Alan Friel, noted media convergence and privacy attorney, left Edwards Wildman to join BakerHostetler’s Intellectual Property Group and its Privacy and Data Protection and the Information Technology and Transaction teams. Friel’s practice focuses on regulatory schemes, intellectual property transactions, and privacy and consumer protection law.
Friel is recognized as a thought leader regarding legal issues in media convergence – the property, liability, and regulatory implications at the evolving intersections between media, marketing, technology, distribution, commerce, Big Data, and communication brought about by the ongoing digital revolution. His work on the shifting frontiers of emerging media makes him ideal to coordinate the Advertising, Retailing and E-commerce industry initiative of BakerHostetler.
Speaking on the need to hire experts like Friel, the co-chair of BakerHostetler’s national Privacy and Data Protection Practice team said, “Privacy is not just about data breaches. As clients adopt emerging technology to enhance the customer experience and regulators continue to scrutinize data collection and sharing activities, we have seen an increasing focus on proactively addressing privacy and data protection issues before a breach happens.” He added, “The addition of Alan to our team brings a media depth necessary to address these bet-the-company issues.”
Friel joins BakerHostetler on the heels of a five member group who also left Edwards Wildman. The law firm has also recently hired additional IP attorneys, and the former Federal Trade Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour. The recent hires add to BakerHostetler’s national profile as an Intellectual Property law firm after the firm acquired 70 IP attorneys through its merger with national Intellectual Property firm Woodcock Washburn.
Friel is affiliated with UCLA as an Assistant Professor in a multi-disciplinary project at the Graduate School of TV, Film and Digital Media, and an Adjunct Professor at the School of Law. He is ranked amongst the 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in Technology by American Lawyer Media and was recognized by Legal 500 in its 2013 Technology, Media and Telecom (Technology/Data Protection and Privacy) ranking.
Alan Friel received his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in 1991. He holds an EPM from UCLA’s Graduate School of Business, earned in 2001, and he received a B.S. in Public and Urban Affairs 1984 from Georgia State University.