Heather Egan Sussman is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Boston office. Heather is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Global Privacy and Data Protection Affinity Group and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional. She has been ranked by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 United States as a leader in her field.
Privacy and Data Security
In her privacy practice, Heather routinely advises companies on global privacy and data security laws, particularly as those laws intersect with the workplace. She prepares comprehensive privacy and data security programs and policies for multinational businesses, and regularly counsels businesses regarding the collection, use, retention, disclosure, transfer and disposal of personal information. Heather helps companies proactively protect private information and, in the event of a breach, she helps clients respond and remediate.
Employment
In her employment practice, Heather helps clients successfully navigate the many laws that govern the workplace, including laws covering whistleblowers, payment of wages, fair employment practices, reasonable accommodations, discrimination and harassment, medical leave, employee privacy, reductions in force and more. She negotiates executive employment agreements and enforceable restrictive covenants, and she helps multinational clients establish worksites throughout the United States. Heather regularly drafts and coordinates multinational rollout of policies and programs for clients around the globe, and she prepares and implements effective training programs tailored to meet the needs of her clients’ diverse work environments.
Litigation and Government Investigations
Heather has successfully litigated, mediated and arbitrated both small and large-scale disputes at state and federal agencies and in courts nationwide. Companies routinely rely on her to manage their response to catastrophes, investigations and government probes involving conduct by employees, contractors and customers. She represents clients during investigations by regulatory authorities in connection with data security breaches and complaints regarding privacy and security practices.
Professional Activities
Heather currently serves as Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Privacy Law Committee and as Co-Chair of Boston area KnowledgeNets for the International Association of Privacy Professionals. She frequently speaks and writes on current privacy and information security issues before trade and legal organizations, and has been quoted in hundreds of major news outlets, including MSNBC.com, ABCNews.com, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Times, Houston Chronicle and many more.
Education
- Boston College Law School, J.D., 2000
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, B.A. (Magna Cum Laude), 1996
