Data privacy and cybersecurity attorney Sharon Cruz joins McDonald Hopkins

DETROIT — McDonald Hopkins LLC, a business advocacy and advisory firm, is proud to announce Sharon Cruz as the newest addition to the firm. Sharon is Counsel in McDonald Hopkins’ Litigation Department and is joining the firm’s distinguished Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group.

“Sharon brings with her a wealth of knowledge in her field of data privacy and cybersecurity law. She underscores our commitment to being a destination firm for attorneys seeking to grow in their career and the value they bring to their clients. Sharon, and so many of our new faces within the firm, show our dedication to assembling practices with only the best and brightest,” said James Giszczak, Co-President of McDonald Hopkins and Co-Chair of the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group.

Sharon is accredited by the International Association of Privacy Professionals as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the United States, the gold standard certification for information privacy professionals.

A seasoned criminal prosecutor and investigator, Sharon's practice focuses on data privacy litigation, with specific expertise in data privacy compliance, investigation, and cybercrimes. She has litigated complex class actions concerning data breaches and privacy violations and issued and enforced hundreds of subpoenas to Facebook, Google, and other major corporations in her cybercriminal investigations.

As a former Assistant Attorney General for the Illinois Attorney General's Office, Sharon provides an enforcer’s perspective in developing litigation strategies for clients and educating stakeholders, law enforcement officers, and healthcare providers on cyber safety, blockchain technology, and the dangers of the dark web. In her role with the Illinois State Attorney General's Office, Sharon investigated and prosecuted numerous high-tech internet crimes and played a pivotal role in task forces aimed at combatting human trafficking. She also gained experience supervising forensic investigations, developing data privacy policies, and counseling on cybersecurity and regulatory compliance with CCPA, GDPR, and other state, federal and international data privacy laws.

Her litigation practice also includes expertise in prosecuting environmental crimes. She has additional experience as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, and several years of experience in the tech field prior to the start of her legal career. 

Sharon earned her J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and her B.A. from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. She proudly serves on the IU McKinney Alumni Association Board and sings with the Indianapolis Symphony Choir. Sharon also serves as an Advisory Member of the Indiana Governor's Executive Council on Cybersecurity.