Privacy Law Professionals to Know 2025

Ryan Johnson is a Fellow of Information Privacy and recognized subject matter expert in data protection, cybersecurity, and AI governance. With over 25 years of experience at the intersection of technology and law, he serves as a fractional Chief Privacy Officer, outside counsel, and consultant to clients in the FinTech, insurance, and technology sectors. Ryan also contributes to public policy as a member of the Arizona Governor’s AI Steering Committee, where he helps shape the state’s framework for responsible AI adoption.

I have over 30 years experience as an Electrical Engineer, Technical Writer, and Documentation Manager. I worked in technical areas including avionics, systems integration, mobile software, SaaS. Several years ago I left the corporate world to care for sick parents. I supported myself building websites, writing technical “how-to” books, and leading online courses. Now, with family issues behind me, I have the time to take on some freelance clients. My atypical career path taught me to work well with a wide range of clients and audiences. Clients like Honeywell and Microsoft, McGraw-Hill and other book publishers, even pre-IPO startups. Audiences from computer beginners, to B2B buyers, to engineers building aircraft systems. I'm skilled at learning complex technologies like VPNs and cryptocurrencies. And I excel at turning that raw data into understandable content for a target audience. I am looking to contribute to projects that need these skills. I'm particularly interested in subjects that empower individuals such as online privacy.

As a Digital Privacy Advocate and Lead SEO at Adult Advisor, I specialize in auditing digital platforms for user safety, subscription transparency, and data security. My work involves reverse-engineering complex web architectures and ensuring platforms adhere to strict consumer protection standards. With extensive experience in technical SEO and digital marketing, I help bridge the gap between user experience and web security, analyzing how online ecosystems can protect consumers from predatory billing and data breaches. I frequently share insights on technical SEO strategy, affiliate marketing, and digital privacy.

Shwetha Babu Prasad is a data security and privacy professional, speaker, and published author with nearly a decade of experience in information security. Her work focuses on advancing practical, engineering-driven approaches to protect sensitive data and reduce systemic data exposure risks. She has experience implementing data protection controls across enterprise systems to mitigate the risk of sensitive data exposure. She is the author of Why Websites Fail at Data Protection and Privacy and Data Security in the Age of AI. An active member of ISC2 and the Information Systems Security Association, she contributes to industry initiatives aligned with National Institute of Standards and Technology frameworks through the ISSA Resilience Special Interest Group. Her work advances practical, engineering driven data protection and privacy capabilities, strengthening cyber resilience across enterprise and critical infrastructure environments.

Shawn is a seasoned lawyer with an entrepreneurial spirit & is experienced working with technology-focused organizations at varying stages, including as General Counsel for an international health tech company. Shawn works closely with clients as a valued & trusted advisor, providing business ready solutions to resolve issues revolving around incident response (breach coach), strategic risk, crisis, data privacy & cybersecurity.Shawn Ford provides strategic risk advisory services that span a comprehensive spectrum, encompassing strategic communications, investigations, due diligence, supply chain analysis, intelligence research & a range of specialized services. He provides guidance on issues related to kidnap, extortion, blackmail & product contamination, rendering invaluable support to High Net Worth Individuals & Families in need of protection & emergency response. He focuses on providing executive-level strategies to plan for, prevent, & respond to crises throughout the pre-, intra-, & post-crisis stages.Shawn values aiding clients to develop & build upon their understanding of strategic risk, compliance, privacy & cyber obligations. As such, he realizes first-hand the challenges that organizations face when trying to balance their compliance obligations while innovating & developing new products & services. Shawn helps companies turn their obligations into opportunities, to build trust & advance their business goals.Shawn assists multinational institutions to understand & operationalize their risk, privacy & cyber requirements. He works closely with the executives, CISOs & legal counsel to create enterprise-wide strategic risk programs, third party risk programs & incident response capabilities. He frequently works with privacy officers to implement their privacy program & to understand their data.As Co-Founder & President of IronGate Protection, Shawn leads the business as it provides executive & close protection, security operations, private investigation, bodyguard, residential security, threat assessment, & international operation management.Shawn states that his mission is “to take a 360° approach to understand your organization’s position & ability to leverage strategic risk, data security, privacy & technology best practices to build brand trust & resiliency.”__The content shared is for general informational purposes only & should not be construed as legal advice.Do not provide confidential information via LinkedIn as it may not be treated as confidential, privileged, or protected.Prior results do not guarantee similar outcome.

Cybersecurity Expert | Cyberwarfare Strategist | Founder, Centuria Labs Research With over 25 years of specialized experience, Giovanni Battista Caria is a prominent figure in the European cybersecurity landscape. As the head of Centuria Labs Research, he has dedicated his career to advanced research in digital crime prevention and the development of impenetrable defensive architectures. His work bridges the gap between technical innovation and strategic analysis, making him a sought-after speaker at major international forums, including the International Security & Digital Council. Literary Contribution & Strategic Insight Caria’s extensive research has culminated in a series of influential works that address the evolving nature of digital threats from both a technical and legal perspective: The Black Book of Cybersecurity (Il Libro Nero della Cybersecurity): A deep dive into the structural flaws of modern digital infrastructure and the methodologies of high-level cyber attacks. The Invisible Front (Cybersecurity & Cyberwarfare): Co-authored as a comprehensive guide to the convergence of law, technology, and national security, this work serves as a manual for understanding state-sponsored digital conflict. The Architects of Shadow (PsyOps & Information Warfare): An analytical exploration of psychological operations and social engineering, detailing how digital influence can compromise national stability and institutional trust. Innovation in Defensive Systems Throughout his two-decade-long career, Caria has focused on creating innovative defensive frameworks designed to be mathematically and structurally resilient. His approach at Centuria Labs emphasizes proactive threat hunting and the implementation of security layers that go beyond traditional firewalls, focusing instead on system-level integrity and zero-trust principles. Strategic Vision A recognized expert in the legal and technical facets of the GDPR and cyber-law, Caria integrates regulatory compliance with hard-core technical defense. His philosophy is rooted in the belief that true cybersecurity requires a holistic understanding of the "invisible front"—the space where software engineering, international law, and geopolitical interests collide. "Cyber defense is not a static wall, but a dynamic architecture of constant anticipation and research." — Giovanni Battista Caria

Vin Mitty, PhD, is a data and AI leader with over 15 years of experience helping organizations move from analytics ambition to real business impact. He advises executives on AI adoption and decision-making, is an AI in Education Advocate, and hosts the Data Democracy podcast. As the Senior Director of Data Science and AI at LegalShield he leads their enterprise-scale AI and machine learning initiatives.

I help businesses, especially e-commerce businesses, navigate complex regulatory environments while enabling innovation and growth. My expertise spans intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance, investigations management, product development risk mitigation, contract reviews, and general counsel services.With a strategic and collaborative approach honed across in-house counsel roles, government prosecution, international law firm practice, and entrepreneurial advisory services, I deliver practical and efficient solutions that balance legal risks with business goals and efficiency.

I am a passionate writer, entrepreneur, researcher and an enthusiastic learner. I have worked as an Assistant Professor in the area of finance and accounting and also co-founded a start-up "ContentShala" which renders content writing services. I have published several research papers on Earnings Management and Corporate Governance. Currently, I am working in the area of regulations around Data Privacy and protection. I am excited to explore the regulatory domain of open banking and data privacy.

William Berg is a securities expert at DayTrading.com with more than 20 years of experience reviewing brokers, trading platforms and the rules that sit behind them. With a legal and financial background, he has audited countless brokers and investigated thousands of trading scams and clone firms, giving him a sharp eye for what separates a trustworthy platform from a costly mistake. William holds an LL.M. from the Gothenburg School of Business, Economics and Law, where he focused on securities law and international trade. He later studied at Moscow State University, adding to a background that blends law, business administration and cross border finance. That mix gives him a solid grip on both the legal fine print and the real world mechanics of online trading. Before and alongside his editorial work, William consulted on IPOs in the Nordic market, worked with fintech startups in payments and point of sale systems, and provided localization for leading forex trading software. He has also spent years as a writer and fact checker for financial publications, using that experience to test brokers, compare trading tools and explain complicated topics without turning them into legal soup. As an active market participant, William has placed thousands of private and test trades across forex, CFDs, options and stocks, while testing different trading platforms and apps. His practical experience, paired with a deep knowledge of securities law and broker regulation, makes him well placed to comment on broker safety, platform quality, trading risks and the standards traders should expect before putting money on the line.

I am a publicist, coder, music industry executive and TV Producer with a track record of securing premier media placements and managing high-stakes narratives. At Popularity PR, I help high-profile individuals and corporations across the entertainment, legal, and political sectors navigate the modern media landscape. With an entrepreneurial background that includes building AI-driven intellectual property tools and navigating complex civil litigation, I offer a multifaceted perspective on how business, law, and culture collide. Available for expert commentary on: Public Relations (crisis comms, brand strategy), Entertainment (industry, celebrity narratives), Law (litigation strategy, IP protection), and Entrepreneurship (tech development, startups). Personal Interests: Music, binge-watching Netflix, and diving into complex legal strategy.

Legal researcher and advisor with 18 years of experience in U.S. and Canadian immigration law, administrative and public law, and corporate and commercial matters. LLM, George Mason University — Antonin Scalia Law School. Published peer-reviewed researcher in international law journals covering access to justice, immigration frameworks, and cross-border legal systems. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Sidney van den Boogaard is an independent analyst on European digital sovereignty from The Netherlands and the founder of Built in EU, a directory and newsroom tracking over 340 European software alternatives to US Big Tech across 31 countries. He bridges the gap between complex data privacy regulations and practical business procurement, helping organizations navigate the shift away from entrenched US incumbents like Google, Microsoft, and AWS. Sidney goes beyond the theoretical politics of data privacy. He conducts hands-on, independent reviews of privacy-first software (e.g., Proton, Tresorit, pCloud, Bitwarden, EU-based CRMs) and tracks major macroeconomic shifts, such as the ECB selecting OVHcloud and Scaleway for the digital euro, and the Euro-Office coalition replacing Microsoft in EU governments. Available for Expert Commentary On: The "De-Googling" Playbook: What a realistic, step-by-step migration from the US tech stack to European alternatives actually looks like for businesses. Software Alternatives: Expert recommendations across any major B2B/B2C software category (email, cloud storage, password managers, CRM, analytics, web hosting, messaging). Tech Regulation & Compliance: The real-world impact of GDPR, the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the AI Act, and the US CLOUD Act on software buyers and corporate data residency. The Sovereign Cloud Movement: The rise of European digital infrastructure and the push for public-sector independence from US tech giants. Open-Source & Privacy: The growth and viability of European Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) and self-hosted ecosystems.

European lawyer admitted to the Spanish Bar with 10+ years of legal practice across EU jurisdictions, based in New York City. Founder of Lexara Advisory LLC, an AI governance consulting firm advising US companies on EU AI Act compliance and NYC Local Law 144 obligations. Uniquely positioned at the intersection of European legal expertise and the American regulatory landscape. IAPP AIGP candidate and author of Guilty Algorithm, a structured legal analysis of AI regulation in criminal justice and immigration law. Regular commentator on extraterritorial AI regulation, Annex III risk classification, and Article 71 EU database registration.

Ikeh James Ifeanyichukwu is a Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO), privacy analyst, and cybersecurity awareness advocate. He is the Director of Privacy Needle, a digital publication focused on data protection, online safety, cybersecurity risks, and privacy regulations such as CCPA GDPR and Nigeria’s NDPA. He provides expert insights on consumer data protection, identity theft prevention, data breaches, AI privacy risks, and responsible data handling practices for individuals and businesses. His work centers on translating complex privacy regulations into clear, practical guidance the public can easily understand.

Founder of Privacylawmap.com, a data-driven tool that tracks and compares privacy laws across 50 U.S. states and global jurisdictions. I analyze regulatory trends — which states are moving first, where enforcement is tightening, how requirements differ for SMBs vs. enterprise. I come at this as a software engineer rather than a lawyer, so I'm best at explaining the operational side of privacy compliance: implementation cost, engineering impact, and what small businesses actually need to change.

Eric Epstein is a former senior federal agency counsel with more than three decades of experience drafting, implementing, and defending major federal legislation and regulations. Before retiring from federal service, he served as Senior Policy Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, where he was a principal advisor to executive leadership, the Attorney General, and White House officials on complex regulatory, legislative, and national enforcement matters. Over a 32-year career, he drafted and helped implement major federal firearms and explosives regulations and legislation, including the firearms trafficking provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and ATF’s “Ghost Gun Rule,” which was later upheld by the United States Supreme Court. He spent 15 years in the field working alongside ATF agents and investigators on criminal and regulatory cases, providing firsthand operational insight into how federal laws are enforced in practice. He also represented ATF before industry leaders at trade conferences and executive meetings, giving him direct experience with how federal regulatory policy affects manufacturers, importers, retailers, and other regulated entities. Throughout his career, he authored dozens of federal regulations and rulings, advised members of Congress on statutory language, and worked closely with the U.S. Solicitor General in Supreme Court litigation. His work shaped administrative records, national enforcement policy, and compliance strategy across regulated industries. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, the highest honor for career federal employees, as well as the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Epstein is the founder and CEO of Commentari, an AI-based platform that helps individuals and organizations analyze legislation and agency rulemakings and draft substantive public comments grounded in the Administrative Procedure Act. His work focuses on regulatory and legislative strategy, public comment impact, and litigation risk in federal policymaking. He provides commentary on federal rulemaking, legislative drafting, administrative law, regulatory litigation risk, firearms and explosives legislation and regulation, and how federal agencies develop, defend, and enforce major policy decisions. He is available to provide clear and practical insight into complex regulatory and legislative developments. He is based in the Washington, D.C. area.

I am litigator, whistleblower attorney, and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS). My practice focuses on cases involving healthcare fraud, financial fraud, anti-money laundering (Bank Secrecy Act) failures, and sanctions violations. While based in Philadelphia, my practice is national in scope.

Healthcare and business attorney licensed in California and Minnesota. I'm David ("DJ") Holt, a dedicated Healthcare Attorney and the founder of Holt Law - a boutique multi-state health law firm. I am the "surgeon" of attorneys - focusing on highly specific practice areas that I do very well. Coincidently, I also work with surgeons and medical doctors often! Also, I work well to team up with other attorneys who are the experts in their areas in order to serve as a one-stop-shop for my business-owner clients.

With over 15 years of experience as an Internet Entrepreneur and a law degree and license, I bring a unique combination of skills and knowledge to the online business space.