Seattle, December 4, 2020: Globally-recognized privacy and data security law firm Hintze Law, PLLC announced today that Ro Friend has been promoted to partner. Previously recognized in Chambers USA rankings, Ro has spent the last 8 years focusing on complex issues at the intersection of emerging technology and privacy / data security.
“We are excited and delighted to introduce Ro as the newest partner to Hintze Law,” said Hintze Law Managing Partner, Susan Hintze. “They embody Hintze Law’s culture of legal excellence, technical acumen, creativity, and inclusiveness and have helped build the firm into a recognized leader in privacy and data protection law.”
Ro provides strategic analysis and global, solution-based privacy and security advice in connection with leading-edge product and technology development for numerous clients. They have drafted and negotiated data transfer and protection agreements in international, multimillion-dollar deals and crafted numerous privacy and security policies for several Fortune 500 companies. Ro has also advised internet, social media, mobile, gaming, and technology companies on a variety of U.S. and international privacy, data security, and data licensing issues.
Throughout their career, Ro has gained extensive experience defending companies in regulatory inquiries and investigations, including unpublished cases regarding Children's Online Privacy Protections Act (COPPA) and biometrics technology. Ro’s work representing HTC in connection with its FTC settlement. Additionally, they contributed to HTC’s response to an investigation regarding security in the mobile phone industry which led to the FTC report, Mobile Security Updates: Understanding the Issues.
Last year Ro was a contributing author to the book, Data Processing Agreements: Coordination, Drafting, and Negotiation, International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), 2019.
Ro currently serves on the American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”) of Washington Board of Directors and on its Legal Committee. They previously served as the Director of the Technology and Liberty Program at the ACLU of Washington, where they led policy work at the intersection of free speech, privacy, and developing technology through legislative development, litigation, and education.
In past years, Ro’s pro bono work for the ACLU of Washington helped secure a major victory against the city of Tacoma, Washington, in a case involving illegal use of cell phone surveillance devices by police officials.
Ro has also served on the Privacy Advisory Committee to the City of Seattle and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional/U.S.* and member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
Ro’s privacy law career started as an associate at Cooley LLP in the Technology Transactions Group, where they advised start-ups and public companies alike on technology licensing and privacy and data security issues.
Prior to law school, Ro worked for internet companies in product development and test engineer roles. They can code in multiple programming languages and leverage this technical fluency regularly on behalf of clients.
Hintze Law PLLC exclusively provides global data protection counseling for technology, ecommerce, advertising, media, and mobile companies and organizations.
*The Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification and certification is not a requirement to practice law in the State of Washington