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Cynthia J. Larose

Member / Co-Chair, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice

[email protected]

+1.617.348.1732

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Cynthia is a highly regarded authority in the privacy and security field and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP). She handles the full range of data security issues for companies of all sizes, from startups to major corporations. Cynthia is masterful at conducting privacy audits; crafting procedures to protect data; advising clients on state, federal, and international laws and regulations on information use and data security; helping organizations respond to breaches; and planning data transfers associated with corporate transactions. She is an in-demand media commentator and speaker on privacy and cybersecurity issues.

Cynthia is Co-chair of the firm's Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice, a Certified Information Privacy Professional-US (CIPP-US), and a Certified Information Privacy Professional-Europe (CIPP-E).

She represents companies in information, communications, and technology, including e-commerce and other electronic transactions. She counsels clients through all stages of the corporate life cycle, from startups through mid- and later-stage financings to IPO, and has broad experience in technology and business law, including online contracting issues, licensing, domain name issues, software development, and complex outsourcing transactions. She is also a key contributor to MintzEdge, an online resource for entrepreneurs that includes useful tools and information for starting and growing a company.

Cynthia has extensive experience in privacy, data security, and information management matters, including state, federal, and international laws and regulations on the use and transfer of information, behavioral advertising, data security breach compliance and incident response, and data breach incident response planning, as well as data transfers in the context of mergers and acquisitions and technology transactions. She conducts privacy audits and risk assessments to determine data and transaction flow and to assess privacy practices, and assists with drafting and implementation of privacy policies and information security policies and procedures and monitoring of privacy best practices across all levels of the enterprise.

Cynthia is a frequent speaker on privacy issues at conferences and media appearances and presents privacy awareness and compliance training seminars to client companies.

During law school, she was editor-in-chief of the Probate Law Journal.

Cynthia is a highly regarded authority in the privacy and security field and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP). She handles the full range of data security issues for companies of all sizes, from startups to major corporations. Cynthia is masterful at conducting privacy audits; crafting procedures to protect data; advising clients on state, federal, and international laws and regulations on information use and data security; helping organizations respond to breaches; and planning data transfers associated with corporate transactions. She is an in-demand media commentator and speaker on privacy and cybersecurity issues.

Experience

viewpoints

The California Legislature has passed AB-1281 over to the Governor’s desk, approving the continuation of an exemption for personal information collected in the employment context and certain information collected in the course of a business-to-business (B2B) transaction or about B2B-related personnel.  
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California Attorney General Becerra announced Friday afternoon that the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) had approved the final CCPA regulations his office submitted to the OAL in June, and that the review process is complete.   This means that the CCPA Regulations go into effect immediately. 
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The New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) has announced its first enforcement action of NYDFS’ Cybersecurity Regulation, Part 500 of Title 23 (“Cybersecurity Regulation”) against First American Title Insurance Company (“First American”), a leading title insurance provider. 
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At present, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has “temporary” (and limited) exemptions for the application of portions of the CCPA to personal data collected in the course of business-to-business transactions (Section 1798.145(o)) and that of employees and job applicants (Section 1798.145(h).   Both sections will sunset on January 1, 2021 without further action from the Legislature.
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Today’s The Day: CCPA Enforcement Begins

July 1, 2020 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

As we’ve been writing about in this space for some time, today marks the opening of the CCPA enforcement era.  Despite protestations from the business community, and requests for delay due to the lack of regulations until early June and the ongoing COVID-19 state of emergency, AG Xavier Becerra declined to extend the deadline, saying “Businesses have had since January 1 to comply with the law, and we are committed to enforcing it starting July 1.”
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Just as businesses are gearing up for the start of enforcement of the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), California cleared the way for the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”). The CPRA is an initiative imposing greater privacy restrictions on businesses holding consumer data, to be voted on as part of California’s November 2020 ballot.
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A New CCPA Data Breach Lawsuit Is “Minted”

June 17, 2020 | Blog | By Cynthia Larose

Online stationery and craft company Minted Inc. has been hit with a CCPA class action lawsuit, stemming from a massive data breach the company disclosed in late May.  The proposed class action lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims that Minted Inc. failed to implement “reasonable security measures” and to properly encrypt certain personal information.
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The California AG’s office has dropped the long-awaited final CCPA Regulations, and requested expedited review from the Office of Administrative Law.    If this request is granted, the regulations will be effective by July 1.
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In an unprecedented ruling, one federal court recently held that the work product doctrine does not protect the expert cybersecurity report prepared after a data breach.  The court ordered the release of the unredacted cybersecurity report, despite that it was prepared in anticipation of litigation at the direction of outside counsel.  Despite ordering the release of the report itself, the court denied (without prejudice) the class plaintiffs’ request to also compel the disclosure of the “related materials,” finding that these materials may still qualify for protection, and that this issue was not yet adequately briefed. 
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News & Press

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Events & Speaking

May
1
2025

Mintz's Annual Employment Law Summit 2025 - New York

Convene, 601 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022

Speaker
Mar
16
2022

Hot Topics in White Collar Crime and Government Investigations: Considerations for Corporate Counsel

Association of Corporate Counsel, San Diego and Mintz

Virtual Event

Webinar Reference Image
Speaker
Feb
9
2022
Seminar Reference Image
Moderator
Speaker
Apr
27
2020
Speaker
Apr
15
2020
Webinar Reference Image
Speaker
Speaker
Mar
4
2020
Speaker
Panelist
Sep
25
2019
Moderator
Jun
19
2019

Health Care & Cybersecurity: A Powerful Combination

ML Strategies, 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004

Speaker
Panelist
Apr
29
2019

AHAM Annual Member Meeting 2019

Know the Score

The Ritz-Carlton Washington DC

Moderator
Mar
6
2019

The Third Annual Boston Conference on Cyber Security (BCCS 2019)

Boston College, Gasson Hall, Room 100, 140 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill, MA

Speaker
Feb
4
2019

Cybersecurity Best Practices for Legal Services Providers 2019

Practising Law Institute

PLI New York Center, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, (2nd floor), entrance on 45th Street, New York, New York

Speaker
Nov
13
2018

CTAM End of Year Meeting

HBO Theater, New York, NY

Oct
3
2018

Ascendant Compliance Conference

State of the Data Breach

San Diego, California

Speaker
May
7
2018

2018 Onsolve User Conference

Arizona Biltmore Hotel 2400 E Missouri Avenue Phoenix, AZ

Speaker
Apr
18
2018

Legal Issues in Museum Administration 2018

American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education (ALI CLE)

Revere Hotel Boston Common 200 Stuart Street Boston, MA

Speaker
Mar
19
2018

2018 Cyber Liability Conference

Mohegan Sun Resort & Convention Center 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd Uncasville, CT

Speaker
Mar
15
2018

Higher Education Legal Conference

Boston Bar Association

Sheraton Boston Hotel 39 Dalton Street Boston, MA

Moderator
Mar
7
2018

The Second Annual Boston Conference on Cyber Security (BCCS 2018)

Boston College

Gasson Hall, Room 100 140 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill, MA

Speaker
Jan
19
2018
Speaker
Jan
17
2018
Speaker
Nov
30
2017
Speaker
Nov
29
2017
Speaker
Nov
28
2017
Speaker
Speaker
Nov
2
2017

Cyber Security & Liability

New Hampshire Bar Association

Concord, NH

Speaker
Oct
25
2017

Staffing World 2017

American Staffing Association

Chicago, IL

Speaker
Oct
10
2017

Ascendant Compliance Conference

Ascendant Compliance Management

Napa, California

Panelist
May
24
2017

Privacy & Cybersecurity Conference

Boston Bar Association

Boston, MA

Speaker
May
11
2017

2017 ASA Staffing Law Conference

American Staffing Association

Washington, DC

Moderator
Mar
8
2017
Speaker
Jun
3
2016

Director Bootcamp

NACD New England

Boston, MA

Speaker
May
11
2016

2016 NEDRIX Spring Conference

NorthEast Disaster Recovery Information X-Change

Boston, MA

Speaker
Dec
1
2015

Increased Scrutiny by Regulators of Cybersecurity

The New England Broker/Dealer and Investment Adviser Association

Boston, MA

Speaker
May
13
2015
Moderator
Mar
10
2015

Not If, But When: Cyber Security for Companies in an Age of Inevitable Hacks, Attacks & Breaches

National Association of Corporate Directors, New England Chapter

Newton Marriott Hotel, Newton, MA

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Cynthia is a highly regarded authority in the privacy and security field and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP). She handles the full range of data security issues for companies of all sizes, from startups to major corporations. Cynthia is masterful at conducting privacy audits; crafting procedures to protect data; advising clients on state, federal, and international laws and regulations on information use and data security; helping organizations respond to breaches; and planning data transfers associated with corporate transactions. She is an in-demand media commentator and speaker on privacy and cybersecurity issues.

Recognition & Awards

  • BTI Consulting Group Client Service All-Star (2022)

  • Best Lawyers in America: Privacy and Data Security Law (2018 – 2027)

  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: Go-To Cybersecurity / Data Privacy Lawyer (2022, 2024)

  • Top Author for Cybersecurity, JD Supra’s Readers' Choice Awards (2018 – 2021)

  • Chambers USA: Noted Practitioner, Nationwide – Privacy & Data Security (2018 – 2019)

  • National Law Review: Go-To Thought Leadership Award, Cybersecurity (2018)

  • Chambers USA: Nationwide – Privacy & Data Security (2010 – 2016)

  • Chambers Global: Privacy & Data Security (2011 – 2012, 2016 – 2017)

  • Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer – Cyber Law (2026)

  • National Diversity Council: Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology (2016)

  • Woman of Technology 2001 by Women in Technology, Inc.

  • Two Thousand Notable American Women (2001)

  • Women's Business Boston: Top 10 Women Lawyers in Boston (2005); Top 10 Corporate Lawyers in Boston (2009 – 2010)

  • Boston Magazine: Rising Star (2011)

  • Leila Josephine Robinson Award, Boston University Woman's Law Association (2010)

  • Boston Digital Industry News: Best General Lawyer for a High-Tech Firm

  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Rising Star – Information Technology / Outsourcing (2005)

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Cynthia is a highly regarded authority in the privacy and security field and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP). She handles the full range of data security issues for companies of all sizes, from startups to major corporations. Cynthia is masterful at conducting privacy audits; crafting procedures to protect data; advising clients on state, federal, and international laws and regulations on information use and data security; helping organizations respond to breaches; and planning data transfers associated with corporate transactions. She is an in-demand media commentator and speaker on privacy and cybersecurity issues.

Involvement

  • Member, International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • Member, Computer Law Association
  • Member, Federal Communications Bar Association
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Cynthia J. Larose

Member / Co-Chair, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice

Boston