Chris Buontempo is a Corporate partner at Mintz who advises companies, investors, and private equity sponsors at the intersection of technology, data, and regulation, with a particular focus on privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

With more than 15 years of experience, Chris is known for helping clients translate complex and rapidly evolving regulatory requirements into practical, business-oriented solutions. He counsels organizations ranging from start-ups and high-growth companies to global enterprises across the technology, healthcare, consumer products, financial services, and e-commerce sectors.

A core focus of Chris’s practice is guiding clients through the global privacy and AI regulatory landscape, including compliance with the EU GDPR, the expanding patchwork of U.S. state privacy laws (such as the CCPA), and emerging AI governance regimes. He advises on the design and implementation of scalable compliance programs and has deep experience with sector- and data-specific frameworks, including consumer health data (such as the Washington My Health, My Data Act and similar state laws), biometric data (such as BIPA), children’s and education data (COPPA, FERPA), location-based services, AdTech and tracking technologies, and gaming regulations, including sweepstakes and contests.

Chris is also a trusted advisor on the technology, data, and AI aspects of M&A and private equity transactions, representing buyers, sellers, and sponsors in domestic and cross-border deals, including platform acquisitions and add-on investments for private equity sponsors. Chris has developed repeat relationships with sponsors, serving as a go-to advisor across multiple portfolio investments. He works closely with deal teams to assess data assets and technology infrastructure, conduct diligence on privacy and cybersecurity risk, and negotiate transaction terms addressing data rights, AI-related issues, and regulatory exposure. In addition, he drafts and negotiates complex commercial agreements, including SaaS, software licensing, data licensing and sharing arrangements, outsourcing transactions, and strategic technology partnerships. Chris also advises on data commercialization issues, including data brokers, secondary data uses, and regulatory scrutiny of data aggregation and resale.

Beyond transactions, Chris counsels clients on cybersecurity risk management and operational readiness, including incident response planning, vendor and supply chain risk, and the integration of privacy and security considerations into product development and technology procurement. He also conducts privacy audits and risk assessments and advises on the development of policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.

Chris frequently serves as outside general counsel to emerging and middle-market companies, including private equity portfolio companies, advising founders, executive teams, and boards on commercial strategy, contracting, and growth initiatives in data-driven businesses. He regularly supports PE-backed management teams through growth and operational milestones, including post-acquisition integration and preparation for subsequent transactions.

Prior to joining Mintz, Chris held in-house legal leadership roles at a global technology company and a global consumer products organization, where he oversaw legal, privacy, and enterprise risk management functions, giving him a practical understanding of how regulatory requirements impact business operations.

He is an active thought leader who regularly speaks and writes on developments in privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging technology law.