Donald DePass
Counsel, Global Regulatory – Hogan Lovells LLP
Description of field of expertise
Donald DePass helps innovative organizations protect and manage health data and other sensitive information. In a rapidly developing landscape, he provides pragmatic solutions to help address complex privacy, data security, and consumer protection challenges, including with respect to sophisticated and emerging technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, and digital health products.
Donald counsels clients facing highly regulated and dynamic environments, primarily in the technology, life sciences and health care, and sports and fitness sectors, including technology and data companies, academic medical centers, laboratories, device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, health plans, researchers, and media and fitness companies.
Donald routinely helps clients with privacy program design and strategic compliance with data privacy and consumer protection laws. He regularly advises on issues related to the use and disclosure of sensitive information, including genetic and biometric information, research, de-identification, notice and consent practices, privacy and cyber incident response and preparedness, government investigations, and commercial negotiations. Working with stakeholders across legal, compliance, and product teams, Donald can be counted on to help organizations tackle their most pressing legal challenges and achieve key business objectives.
Donald is a proud graduate of Duke University and Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school, Donald served as a student attorney in the Georgetown Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Clinic and was a member of The Tax Lawyer.
What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?
I would encourage new attorneys practicing in privacy and cybersecurity to stay abreast of industry press. This is a dynamic area with significant developments that impact how we counsel our clients occurring regularly. It’s critical that we stay on top of the latest laws, regulations, enforcement actions, and technological advancements. There are plenty of great resources that can help raise our awareness of emerging issues.
Final thoughts…
Like many attorneys, I am increasingly spending my time thinking about and advising on issues related to artificial intelligence. Aside from data-related issues, I’ve enjoyed speaking with colleagues about what it means to embrace “responsible AI” and how to build governance programs to that unlock the power of AI-based solutions, while managing foreseeable risks from the use of such solutions.