Alan Friel is the deputy chair of the firm’s Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice.
Alan is a thought leader in digital media, intellectual property, and privacy and consumer protection law, with three decades of relevant experience to address the intersection of law and technology.
Prior to joining the firm, Alan was a partner at a US law firm, where he led the US Consumer Privacy practice (in which he counseled clients on compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other data privacy regimes), and the retail, restaurant and e-commerce industry initiative, as well as served as the California Digital Assets and Data Management Leader.
Having served as a general counsel for several years in the 1990s before returning to private practice, Alan has the necessary expertise to advise clients on making practical and informed business decisions, and help companies and entrepreneurs navigate the complex opportunities created by disruptive technology. With his in-house and private practice experience, he assists clients with creating data inventories, and information governance and data privacy and securities programs; developing and implementing policies and procedures for providing consumer data privacy transparency, choice and access; drafting and negotiating privacy and data security provisions for commercial contracts; evaluating privacy impact assessments; addressing data privacy and security issues in merger and acquisitions transactions; drafting and revising external and internal privacy and data security policies and procedures; and addressing complex intellectual property and consumer protection issues related to digital media, advertising and commerce.
Alan remains at the forefront of emerging media and tech, advising content producers, distributors, advertisers, ad tech companies and online services, as well as big brands, social game publishers, and app developers and publishers, on related legal issues. He also works closely with his clients’ trade organizations, such as the Internet Advertising Bureau.
Alan is a sought-after speaker. He is affiliated with UCLA as an assistant professor in a multidisciplinary project at the Graduate School of TV, Film and Digital Media, and is an adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount School of Law. Alan also provides pro bono consulting services to the International Association of Privacy Professionals, drafting, reviewing and editing CCPA training materials for privacy officers and lawyers.
