Baker McKenzie announced today that Katherine Hanniford has joined the Firm’s Data & Cyber Practice as a Partner in Washington, DC, further strengthening the Firm’s global cybersecurity, data privacy and incident response capabilities.
Katherine brings extensive experience advising clients on cybersecurity risk management, data compliance, governance and regulatory enforcement. She works closely with multinational organizations to navigate complex cybersecurity standards, implement enterprise wide risk mitigation strategies, and respond to data security incidents, including crisis management. Her practice spans a broad range of cybersecurity and data privacy matters, from evolving state, federal, and international regulatory requirements to investigations, enforcement actions and complex cross border incidents.
Named to Cybersecurity Docket’s 2026 Incident Response Elite, Katherine is widely recognized for advising clients through significant cyber incidents and data breaches with global implications. Her work covers the full data life cycle, with a particular focus on highly regulated industries such as financial services, healthcare and tech.
“Katherine is a highly respected cybersecurity and data privacy lawyer with deep experience advising clients through some of their most sensitive and complex data related challenges,” said Brian Hengesbaugh, Global Head of Baker McKenzie’s Data & Cyber Practice. “Her combination of proactive counseling, incident response and regulatory enforcement experience makes her an outstanding addition to our practice and a tremendous resource for our clients across the Americas and globally.”
Baker McKenzie’s Data & Cyber Practice advises organizations on the full spectrum of data protection, privacy and cybersecurity matters, helping clients manage risk in an increasingly complex global regulatory and threat landscape. The Firm supports clients across industries with proactive compliance and governance counseling, transactional support, regulatory and enforcement matters, and incident response and crisis management. With lawyers across key jurisdictions worldwide, Baker McKenzie provides integrated, cross border advice on some of the most challenging and business critical data and cyber issues facing global organizations.
“Katherine’s arrival reflects our continued investment in exceptional talent in Washington, DC, and our commitment to serving clients at the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy and regulatory risk,” said Maurice Bellan, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie’s Washington, DC, office. “Her experience and perspective will further enhance the breadth of our platform in a market that is critically important to our clients.”
Katherine earned her BA from Swarthmore College and her JD from The University of Texas School of Law. She joins Baker McKenzie as the Firm continues to expand its global Data & Cyber Practice to meet growing client demand for integrated, cross border advice on cybersecurity and privacy matters.
Katherine’s arrival builds on recent momentum in Washington, DC, where the Firm has added several high profile, top tier attorneys over the past year, including former US Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, former DOJ Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General Mark Hamer, former senior official at the US Federal Bureau of Investigation Sumon Dantiki, former US DOJ Antitrust and Consumer Protection litigator Tim Finley, former IRS officials Jennifer Best and Donna McComber, former US trade enforcement official Nat Halvorson, fintech and payments attorneys Todd Beauchamp and Charles Weinstein, former US Treasury official Scott Levine, and technology litigation trial attorney Christa Anderson.
Katherine brings extensive experience advising clients on cybersecurity risk management, data compliance, governance and regulatory enforcement. She works closely with multinational organizations to navigate complex cybersecurity standards, implement enterprise wide risk mitigation strategies, and respond to data security incidents, including crisis management. Her practice spans a broad range of cybersecurity and data privacy matters, from evolving state, federal, and international regulatory requirements to investigations, enforcement actions and complex cross border incidents.
Named to Cybersecurity Docket’s 2026 Incident Response Elite, Katherine is widely recognized for advising clients through significant cyber incidents and data breaches with global implications. Her work covers the full data life cycle, with a particular focus on highly regulated industries such as financial services, healthcare and tech.
“Katherine is a highly respected cybersecurity and data privacy lawyer with deep experience advising clients through some of their most sensitive and complex data related challenges,” said Brian Hengesbaugh, Global Head of Baker McKenzie’s Data & Cyber Practice. “Her combination of proactive counseling, incident response and regulatory enforcement experience makes her an outstanding addition to our practice and a tremendous resource for our clients across the Americas and globally.”
Baker McKenzie’s Data & Cyber Practice advises organizations on the full spectrum of data protection, privacy and cybersecurity matters, helping clients manage risk in an increasingly complex global regulatory and threat landscape. The Firm supports clients across industries with proactive compliance and governance counseling, transactional support, regulatory and enforcement matters, and incident response and crisis management. With lawyers across key jurisdictions worldwide, Baker McKenzie provides integrated, cross border advice on some of the most challenging and business critical data and cyber issues facing global organizations.
“Katherine’s arrival reflects our continued investment in exceptional talent in Washington, DC, and our commitment to serving clients at the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy and regulatory risk,” said Maurice Bellan, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie’s Washington, DC, office. “Her experience and perspective will further enhance the breadth of our platform in a market that is critically important to our clients.”
Katherine earned her BA from Swarthmore College and her JD from The University of Texas School of Law. She joins Baker McKenzie as the Firm continues to expand its global Data & Cyber Practice to meet growing client demand for integrated, cross border advice on cybersecurity and privacy matters.
Katherine’s arrival builds on recent momentum in Washington, DC, where the Firm has added several high profile, top tier attorneys over the past year, including former US Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, former DOJ Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General Mark Hamer, former senior official at the US Federal Bureau of Investigation Sumon Dantiki, former US DOJ Antitrust and Consumer Protection litigator Tim Finley, former IRS officials Jennifer Best and Donna McComber, former US trade enforcement official Nat Halvorson, fintech and payments attorneys Todd Beauchamp and Charles Weinstein, former US Treasury official Scott Levine, and technology litigation trial attorney Christa Anderson.
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