news | February 9, 2011
Experienced Team Opens AGG’s New Privacy Practice in Washington, D.C.
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP is pleased to announce the launch of its new Privacy Practice in Washington, D.C., led by one of the preeminent privacy attorneys in America, Robert R. Belair. The new office is located at 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, suite 205, in the heart of the nation’s capital. Mr. Belair’s team provides counsel to background check companies, consumer reporting agencies, credit bureaus, financial institutions, healthcare providers, insurers, trade associations and entities that collect, maintain, use or sell sensitive personal information. Additionally, the attorneys represent clients in consumer regulatory proceedings, legislative campaigns and compliance initiatives; and they help analyze and manage potential data breach situations.
Our Expertise
AGG’s presence in central Washington enhances the firm’s ability to serve the broad array of industries that are greatly affected by continually changing federal regulations. The Privacy Practice Team advises private sector clients on privacy policies related to credit reporting, financial services, direct marketing, telecommunications, health information, online services and employment. In addition, the team provides counsel to governments and to professional organizations. AGG’s attorneys are well versed in international privacy developments throughout the European Union (EU) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Examples of the services we offer are:
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- Helping clients comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Drivers Privacy Protection Act, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and many other privacy statutes.
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- Providing advice and assistance in drafting privacy policies, responding to law enforcement requests for information, and in protecting electronic data.
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- Offering analysis and daily updates on federal agency privacy and security actions.
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- Preparing clients for the unusual privacy issues associated with online products and services
- Representing clients before the Federal Trade Commission and other federal agencies.
Our Team
AGG’s Privacy Team has deep knowledge of how the federal government works. Mr. Belair is an internationally recognized privacy lawyer with more than three decades of experience, and is a frequent writer and speaker on privacy topics. He is an expert on the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Mr. Belair served as Deputy Counsel to the White House Privacy Committee in the Ford Administration and as a lawyer in the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection doing Fair Credit Reporting Act and other privacy-related work. Later, Mr. Belair served as General Counsel of the National Commission on the Confidentiality of Health Records. In private practice, he was a founding partner of Oldaker, Belair & Wittie in Washington. Mr. Belair has done work for numerous government entities on privacy matters, including the National Science Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences, the Department of Transportation and the Social Security Administration. On the Hill, Mr. Belair has served on the Judiciary Committee Advisory Committee for Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE) and as an advisor to Senator Bob Bennett’s (R-UT) Health Privacy Task Force. He was co-editor of the leading privacy periodical for the business community, Privacy & American Business.
Joining Mr. Belair at the Washington office are partner Kevin L. Coy and associate Kim Phan. Mr. Coy advises privacy-sensitive organizations on domestic and international privacy law and on policy matters that cover a wide range of personal information, including credit and finances, criminal history and health. Mr. Coy also advises clients on online privacy issues, the conduct of privacy impact assessments and privacy best practices. Ms. Phan’s practice focuses on counseling clients regarding federal legislative and regulatory compliance matters. She has assisted clients with engaging congressional offices and executive agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Ms. Phan formerly worked at the National Federation of Independent Business. Attorneys in Atlanta provide additional privacy expertise and support.
AGG is Ready to Help
Companies not only must manage information relating to customers, suppliers, employees, inventory, brands and finances, but also must find ways to turn that information into a competitive advantage. Manipulation of information both internally and externally can put at risk an organization’s reputation and its economic well being. Privacy issues are complex and affect many types of entities, and privacy law is continually changing. The AGG team stands ready to help private and public organizations understand and adhere to the latest developments in privacy law. To learn more about AGG’s Privacy Practice, please click here.
Arnall Golden Gregory LLP is an Atlanta law firm that serves the business needs of growing public and private companies. Through mergers and acquisitions, capital markets financing, strategic alliances, joint ventures, litigation and other business-related guidance, the firm helps clients across a broad range of industries turn legal challenges into business opportunities.