Breaking into Privacy and Cyber Law: Insights from the Experts
On Monday, November 18, the Strauss Center and the International Association of Privacy Professionals hosted an engaging Q&A session with experienced privacy and cybersecurity lawyers who shared their journeys, insights, and practical advice for aspiring legal professionals. Panelists included Tyler Bridegan, Director of Privacy & Tech Enforcement for the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Drew Concannon, an Intelligence and Data Privacy Law Fellow at the Strauss Center, Colleen García, Counsel with Tannenbaum Helpern’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy practice, and David Springer, an Adjunct Professor at UT Law.
Biographies
Tyler Bridegan is the Director of Privacy and Security Enforcement for the Texas Attorney General’s Office. In this role, Tyler enforces the full slate of Texas’ state privacy, cyber, and technology-related laws, including the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, the Texas Data Broker Law, and the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act. Tyler is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.) and the University of Oklahoma (B.A.).
Drew Concannon is an attorney at Ford Motor Company focusing on artificial intelligence and privacy matters. He previously advised on privacy issues at Meta and on privacy and civil liberties at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Drew began his legal career at an international law firm and worked as a management consultant and US Army officer before practicing law. He holds a JD from American University and a BS from the US Military Academy. Drew is admitted to practice in Texas, Virginia, and DC, and holds several IAPP certifications.
Colleen García is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, the Naval Postgraduate School of International Graduate Studies, and Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Articles Editor of the Columbia Law Review. After graduation, Colleen clerked for Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson and Justice Jeffrey V. Brown, of the Supreme Court of Texas. She then began work as an Attorney Advisor for the Department of Justice National Security Division, during which time she served as Director for Cybersecurity Policy for the National Security Council Cybersecurity Directorate. She then served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the National Security and International Crimes Unit of the Eastern District of Virginia, where she prosecuted terrorism, espionage, and cybercrimes. She returned to her home state of Texas in 2019, where she continues working on cybersecurity and data privacy in private practice.
David Springer teaches cybersecurity law and policy at the law school. As senior counsel for cybersecurity at a publicly traded tech company, he is the primary legal counsel for security and platform abuse issues, and manages the company’s global business incident response program. Previously, he was with a global law firm representing clients in matters including securities litigation, government investigations, and cybersecurity counseling.