate while simultaneously meeting compliance obligations and solidifying consumer trust," he added. "Our clients will immediately recognize and benefit from the energy and brilliance that Heather and Rohan bring to our growing, global privacy & data security and technology capabilities."

"Clients expect us to deliver seamless advice to them around the world regardless of their location," said Ms. Sussman. "The structure of Ropes & Gray's practices is designed to do just that."

"The caliber of Ropes & Gray's technology attorneys is what motivated us to join the firm," Mr. Massey said. "We're thrilled to join a growing, experienced and talented team."

About Ropes & Gray LLP

Ropes & Gray is one of the world's premier law firms, with more than 1,100 lawyers and legal professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology and government.

Ropes & Gray's technology practice is made up of regulatory, transactional, litigation and IP attorneys, many of whom hold advanced degrees in engineering and other related fields.

The firm has offices in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Washington, D.C., Chicago, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, and has consistently been recognized for its leading practices in many areas, including privacy & data security, private equity, M&A, life sciences, health care, finance, investment management, hedge funds, tax, intellectual property, litigation, securities litigation, and government enforcement.

CONTACT:
Aaron N. Kellogg
Senior Public Relations Specialist
Ropes & Gray
aaron.kellogg@ropesgray.com
+1 617 235 4403