McDonald Hopkins welcomes three new associates to its national data privacy and cybersecurity practice
McDonald Hopkins is proud to announce the addition of three talented attorneys to its nationally recognized data privacy and cybersecurity practice group: Garrett Groos, Gregory Parker, and Ryan C. Smith. These new associates join the firm remotely from across the country, underscoring McDonald Hopkins’ commitment to recruiting top-tier talent, regardless of location, and continuing to build a diverse practice on a national scale.
“No matter where they’re located, we hire the best of the best,” said Dominic Paluzzi, Co-Chair of the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. “Our remote structure still allows us a collaborative environment where attorneys feel supported, our clients receive exceptional service, and our group continues to grow. It’s that flexibility and commitment to excellence that make McDonald Hopkins a destination firm for the most talented lawyers in the data privacy space.”
The addition of Garrett, Greg, and Ryan is another step forward in the firm’s strategic growth of its cybersecurity bench, which now includes more than 45 attorneys.
Garrett Groos focuses his practice on incident response, advising clients through high-stakes cyber threats and data breaches on a global scale. With deep experience navigating regulatory compliance and working directly with forensic investigators, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies, Garrett brings a proactive, client-centered approach to every matter. He is accredited by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) with multiple certifications, including CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM, and CIPT.
“I really like that McDonald Hopkins enables you to be entrepreneurial and feel like a valued part of making the firm work, right off the bat. They treat you like a professional, even as a junior attorney. The firm has a great team and mature processes when it comes to incident response. They embrace growth and technology use in their practice more than any other law firm I’ve come across,” he said.
He is located in Austin, TX.
Greg Parker advises clients on privacy compliance, breach response, and cybersecurity risk management. His practice spans a range of industries, including finance, healthcare, and technology, and he regularly works on regulatory matters involving CCPA, HIPAA, GDPR, and more. Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, Greg managed complex privacy matters at both national and international law firms. He, too, is accredited by IAPP as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the United States.
“The firm has a strong national reputation for privacy and cybersecurity work. I was especially drawn to the team's focus on incident response and their experience advising companies during the most difficult moments. From my first conversations, it was clear that the firm values both skill and collaboration,” Greg said.
Greg is located in San Antonio, TX.
Ryan C. Smith focuses on pre-breach advisory services and incident response. Ryan draws on a unique combination of private sector and public service experience to help businesses strategically navigate the evolving landscape of privacy law. Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, he served as counsel for a leading trade association for digital advertising. In this role, he advised member companies on compliance with federal and state-level privacy laws and regulations, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the My Health My Data Act, and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. He has extensive experience in advertising technology, children’s privacy, precise location data and user consent mechanisms.
“Data privacy is an evolving area of law where individual attorneys can make a huge impact,” said Smith. “Joining McDonald Hopkins allows me to do that while working with a team that shares my values, from wherever I am.”
Ryan is located in the Washington D.C. area.
