Overview
Heather is a Member in the Litigation Department at McDonald Hopkins and a member of the national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity team. She is accredited by the International Association of Privacy Professionals as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the United States Private Sector, the gold standard certification for information privacy professionals. Her practice focuses on advising companies in a wide variety of industries on addressing data privacy and cybersecurity incidents.
Heather’s expertise stems from her time as Deputy Attorney General in the Data Privacy and Identity Theft Unit for the Office of Indiana Attorney General. In her role there, she provided internal data privacy counsel on the applicability of federal and state data privacy regulations, including CAN-SPAM, TCPA and TSR while also representing the State of Indiana in complex litigation in various specialized areas including consumer protection laws, HIPAA and telephone privacy laws.
Heather has also led multi-jurisdictional data breach matters compromised of attorneys general from around the country. Outside of litigation, her experience includes working with businesses to ensure state and federal compliance including, but not limited to, reviewing policies and procedures, risk assessments and risk analysis, and PCI DSS standards, and negotiating complex settlement agreements, protective orders, confidentiality agreements, common interest agreements, memorandum of understanding and other types of contracts.
Heather’s general business and litigation practice includes experience serving as outside counsel in Fair Credit Reporting Act litigation, serving as local counsel for a Fortune 500 company, negotiating and advising on contracts, engaging in dispute resolution, and representing private and court-appointed clients in various areas of law including family law, general litigation, probate, municipal law, criminal law, contracts and appellate law.
Heather earned her JD from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. She graduated from Indiana University, Purdue University – Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. In addition to her role at McDonald Hopkins, Heather serves as adjunct faculty for Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis, teaching courses in litigation, legal research and writing, family law, bankruptcy, introduction to law, and real estate law.
Credentials
Education
Pennsylvania State University
Indiana University, Purdue University – Indianapolis
Admissions – Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
Admissions – State
- Indiana
Professional & Civic
Professional Activities
Co-Chair, Indianapolis’ IAPP KnowledgeNet Chapter
Member, Indiana State Bar Association
Past President, Boone County Bar Association
Graduate, Indiana Trial Practice Institute
Community Involvement
Board Member, International Marketplace Coalition
Host Home – Trinity Haven
Graduate, Emerging Leaders of the United Way
AmeriCorps Member (two-year term)
News & Insights
Events
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, How to use Third-Party CID’s to Resolve your Case, April, 2021
Speaker, How to get Your Evidence Admitted, September 2020, October 2021