Patrick Austin advises clients across a broad range of industries on data privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance.
As part of the firm's privacy and security team, Patrick helps clients improve their security posture based on an understanding of their business strategies and objectives and technology infrastructure. His clients have included companies in the telecom, fintech, SaaS, and healthcare spaces. He has extensive experience advising clients regarding compliance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation; industry-specific privacy laws such as HIPAA; and the full spectrum of U.S. federal and state laws and regulations, including the California Consumer Privacy Act.
Patrick analyzes and distills complex issues into clear, actionable advice for clients. He draws on his years of experience in the public sector handling legal and regulatory issues associated with records requests filed under the federal Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act, in addition to advising litigators within the U.S. Department of Justice on trial strategy for defending privacy-related lawsuits.
Practice Highlights
Data breach response
Privacy and security compliance
Policy and program development
Admitted to Practice
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Virginia, 2013
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U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2014
Education
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J.D., George Mason University School of Law, 2013
- Editor-in-Chief: National Security Law Journal
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Executive Education Program, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, 2021
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Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US, CIPP/E), International Association of Privacy Professionals
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B.A., Professional & Technical Writing, Old Dominion University, 2009
Memberships & Affiliations
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- International Association of Privacy Professionals, 2020-Present
- Virginia State Bar, 2013-Present
- American Bar Foundation, 2021-Present
Professional Recognition
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- Significant Service Award, Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference, 2018-2020
Background
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- Privacy Counsel, VeraSafe LLP, Washington, D.C., 2022-2023
- Attorney Advisor, Office of Information Policy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., 2015-2022
- Adjunct Professor, George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Va., 2014-2017
- Associate, Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp PC, Virginia Beach, Va., 2013-2015