Chris Cwalina
Christopher G. Cwalina is a partner in Holland & Knight's Washington, DC office and co-chair of the Data Privacy and Security Team. He concentrates his practice primarily on privacy and data security compliance; litigation; defending companies in investigations initiated by state attorneys general, the FTC and other government agencies; responding to security breach incidents; establishing international compliance frameworks for companies; and developing and writing company policies and procedures.
Cwalina has extensive experience in data privacy class action litigation and data privacy compliance for a variety of industries, including communications, retail, life sciences and healthcare, financial services, technology, advertising and marketing. He represents companies in security breach related litigation and data collection and Flash cookie cases. He advises corporations on regulatory issues and legislative affairs pertaining to data privacy and information security issues with a focus on mobile and online practices and also provides counsel on compliance with GLBA, HIPAA, FCRA, COPPA, ECPA, CPNI Rules, TCPA, the USA PATRIOT Act, state privacy laws and international privacy rules, including the Data Protection Act.
Previously, Cwalina was vice president and associate general counsel with Intersections, Inc., an identity theft services and global background screening company. He also served as vice president and assistant general counsel at ChoicePoint, Inc., where he led the Privacy, Compliance, Ethics and Credentialing Department.
A frequent speaker on privacy related issues, Cwalina was recognized by The Legal 500 USA in 2011. He is admitted to the Maryland and Washington, DC bars.
Cwalina received a BA from Gettysburg College and JD from the University of Baltimore School of Law.