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Profile Picture

Alexander H. Southwell

Alexander
Southwell

Partner

CONTACT INFO

asouthwell@gibsondunn.com

TEL:+1 212.351.3981

FAX:+1 212.351.6281

New York

200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166-0193 USA

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PRACTICE

Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Anti-Corruption & FCPA Anti-Money Laundering Appellate and Constitutional Law Artificial Intelligence Betting and Gaming Class Actions Congressional Investigations Crisis Management Emerging Companies Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Fashion, Retail and Consumer Products Financial Institutions Intellectual Property Labor and Employment Litigation Media, Entertainment and Technology National Security Securities Enforcement Sports Law Technology Transactions Trade Secrets Transportation and Space White Collar Defense and Investigations

BIOGRAPHY

A partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s New York office, Alexander H. Southwell founded and co-chairs the Firm’s Chambers-ranked Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Data Innovation Practice Group and is a member of the White Collar Defense and Investigation, Litigation, Crisis Management, and Artificial Intelligence Practice Groups.

Mr. Southwell advises emerging companies to global enterprises across all market sectors that experienced data breaches or were victimized by cyber-crimes and he has deep expertise counseling on broad issues under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Economic Espionage Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and related federal and state computer fraud and consumer protection statutes.  He also regularly counsels clients on compliance with the full range of US and international privacy and data protection laws and regulations, including online privacy, financial privacy, medical privacy, educational privacy, telecommunications and marketing, and workplace privacy, as well as product counseling and global regulatory strategies. He often leads the defense of regulatory investigations from the Federal Trade Commission, State Attorneys General, and other federal, state, and local regulators and criminal authorities.  Mr. Southwell has particular expertise advising on FTC order compliance, selecting and working with Assessors, and handling FTC 6(b) studies.  He additionally counsels companies on privacy and security risks related to data-driven product development, including in cutting-edge areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud deployment, and data innovation, and related to compliance with international, national, state, and local privacy and cybersecurity laws and regulations.  Mr. Southwell also is regularly retained to lead privacy and data security class actions and litigations around the country.

In addition, Mr. Southwell handles a range of white-collar criminal and regulatory enforcement defense, internal investigation, and compliance matters, and regularly leads complex civil litigations.  An experienced trial and appellate attorney, prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Mr. Southwell served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York where he focused on cyber-crimes and intellectual property offenses, in addition to securities and commodities and other white collar frauds.

Mr. Southwell is ranked as one of the top five attorneys nationwide for Privacy & Data Security Litigation by Chambers USA and Chambers Global and is also ranked for White Collar Litigation by Chambers, which notes his “keen eye for attention to detail, client service and navigating a complex legal and regulatory landscape.”  A client notes: “Alex is tremendous. If you’ve got an issue that is a paramount crisis and going to break the company, Alex is who you should turn to. He is top notch, savvy and he understands what you need.”  Recognized as a “Leading Individual” in Gibson Dunn’s ranking in the 2021 Global Data Review GDR 100 Elite, he was also named a Law360 “MVP” in Privacy in both 2016 and 2015 – one of five “elite attorneys” recognized – for his “successes in high-stakes litigation.”  Additionally, Mr. Southwell was selected as a Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, and has been recognized as one of the top 30 Data Protection Lawyers in Euromoney Expert Guides’ Best of the Best USA, and named as one of the 30 best and brightest data breach response lawyers in Cybersecurity Docket’s “Incident Response 30.”  In addition, he is recognized as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, as a leading lawyer in the area of Criminal Defense:  White Collar by The Best Lawyers in America®, and as one of the world’s leading investigations lawyers by Who’s Who Legal: Investigations.

Mr. Southwell earned his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Princeton University and his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from New York University School of Law.  Following law school, Mr. Southwell was a Law Clerk for the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.  Mr. Southwell is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Mr. Southwell serves on Gibson Dunn’s Technology Committee and was appointed to the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Autonomous Vehicles and the Law, as well as serving on the Board of Advisors of the Center on Law and Information Policy at Fordham Law School, one of the nation’s leading academic centers contributing to the development of the law and policy in the area of information technology.  Mr. Southwell has also been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law, teaching a seminar on cyber-crimes, covering computer misuse crimes, intellectual property offenses, the Fourth Amendment in cyber-space, computer evidence at trial, data breach and privacy issues, and information security, among other areas.

EDUCATION

New York University - 1997 Juris Doctor

Princeton University - 1993 Bachelor of Arts

ADMISSIONS

New York Bar

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Client Alert - January 30, 2023 | U.S. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2023
Client Alert - January 5, 2023 | New INFORM Consumers Act Imposes Seller Diligence and Disclosure Requirements for Online Marketplaces
Webcasts - December 1, 2022 | Webcast: M&A Insights: Representation and Warranty Insurance Trends, Efforts Standards, and Managing Cybersecurity and Privacy Risks in M&A
Client Alert - November 15, 2022 | New York Attorney General’s Office Fall Round-Up
Client Alert - November 15, 2022 | New York State Department of Financial Services Revises Cybersecurity Regulation to Include New Requirements
Client Alert - August 8, 2022 | New York State Department of Financial Services Meaningfully Rachets Up Cyber Requirements with New Draft Amendments
Article - July 12, 2022 | Insights And Omissions From Calif. Privacy Rules Draft
Client Alert - June 15, 2022 | Insights on New California Privacy Law Draft Regulations
Client Alert - May 13, 2022 | U.S. Privacy Law Update: Connecticut Enacts Comprehensive Privacy Law as Other States’ Laws Continue to Develop
Firm News - March 30, 2022 | Who’s Who Legal Recognizes 12 Gibson Dunn Partners in 2022 Investigations Guide
Client Alert - March 22, 2022 | President Biden Signs into Law the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act, Expanding Cyber Reporting Obligations for a Wide Range of Public and Private Entities
Client Alert - March 11, 2022 | U.S. Privacy Law Update: Utah Joins Growing List of States with Comprehensive Privacy Laws as Other States See Potential Changes
Client Alert - March 11, 2022 | SEC Proposes Rules on Cybersecurity Disclosure
Client Alert - February 3, 2022 | California AG’s CCPA Enforcement Priorities Expand to Loyalty Programs
Client Alert - January 31, 2022 | International Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2022
Client Alert - November 23, 2021 | California Privacy Protection Agency Rulemaking Begins and Heightened Privacy Focus Continues
Client Alert - November 11, 2021 | UK Supreme Court Overturns Court of Appeal to Disallow Google Data Privacy Class Action
Webcasts - September 23, 2021 | Webcast: Economic Espionage and Intellectual Property Theft: Trends and Developments with Threats and Enforcement
Client Alert - September 20, 2021 | SEC Announces First Enforcement Action Against Alternative Data Provider for Securities Fraud, Highlighting Regulatory Risks in Growing Industry
Client Alert - August 23, 2021 | SEC Settlement Reflects Increasing SEC Focus on Cyber Disclosures
Webcasts - July 13, 2021 | Webcast: Conducting Effective Cybersecurity and Privacy/Data Protection Diligence in M&A Transactions
Client Alert - June 24, 2021 | Third Circuit Court of Appeals Addresses Federal Trade Secret Standards
Client Alert - June 17, 2021 | China Constricts Sharing of In-Country Corporate and Personal Data Through New Legislation
Client Alert - June 3, 2021 | Supreme Court Narrows Scope Of Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Holding It Does Not Prohibit Accessing Otherwise Available Information For An Improper Purpose
Client Alert - May 21, 2021 | New York Privacy Act Update: Bill Out of Committee, Moves to Full Senate
Client Alert - May 18, 2021 | President Biden Issues Executive Order to Enhance U.S. Cybersecurity in the Wake of Major Cyber Incidents
Firm News - April 30, 2021 | 11 Gibson Dunn Partners Recognized in Euromoney’s White Collar Crime Expert Guide
Client Alert - April 30, 2021 | Second Circuit Seeks to Reconcile Circuit Split Concerning Standing to Bring Data Privacy Lawsuits
Client Alert - March 19, 2021 | California’s Privacy Laws Continue to Take Form: New Regulations for CCPA and Appointment of CPPA Members
Client Alert - March 8, 2021 | Virginia Passes Comprehensive Privacy Law
Client Alert - February 17, 2021 | New Federal Law for IoT Cybersecurity Requires the Development of Standards and Guidelines Throughout 2021
Publications - February 12, 2021 | What’s to Come for Cybersecurity in the Biden Era
Client Alert - February 1, 2021 | International Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2021
Client Alert - February 1, 2021 | The GameStop Short Squeeze – Potential Regulatory and Litigation Fall Out and Considerations
Client Alert - February 1, 2021 | Prepare For NY Data Privacy Law To Catch Up To Calif.
Client Alert - January 28, 2021 | U.S. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2021
Client Alert - January 25, 2021 | California Attorney General End of Term Update
Webcasts - January 7, 2021 | Webcast: Privacy and Consumer Protection Enforcement under the Biden Administration
Client Alert - January 4, 2021 | Federal Regulators Propose Rule Requiring Banking Institutions and Service Providers to Provide Rapid Notification Following Significant Computer-Security Incidents
Client Alert - November 30, 2020 | Consumer Protection Under the Biden Administration
Publications - November 24, 2020 | Where Data Privacy And CFPB Are Headed Under Biden
Article - November 19, 2020 | Businesses Should Prepare for a New Phase of Privacy Regulation and Enforcement in the United States
- September 29, 2020 | The Potential Impact of the Upcoming Voter Initiative, the California Privacy Rights Act
Client Alert - August 20, 2020 | California Approves Final CCPA Regulations, and Bill Extending Key Exemptions Moves Forward at the Legislature
Webcasts - August 7, 2020 | Webcast: Schrems II: What are the implications and viable options for international data transfers?
Client Alert - July 17, 2020 | The Court of Justice of the European Union Strikes Down the Privacy Shield but Upholds the Standard Contractual Clauses under Conditions
Client Alert - July 17, 2020 | 2020 Mid-Year False Claims Act Update
Client Alert - July 13, 2020 | U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh FTC Restitution Authority
Client Alert - July 6, 2020 | Supreme Court Upholds TCPA’s Robocall Ban, But Strikes Government-Debt Exception As Unconstitutional Under First Amendment
Client Alert - July 1, 2020 | As California Consumer Privacy Act Enforcement Commences, a Tougher New Data Privacy Law Will Go Before California Voters in November
Client Alert - June 12, 2020 | California Consumer Privacy Act Update: Attorney General Finalizes Regulations and Provides Interpretive Guidance
Webcasts - April 30, 2020 | Webcast: Returning to Work: Health, Employment, and Privacy Considerations and Constraints as Businesses Resume Post-Quarantine Operations in the U.S.
Client Alert - April 28, 2020 | European Perspective on Tracing Tools in the Context of COVID-19
Client Alert - April 22, 2020 | Supreme Court to Resolve Longstanding Circuit Split Over Scope of Federal Anti-Hacking Statute
Firm News - March 25, 2020 | 11 Partners Recognized in Who’s Who Legal 2020 Investigations
Client Alert - March 20, 2020 | Privacy and Cybersecurity Issues Related to COVID-19
Client Alert - March 17, 2020 | California Consumer Privacy Act Update: Attorney General Proposes Further Revisions to CCPA Regulations
Client Alert - February 19, 2020 | California Consumer Privacy Act Update: Attorney General Proposes Regulations Version 2.0
Client Alert - January 31, 2020 | 2019 Year-End False Claims Act Update
Client Alert - January 29, 2020 | International Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2020
Client Alert - January 27, 2020 | U.S. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2020
Client Alert - December 12, 2019 | California Consumer Privacy Act: Compliance Heading into the New Year
Client Alert - November 1, 2019 | FTC Brings First Case Against Tracking Apps
Client Alert - October 16, 2019 | California Consumer Privacy Act: 2019 Final Amendments Signed
Client Alert - October 11, 2019 | California Consumer Privacy Act Update: Regulatory Update
Client Alert - September 16, 2019 | Ninth Circuit Issues Decision in Closely Watched Data Scraping Case
Client Alert - September 9, 2019 | Google and YouTube Reach Historic Settlement with FTC and New York AG Over Alleged COPPA Violations
Firm News - August 15, 2019 | Gibson Dunn Lawyers Recognized in the Best Lawyers in America® 2020
Client Alert - July 16, 2019 | 2019 Mid-Year False Claims Act Update
Firm News - June 3, 2019 | Alexander Southwell Appointed to New York State Bar Association’s Task Force of Autonomous Vehicles and the Law
Client Alert - January 29, 2019 | International Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2019
Client Alert - January 28, 2019 | U.S. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2019
Client Alert - January 24, 2019 | The French Data Protection Authority Imposes a 50 Million Euros Fine on Google LLC
Client Alert - January 9, 2019 | 2018 Year-End False Claims Act Update
Client Alert - October 17, 2018 | SEC Warns Public Companies on Cyber-Fraud Controls
Webcasts - October 15, 2018 | Webcast: GDPR’s First Five Months: Emerging Trends and Implementation Challenges
Client Alert - July 11, 2018 | 2018 Mid-Year False Claims Act Update
Firm News - April 18, 2018 | Alexander H. Southwell Named to Cybersecurity Docket’s Incident Response 30
Client Alert - January 29, 2018 | International Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2018
Client Alert - January 25, 2018 | U.S. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review – 2018
Client Alert - January 5, 2018 | 2017 Year-End False Claims Act Update
Article - December 14, 2017 | A Constitutional Solution to Online Mass-Violence Manuals
Client Alert - December 4, 2017 | The General Data Protection Regulation: A Primer for U.S.-Based Organizations That Handle EU Personal Data
Client Alert - July 12, 2017 | 2017 Mid-Year False Claims Act Update
Client Alert - June 7, 2017 | Trump Administration Prioritization of Cybersecurity
Webcasts - February 28, 2017 | Webcast: IPO and Public Company Readiness: Cybersecurity
Client Alert - January 31, 2017 | International Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review: 2017
Client Alert - January 27, 2017 | U.S. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Outlook and Review: 2017
Client Alert - January 5, 2017 | New York State Department of Financial Services Revises Proposed Cybersecurity Regulations
Client Alert - January 5, 2017 | 2016 Year-End False Claims Act Update
Client Alert - December 30, 2016 | President Obama Announces New Russian Sanctions in Response to Election-Related Hacking
Client Alert - November 10, 2016 | California Continues to Take the Lead on Consumer Privacy – Attorney General Issues New Guidance to the Ed Tech Sector About Student Data
Client Alert - November 7, 2016 | FCC Votes to Adopt New Regulations Governing Use of Customers’ Proprietary Information by Providers of Broadband Internet Access Service
Client Alert - October 31, 2016 | New Cybersecurity Requirements for Defense Contractors Take Effect
Client Alert - October 24, 2016 | Federal Banking Regulators Announce New Proposed Cybersecurity Standards
Client Alert - September 19, 2016 | New York State Department of Financial Services Announces Proposed Cybersecurity Regulations
Article - August 29, 2016 | How a New Defensive Line Can Protect Sports Properties
Client Alert - July 22, 2016 | New EU-Wide Rules on Cybersecurity: Watch the Fine Print
Client Alert - July 7, 2016 | 2016 Mid-Year False Claims Act Update
Client Alert - May 11, 2016 | President Obama Signs Federal Trade Secrets Law
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