Fisher Phillips Expands CCPA Task Force as Enforcement Kicks Off in California

IRVINE, CA (July 21, 2020) – Fisher Phillips, one of the country’s preeminent labor and employment law firms representing employers, announces the expansion of its California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) Task Force, a dedicated team of attorneys who stand readily available to assist clients with CCPA compliance matters as enforcement ramps up across California.

The Task Force addresses clients’ most pressing questions on whether the CCPA applies to their business, prepares privacy and data security policies in compliance with the CCPA and defends against litigation or enforcement matters, which started on July 1. Members of the Task Force provide businesses nationwide with tailored plans and guidance for CCPA compliance to ensure they are mitigating the risk of litigation and exposure to costly fines, and lawfully safeguarding their sensitive information. The team includes 17 attorneys across the country from Fisher Phillips’ Privacy and Cyber Practice and California Litigation Practice.

“Fisher Phillips’ Privacy and Cyber attorneys have been preparing clients for CCPA compliance since Governor Brown signed the Act into law in 2018. Since the law became effective January 1, 2020, we have seen class action lawsuits asserting CCPA violations and some seeking to significantly expand the reach of this new law, and now California’s Attorney General is sharply focused on enforcement. This means it is critical for employers covered by the CCPA to initiate their compliance programs and play proactive defense now,” said Usama Kahf, partner in the firm’s Irvine office. “By bringing together our highly-technical data security attorneys and our strong team of litigators, Fisher Phillips’ CCPA Task Force is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate the complexities associated with collecting, sharing and using personal data in California and mitigate the risk of potential litigation or financial penalties.”   

The expansion of the CCPA Task Force follows the recent addition of Edward Hopkins as a Partner in the firm’s Denver office and member of Fisher Phillips’ Privacy and Cyber Practice Group. Hopkins represents and defends employers in data security and workplace privacy matters involving employees, former employees, independent contractors, and service providers. He is one of only a few lawyers in the world who holds all seven certifications offered by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Hopkins’ arrival expands the scope of work Fisher Phillips’ Privacy and Cyber team provides across the country.

Fisher Phillips’ Privacy and Cyber practice has several dozen attorneys who help companies audit or assess their privacy management programs, design and implement data security management programs, provide data breach response, counsel and leadership, ensure compliance with all local, state, federal, and international data privacy laws and regulations, advise corporate general counsel and data privacy officers on complex data privacy matters, and defend against individual and class action lawsuits and government enforcement actions.