Data Protection, Privacy and Security Counsel

DLA Piper is, at its core, bold, exceptional, collaborative and supportive.  Our people are the backbone, heart and soul of our firm.  Wherever you are in your professional journey, DLA Piper is a place you can engage in meaningful work and grow your career.  Let’s see what we can achieve. Together.

Summary

DLA Piper is seeking a highly qualified Counsel to join its nationally recognized Data Protection, Privacy and Security practice in Palo Alto. This lawyer will work closely with emerging growth companies, venture-backed technology companies, unicorns, public technology companies, venture capital investors, and strategic acquirers, providing practical, business-focused privacy, cybersecurity, AI governance, and product counseling advice throughout the corporate lifecycle. The ideal candidate will partner closely with corporate, emerging growth and venture capital, M&A, employment, commercial contracting, and litigation teams to provide integrated counseling on privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital regulatory matters.

Responsibilities

• Advise technology companies on U.S. and international privacy and data protection laws, including state privacy statutes and global privacy frameworks.
• Counsel clients on AI governance, responsible AI deployment, data use practices, training data considerations, and emerging regulatory obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate privacy and data security provisions in commercial, technology, SaaS, licensing, cloud services, strategic partnership, and vendor agreements.
• Support venture-backed and high-growth companies from formation through exit, including privacy compliance program development and product launches.
• Conduct privacy and cybersecurity diligence for venture financings, mergers, acquisitions, investments, and strategic transactions.
• Advise on incident response preparedness, regulatory investigations, breach notification obligations, and security governance frameworks.
• Develop privacy notices, policies, data processing agreements, consent mechanisms, and internal governance documentation.
• Partner with product, engineering, security, and executive leadership teams to integrate privacy-by-design and AI governance principles into business operations.
• Collaborate with lawyers across the Emerging Growth and Venture Capital, Technology Transactions, and M&A practices to deliver coordinated counsel to technology-focused clients.

Experience

• Approximately 8-15 years of relevant privacy, cybersecurity, technology transactions, or regulatory counseling experience.
• Significant experience advising technology companies on privacy and data governance issues.
• Deep familiarity with California privacy laws, consumer privacy regulation, data security requirements, and emerging AI regulations.
• Experience supporting venture-backed companies, software companies, AI companies, cloud providers, digital platforms, or other technology-focused businesses.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and client counseling skills.
• Ability to manage sophisticated matters independently while working effectively across multiple practice groups.

Desired Skills

• Product counseling for AI, SaaS, cloud, marketplace, or platform companies.
• Venture capital and emerging company ecosystem experience.
• Transactional privacy and cybersecurity diligence.
• Cross-border data transfer and international compliance counseling.
• AI governance and generative AI advisory work.
• Regulatory investigation and incident response experience.

Education

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.

Bar Admission

• Admission to the California Bar.

Essential Job Expectations

While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties;
• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner;
• Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product;
• Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required;
• Foster positive work relationships;
• Comply with all firm policies and practices;
• Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed;
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment;
• Perform all other duties, tasks or projects as assigned.

Our employees are expected to embrace and uphold our firm values as a part of our DLA Piper culture. We are committed to excellence in how we represent our clients and develop our people.

Physical Demands
Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Work Environment-The firm's work location requirements may be modified at the firm's discretion

• Hybrid - Regular in-office presence with some flexibility for work-from-home

Disclaimer

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm’s discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment.

Application Process

Applicants must apply directly online instead of sending application materials via email. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process, please contact [email protected].

Search Firms 

Per the terms of our agreement, all candidates must be submitted through the firm’s agency portal for consideration. If you have an agreement with the firm, please log in to the agency portal.  If you do not have an agreement with us and would like us to consider candidates, please send a blind candidate profile to [email protected].

Pay Transparency 

The firm’s expected hiring range for this position is $200,000 - $500,000 per year depending on the candidate’s geographic market location. The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate’s experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

Non-California applicants who apply for this California-based role do so voluntarily and are not eligible for relocation assistance. Relocation benefits, if any, are provided only where a relocation is required at the firm’s direction and in accordance with applicable policy and law.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-LK1

DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Job applicant poster viewing center.