Focus Areas
Examples of Marla’s experience include:
Data Privacy
- Assisted business associate technology company with responding to Play ransomware attack, including with respect to threat actor negotiations and HIPAA security incident and breach reporting obligations.
- Represented international data lake and analytics platform in creation of US and EU compliant data processing addendums where the company acted as both a processor to end users and a sub-processor to resellers; representation included coordination with local counsel and security negotiation.
- Advised clients on drafting policies and procedures and developing internal compliance programs with respect to a broad range of data protection laws, statutes, and regulations, including consumer privacy requirements, data breach preparation and response, data subject requests, digital marketing and targeted advertising, health care privacy laws, vendor management and data processing agreements, international data transfers and localizations, and written information security plans.
- Drafted new, or supplemented existing, internal policies and procedures to address how an organization will intake, process, and respond to CCPA data requests (e.g., access, portability, erasure).
- Provided contractual terms for an organization to use with its third-party vendors to ensure they address each party’s obligations pursuant to the CCPA and responsibilities related to data processing, assistance, and security.
- Drafted multiple joint controller and controller-to-processor data processing agreements for global corporations and their third-party service providers and contractors.
- Prepared and negotiated third-party service provider agreements to address data privacy and information security, data breach liability, and confidentiality.
- Routinely advised clients on third-party data security standards, data confidentiality and protection obligations, limited use and ‘do not sell’ clauses, third-party data assistance, cross-border data transfers and data localization, cyber insurance, and data breach response investigation, notification, and indemnification.
- Drafted webpage privacy policies for companies marketing and selling goods, services, and products in the European Economic Area (EEA).
Cybersecurity
- Assisted client in responding to data incident involving potential exposure of customers’ personally identifiable information as a result of improper publication by client’s mobile services provider; representation included providing counsel on the applicability of international and state data breach notifications laws, advising on notifications to client’s business customers, and responding to additional inquiries.
- Assisted a city government in responding to business email compromise arising out of an international bad actor phishing scheme that resulted in compromise of thousands of entities sensitive personal information; representation included retaining third-party forensic firm under the attorney-client privilege, completing data mining and analysis with third-party forensic firm; addressing data breach notification obligations, and advising on communications to impacted entities.
- Assisted logistics and shipping company with operations across North America in assessing and responding to BlackCat ransomware attack, including through engaging digital forensic and incident response consulting agency, undertaking dark web monitoring, engaging with regulatory agencies to reinstate access to federal import and export control system, and advising on potential CTPAT and other incident notification obligations.
- Assisted a city government in responding to business email compromise that resulted in government funds lost as part of wire fund transfer case; representation included retaining third-party forensic firm under the attorney-client privilege, addressing data breach notification obligations, and advising on communications to impacted constituents.
- Counseled clients on responding to incident notification letters received from third-party service providers in connection with CL0P ransomware group intrusion into MOVEit’s managed file transfer program, including advising on breach response and potential litigation.
- Assisted nationally recognized business associate in responding to business email compromise, including retaining third-party digital forensic and incident response consultant, assessing breadth of compromise including to personal data, and counseling on data breach notification process under federal and state law.
- Counseled services industry business regarding Office 365 intrusion that resulted in malicious actor disseminating fraudulent invoices to customers from spoofed Internet domain.
- Advised a chemical manufacturing corporation on Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) and Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) compliance following a cybersecurity incident and data breach.
- Counseled an international software company on a data breach incident involving U.S. and EU residents’ sensitive data and drafted appropriate notices to data subjects and the appropriate international data protection authority.
Telecommunications Laws (TCPA)
- Counseled global manufacturing firm on federal telecommunications law (TCPA) with respect to implementing company-wide SMS communications, including opt-in and opt-out processes.
- Counseled a national telecommunications company on federal telecommunications law (TCPA) with respect to implementing a new marketing campaign and the use of an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS).
- Assisted national restaurant chain in implementation of SMS communications, including obtaining prior written consent.
- Advised a national telecommunications company on Connecticut Telemarketing law with respect to restrictions and requirements on obtaining written consent prior any marketing calls to Connecticut telephone numbers.
Corporate and New Ventures
- Advised early-stage data analytics company on applicability of state data broker laws, registration of the company as a data broker, and created comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity program compliant with US data privacy laws and state specific data broker laws.
- Provided recommendations, including representations and warranties, to purchasing companies to mitigate data privacy and cybersecurity risks when purchasing target companies.
- Provided businesses, including private investment firms, with data privacy and cybersecurity due diligence risk assessments in the M&A context.
- Assessed and identified the current, immediate, and long-term state of new venture companies to determine applicability of state and international privacy laws and advise on Privacy by Design implementation.
- Assessed whether a business’s data processing and cybersecurity measures satisfy federal, state, and foreign laws and regulations and industry standards for Privacy by Design implementation.
- Co-author, “Pennsylvania Amends Data Breach Reporting Law; Requires Credit Monitoring for Victims,” Pratt’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Report, September 2024
- “Rhode Island Enacts Consumer Data Privacy Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, July 2024
- “Pennsylvania Amends Data Breach Reporting Law; Requires Credit Monitoring for Victims,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, July 2024
- “Colorado Adds Biometric Data Requirements to Privacy Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, June 2024
- “Minnesota Legislature Passes Consumer Privacy Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, May 2024
- “Tennessee Enacts Data Breach Class Action Safe Harbor,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, May 2024
- “SEC Amends Regulation S-P to Address Information Security and Data Breach Response,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, May 2024
- “SEC Issues Update on Cybersecurity Incident Report,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, May 2024
- “Illinois Legislature Amends BIPA to Limit Damages and Expand Consent Options,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, May 2024
- “Banking Regulators Publish Third-Party Risk Management Guide,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, May 2024
- “Nebraska Enacts Consumer Data Privacy Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, April 2024
- “Maryland Poised to Enact Privacy Law; Sets New Standard for Targeted Advertising,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, April 2024
- “CPPA Releases First Enforcement Advisory,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, April 2024
- “Kentucky Poised to Enact Consumer Data Protection Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, April 2024
- “Florida and West Virginia Create New Cybersecurity Safe Harbor Laws,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, March 2024
- “Companies Facing New Text Marketing Claims in Florida,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, March 2024
- “Illinois Sees Rise in GIPA Privacy Suits,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Employment Update, March 2024
- Co-author, “California Announces Privacy Audits of Connected Vehicles and Related Technologies,” The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law, Volume 7, No. 2, March-April 2024
- “Effective Immediately: California Privacy Protection Agency Resumes Authority to Enforce Privacy Regulations,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, February 2024
- Co-author, “Adverse event reporting and preparing for the next wave of privacy litigation,” IAPP’s The Privacy Advisor, February 6, 2024
- “New Jersey Enacts Consumer Data Privacy Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, January 2024
- “Federal Trade Commission Amends Safeguards Rule and Data Breach Notification Obligations,” The Computer & Internet Lawyer, January 2024
- “New Guidance on SEC Cybersecurity Reporting Regulations,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, December 2023
- “Significant Changes to Florida’s Privacy Breach Notification and Telemarketing Laws,” Pratt’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Report, November 2023
- “NYDFS Amends Data Breach and Cybersecurity Regulations,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, November 2023
- “FTC Amends Safeguards Rule and Data Breach Notification Obligations,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, November 2023
- “Major Changes to California Privacy Laws,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, October 2023
- “Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act Signed Into Law With 2025 Effective Date,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, September 2023
- “Preparing for Connecticut’s New Telemarketing Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, August 2023
- “California Announces Privacy Audits of Connected Vehicles and Related Technologies,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, August 2023
- “California Investigates Employee/HR Data Processing in Privacy Enforcement Actions,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, July 2023
- “Oregon Legislature Passes Privacy Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, July 2023
- “California Privacy Law Enforcement Delayed Until 2024,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, July 2023
- “FBI Issues Business Email Compromise Alert,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, June 2023
- “Texas Enacts Privacy Law; Amends Data Breach Notification Law,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, June 2023
- “Significant Changes to Florida’s Privacy, Breach Notification, and Telemarketing Laws,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, June 2023
- “Washington State Enacts My Health, My Data Act,” Thompson Hine Privacy & Cybersecurity Update, May 2023
- “The Careful Balance of AI Implementation, Privacy Risks, and Best Practices in the Current Cyber Threat Landscape,” Thompson Hine webinar, May 2023
- “Startups Streamlined – Data Privacy Compliance: Is Your Company Keeping Up?” Thompson Hine webinar, July 2023
- Received a 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America recognition for Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Selected to the Illinois Rising Stars list, 2022 to 2024
Professional Associations
- International Association of Privacy Professionals, Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US)
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
Community Activities
- Jewish Reconstructionist Camping Corporation, President
Education
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D., 2015,
Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal, articles editor
- Brandeis University, B.A., 2012, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- 03.13.24 – Essential Legal Must-Knows for Thriving in the Life Sciences Sector – Part 3
An Ohio Life Sciences Event Presented by Thompson Hine
- Pennsylvania Amends Data Breach Reporting Law; Requires Credit Monitoring for Victims,
Pratt’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Report
, September 23, 2024 - Rhode Island Enacts Consumer Data Privacy Law,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, July 5, 2024 - Pennsylvania Amends Data Breach Reporting Law; Requires Credit Monitoring for Victims,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, July 2, 2024 - Colorado Adds Protections for Minors to Privacy Law,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, June 13, 2024 - Colorado Adds Biometric Data Requirements to Privacy Law,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, June 4, 2024 - Minnesota Legislature Passes Consumer Privacy Law,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, May 30, 2024 - Tennessee Enacts Data Breach Class Action Safe Harbor,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, May 29, 2024 - SEC Amends Regulation S-P to Address Information Security and Data Breach Response,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, May 28, 2024 - SEC Issues Update on Cybersecurity Incident Report,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, May 23, 2024 - Illinois Legislature Amends BIPA to Limit Damages and Expand Consent Options,
Privacy & Cybersecurity Update
, May 20, 2024