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Rachel Ehlers

Rachel Ehlers

Partner
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Biography

Rachel Ehlers is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Intellectual Property and Technology Practice Group, based in the Firm's Houston office. Throughout her early career, Rachel served in multiple in-house legal and compliance roles, including chief compliance officer and chief privacy officer, and has provided guidance and training to multinational companies globally. She also served as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State, and is recognized by the International Association of Privacy Professionals as a Privacy Law Specialist and a Certified Information Privacy Professional.

Practice Focus

As a former in-house counsel with multinational experience, Rachel's practice focuses on technology transactions, data privacy and cybersecurity. She has extensive experience advising clients on data incidents and breach response, cross-border transfers, and data privacy and cybersecurity issues related to mergers and acquisitions. Rachel also represents clients in the development of data privacy and security programs for compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), as well as sector-specific regulations.

In addition to privacy and cybersecurity work, Rachel works with clients to build regulatory compliance programs around anti-corruption, trade and export controls, third-party due diligence, and antitrust. She routinely conducts high-level investigations and training in these areas and has extensive experience advising companies on government and workplace investigations involving bribery, financial impropriety and fraud, and conflicts of interest.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Represented clients and led data security and incident response in hundreds of incidents, with companies ranging from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups.
  • Developed HIPAA compliance programs for multiple covered entities and business associates.
  • Developed and helped clients manage global privacy and security programs to meet a variety of legal requirements.
  • Conducted table-top exercises and training related to global privacy and security scenarios.
  • Advised on data subject and consumer data requests, helping build customized solutions to address data rights.
  • Counseled boards and senior leadership on strategic business risks within cyber, privacy, and technology infrastructure.

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Social of Corporate Compliance and Ethics - Member
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) - Member
  • Texas State Bar Association, Computer Technology, International, and Employment Sections - Member
  • Montgomery County United Way - Board Member
  • Salvation Army of Montgomery County - Board Member
  • Texas A&M University International Board - Member

Admissions

  • Texas (2009)

Education

  • University of Texas School of Law (JD) (2008)
  • University of Kent (MA International Affairs) (2000)
  • Texas A&M University (BS Agriculture) (1999)

Languages

  • Chinese
  • English
  • Spanish

Publications and Presentations

Baker & McKenzie LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership organized under the laws of the State of Illinois (USA) and is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Verein organized under the laws of Switzerland.