KAREN NEUMAN

kneuman@slrno.com
202.454.9401 (o)
301.332.3546 (m)
Business Card

Karen is an internationally recognized expert in privacy and data security law, and a founding partner of Neuman & Olson (SLRNO), LLP Washington, D.C.-based media technology and communications law firm. With well over two decades of experience in diverse markets of the communications industry, including digital media, telecommunications and cable, Karen combines strong legal skills with a broad strategic vision to provide “value added” legal and strategic counsel to senior management and general counsel of both new entrants and established entities.

Karen's practice concentrates on privacy and data security law compliance, risk assessment/ mitigation and strategic counseling, and assisting organizations to integrate their legal, business and technology strategies. Karen also performs transactional regulatory due diligence to ensure compliance with legal and industry best practices.

Karen is a frequent speaker on current and developing issues involving privacy and data security law. She is the founder and editor of, and a regular contributor to, the SLRNO Privacy & Information Law Update. She serves on the Legal and Government Affairs committee of a major retail industry trade association and on the Infrastructure Advisory Committee of a Silicon Valley-based incubator’s project involving open source technology for digital educational and employment credentials and certifications.

Early in her career Karen worked for the trade group that represents state public service commissions. During this period she was appointed to the post-AT&T divestiture FCC Federal-State Joint Board where she provided legal guidance and worked closely with senior federal and state regulators to develop a framework for moving from a highly regulated environment to one that would promote competition and innovation. Working in an exceptionally polarized and contentious climate, Karen played a critical role in developing a consensus among regulatory stakeholders that would establish the jurisdictional framework for allocating network reconfiguration and allocation costs among local and long distance telecommunications service providers in order to implement the framework contemplated by the divestiture decree.

Karen subsequently joined a nationally recognized cable telecommunications law firm, where she represented local franchise authorities in all aspects of the cable franchise process, including awards, renewals and transfers, related litigation. She negotiated and drafted cable ordinances and franchise agreements and evaluated the financial viability of new entrants, including their proposed funding sources as well as their capital and operational budgets. Karen also led the legal team that successfully defended a complex challenge to the authority of a multi-jurisdictional joint franchise authority, and she was part of the team in separate litigation that helped clarify the First Amendment rights of cable telecommunications operators.

Karen later joined a public policy firm, where she focused on cutting edge issues in election law, telecommunications policy and privacy/technology issues. Her work on telecom policy included telecommunications reform legislation, formulating policy and communication strategies concerning privacy and competition issues for a Silicon Valley-based technology company. She also helped launch, and served as the legal director of, a national election law project where she spearheaded various litigation and state election law initiatives.

In late 2009, she was recruited to and co-found St. Ledger-Roty Neuman & Olson. Having developed deep expertise in the expanding body of law governing privacy and data security, Karen has made that strength the focus of her practice. Representative matters have included:

• Providing COPPA compliance guidance to a European-based website operator;
• Providing compliance guidance to nonprofit and private entities about state privacy and data breach laws in connection with online databases and recommending appropriate improvements to privacy policies and data security programs;
• Supervising the creation of several practical guides for an industry trade group, including guides to “mobile app” and social media advertising, that contain useful compliance strategies;
• Managing the creation of complex e-commerce transaction contracts for and industry trade group addressing call center, distribution and order fulfillment, as well as customer data management and security terms to ensure compliance with federal data and consumer protection laws;
• Convening a consumer advisory board for a Silicon Valley-based technology company to address privacy and other policy issues arising from new service offerings including digital products;
• Serving as Co-counsel in multi-party federal court challenge to a state’s legal scheme for adding and removing registrants from its voter registration database on the basis of matching protocol;
• Leading a team of lawyers in complex state and federal court proceedings brought against a joint cable telecommunications franchise authority involving constitutional, statutory, contract and state law claims and addressing the rights of video services providers to obtain competitive cable franchises -- resulting in a successful resolution for the client;
• Structuring, negotiating and drafting cable franchise ordinances and agreements and assisting local governments to monitor and enforce compliance;
• Defending against a wholesale challenge to a municipal franchise scheme in a case that helped clarify the first amendment rights of cable operators; and
• Advising a telecommunications service provider about the regulatory consequences of classifying new service offerings and how to minimize the costs of regulatory compliance for other initiatives.

Recent Speaking Engagements & Publications:

• Breakout Session Leader: Privacy: How to acquire customers, make money and not get sued, Open Mobile Summit (AppCelerate Program), November 4, 2011, San Francisco, California.
• Consumer Privacy – Is There an App for That? Federal Communications Bar Association Subcommittee on Privacy & Data Security/D.C. Bar Computer & Telecommunications Law Section, May 3, 2011.
• There’s an App for That! Local Government Use of Mobile Apps: Some Legal Considerations: e- NATOA Webinar, February 28, 2011.
• The FTC’s Privacy Report: What it means for Business: Podcast, Media Future Now, December 30, 2010.
• Privacy & Biometrics in Higher Education: Strategies for Minimizing Legal Risks: Educause Live! Webinar: Privacy Issues Associated with the Use of Biometrics in Higher Education: Risks and Best Practices November 18, 2010.
• Legal Issues Associated with Local Government use of Social Media: Risks & Best Practices: 30th Annual Conference of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers & Advisors, September 29, 2010 Washington, D.C.
• Moderator, FCBA Privacy & Data Security Committee Program: Privacy and Data Security Issues Involving Marketing to Minors, May 19, 2010, Washington, D.C.
• An Examination Of Recent Legal Developments In Mobile Advertising Along With Practical Considerations For Direct Response Retailing Over The Mobile Channel, Electronic Retailer Magazine, March 2010.
• ERA Great Ideas Summit: Mobile is here - Now What: Recent Legal & Regulatory Developments, February 2, 2010, New Orleans.

Member: Privacy & Data Security Committee of the Federal Communications Bar Association; International Association of Privacy Professionals; and D.C. Bar Section on Computers and Telecommunications.

Read other bios: Jeffrey Olson, Jack Greenberg, Ari Moskowitz