Schwalbe_Laura

Laura K. Schwalbe, CIPP/US, CIPP/E

Senior Associate

Laura vigorously defends clients facing government investigations, coordinates internal and independent investigations, represents clients in complex litigation, and consults on privacy and data security challenges. Clients trust her trial experience, knowledge of data protection best practices, and her understanding of government agencies to guide them through their legal challenges.

Government and Internal Investigations
Laura helps clients respond to investigations, audits, and examinations by agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities & Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Education, as well as by various state Attorneys General. Her comprehensive experience includes fact gathering, overseeing, and coordinating responses to government requests, preparing individuals for depositions and testimony, and negotiating with government agencies. She has defended clients through trial and appeal against the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Privacy and Data Security
Laura identifies potential legal issues relating to privacy and data security and works closely with clients to ensure compliance. She helps clients take proactive steps to comply with the ever-shifting privacy landscape and regularly consults on topics related to state, federal, and international privacy regimes. On the security side, Laura counsels clients concerning all aspects of pre-breach preparation and risk management and, in the event of a cyber incident, provides breach coach and response services, including breach response and remediation, crisis management and communication, internal and governmental investigations, breach notification, and potential litigation or regulatory action.

Before joining Harter Secrest & Emery, Laura worked in the securities litigation and enforcement group in the Washington, D.C. office of Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale & Dorr LLP and in the litigation group in the New York City office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

  • Member, Board of Directors, WNY Heroes, Inc.
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional/US (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E)

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Selected by peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Commercial Litigation (2021-2024); Corporate Governance and Compliance Law (2022-2024)
  • Recipient, “Up and Coming Attorneys” Award, The Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal’s Legal Excellence Program, 2021

  • Selected as a 40 Under 40 Honoree, Buffalo Business First, 2021
  • Selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, 2019-2020
  • New York Empire State Counsel®, 2010 and 2015
  • Note and Comment Editor, Catholic University Law Review, The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Obtained declinations in fraud investigations, for both for-profit and not-for-profit clients, from the U.S. Department of Justice and the New York Attorney General.
  • Defended individual and corporate defendants at trial and on appeal against the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • Represented educational organizations, including colleges and universities, in investigations and self-disclosures with various state Attorneys General, the U.S. Department of Education, and the New York State Education Department.
  • Represented health care organizations in investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.
  • Advised and represented organizational client in federal tax fraud investigation and grand jury proceedings.

NEWS

PRESENTATIONS

  • Co-Presenter, “The Importance of Incident Response Training: This is NOT a Drill,” 2023 NYS Cybersecurity Conference, June 6-7, 2023
  • Co-Presenter, “False Claims Act Liability for Cyber Incidents,” West LegalEdCenter webinar, June 2, 2022
  • Panelist, “War and Cyberwar Expert Panel,” presented by Advizex, Harter Secrest & Emery, and Arctic Wolf, The Bunker Clifton Park, May 17, 2022
  • Panelist, “Managing the Complexity of Data Protection Regulation,” Harter Secrest & Emery 2021 Data Protection Institute, June 16, 2021
  • “Attorney-Client Privilege in Government: Whether, When, and to Whom the Privilege Applies,” Stafford webinar, October 1, 2019
  • “Attorney-Client Privilege in Government and Congressional Investigations: Key Considerations andRecent Developments,” Celesq® AttorneysEd Center and West LegalEdcenter webcast, July 30, 2019
  • “Protecting the Client and Preserving Privilege: A Look at the Ethics of Attorney Client Privilege in the Context of Government Investigations and Government Affairs,” ABA Business Law Section, September 14, 2018
  • “College & University Educational Breakfast Series,” with The Bonadio Group, Daemen College, January 17, 2018
  • “Law Enforcement/Internal Investigations,” Niagara Frontier Corporate Counsel Association, Inc. Cybersecurity Update, September 21, 2016

PRACTICE AREAS

ADMISSIONS

  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Western Districts of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

EDUCATION

  • The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude
  • Boston University, B.A.

Laura vigorously defends clients facing government investigations, coordinates internal and independent investigations, represents clients in complex litigation, and consults on privacy and data security challenges. Clients trust her trial experience, knowledge of data protection best practices, and her understanding of government agencies to guide them through their legal challenges.

Government and Internal Investigations
Laura helps clients respond to investigations, audits, and examinations by agencies including the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities & Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the U.S. Department of Education, as well as by various state Attorneys General. Her comprehensive experience includes fact gathering, overseeing, and coordinating responses to government requests, preparing individuals for depositions and testimony, and negotiating with government agencies. She has defended clients through trial and appeal against the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Privacy and Data Security
Laura identifies potential legal issues relating to privacy and data security and works closely with clients to ensure compliance. She helps clients take proactive steps to comply with the ever-shifting privacy landscape and regularly consults on topics related to state, federal, and international privacy regimes. On the security side, Laura counsels clients concerning all aspects of pre-breach preparation and risk management and, in the event of a cyber incident, provides breach coach and response services, including breach response and remediation, crisis management and communication, internal and governmental investigations, breach notification, and potential litigation or regulatory action.

Before joining Harter Secrest & Emery, Laura worked in the securities litigation and enforcement group in the Washington, D.C. office of Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale & Dorr LLP and in the litigation group in the New York City office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

  • Member, Board of Directors, WNY Heroes, Inc.
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional/US (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E)

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Selected by peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Commercial Litigation (2021-2024); Corporate Governance and Compliance Law (2022-2024)
  • Recipient, “Up and Coming Attorneys” Award, The Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal’s Legal Excellence Program, 2021

  • Selected as a 40 Under 40 Honoree, Buffalo Business First, 2021
  • Selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, 2019-2020
  • New York Empire State Counsel®, 2010 and 2015
  • Note and Comment Editor, Catholic University Law Review, The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

  • Obtained declinations in fraud investigations, for both for-profit and not-for-profit clients, from the U.S. Department of Justice and the New York Attorney General.
  • Defended individual and corporate defendants at trial and on appeal against the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • Represented educational organizations, including colleges and universities, in investigations and self-disclosures with various state Attorneys General, the U.S. Department of Education, and the New York State Education Department.
  • Represented health care organizations in investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.
  • Advised and represented organizational client in federal tax fraud investigation and grand jury proceedings.

NEWS

PRESENTATIONS

  • Co-Presenter, “The Importance of Incident Response Training: This is NOT a Drill,” 2023 NYS Cybersecurity Conference, June 6-7, 2023
  • Co-Presenter, “False Claims Act Liability for Cyber Incidents,” West LegalEdCenter webinar, June 2, 2022
  • Panelist, “War and Cyberwar Expert Panel,” presented by Advizex, Harter Secrest & Emery, and Arctic Wolf, The Bunker Clifton Park, May 17, 2022
  • Panelist, “Managing the Complexity of Data Protection Regulation,” Harter Secrest & Emery 2021 Data Protection Institute, June 16, 2021
  • “Attorney-Client Privilege in Government: Whether, When, and to Whom the Privilege Applies,” Stafford webinar, October 1, 2019
  • “Attorney-Client Privilege in Government and Congressional Investigations: Key Considerations andRecent Developments,” Celesq® AttorneysEd Center and West LegalEdcenter webcast, July 30, 2019
  • “Protecting the Client and Preserving Privilege: A Look at the Ethics of Attorney Client Privilege in the Context of Government Investigations and Government Affairs,” ABA Business Law Section, September 14, 2018
  • “College & University Educational Breakfast Series,” with The Bonadio Group, Daemen College, January 17, 2018
  • “Law Enforcement/Internal Investigations,” Niagara Frontier Corporate Counsel Association, Inc. Cybersecurity Update, September 21, 2016

PRACTICE AREAS

ADMISSIONS

  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Western Districts of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

EDUCATION

  • The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude
  • Boston University, B.A.
Schwalbe_Laura
Laura K. Schwalbe, CIPP/US, CIPP/E