Justice Department Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer to Join Wilkinson Barker Knauer

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP announced today that Nancy C. Libin, who has served for the past three years as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer, will join the firm as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office, effective on October 1, 2012. Ms. Libin was the principal privacy advisor to the Deputy Attorney General, with a particular focus on the intersection of privacy and the use of technology. Her portfolio covered issues such as cybersecurity, location privacy, cloud computing, electronic surveillance, data breach, and international data privacy. She also represented the Justice Department on the White House National Science and Technology Council’s Privacy and Internet Policy Subcommittee, which advises the Administration on commercial data privacy and Internet innovation policy. Before her Justice Department service, Ms. Libin was counsel to then-Senator Joseph Biden on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, where she advised Senator Biden on a range of issues, including privacy, electronic surveillance, civil liberties, national security, and constitutional law.

“Data privacy and security are becoming increasingly important issues for companies in all industry sectors and have, in particular, created new challenges for technology companies and communications providers. I am very excited to join a dynamic firm like Wilkinson Barker, and I look forward to building a premier practice there.”

Ms. Libin previously worked on digital privacy, Internet policy, and consumer data protection issues as a staff counsel at the Center for Democracy and Technology. She also served in senior positions on the 2004 Kerry Presidential Campaign, and was Associate General Counsel for Regulatory Policy and Oversight for NASD (now FINRA). She began her legal career as an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm Howrey & Simon. Ms. Libin graduated cum laude from Harvard University, and earned her law degree (also cum laude) from Georgetown University Law Center.

Bryan Tramont, the managing partner of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, said, “Nancy’s obvious talents and her extensive Administration experience in 21^st Century privacy, data protection and cybersecurity issues will greatly enrich our firm’s practice. Nancy will play a leading role with and be a valuable new resource for our privacy and data security clients. Her background and character are a great fit and we look forward to continuing to build our firm with top notch additions like Nancy.” Ms. Libin commented, “Data privacy and security are becoming increasingly important issues for companies in all industry sectors and have, in particular, created new challenges for technology companies and communications providers. I am very excited to join a dynamic firm like Wilkinson Barker, and I look forward to building a premier practice there.”

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, one of the largest law firms in the nation dedicated primarily to the practice of communications and technology law, was named “Law Firm of the Year” in communications law for 2011-2012 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers and is ranked as a “first tier” firm by Chambers USA (Telecom, Broadcast, and Satellite: Regulatory) and Legal 500 (Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory). The firm, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado, advises clients ranging from global Fortune 100 companies to small start-ups in regulatory, transactional, corporate and litigation matters involving all aspects of telecommunications, mass media and privacy law, as well as in energy and state regulatory matters.

Additional information about Ms. Libin and Wilkinson Barker Knauer can be found at http://www.wbklaw.com/Our_Team/Nancy_Libin and at http://www.wbklaw.com. Ms. Libin will be resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and can be reached after October 1, 2012 at [phone] and at [e-mail].