Crowell & Moring’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Group has added two seasoned in-house counsel to their leading privacy team. Rita Heimes, former general counsel for the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and Justin B. Weiss, former associate general counsel for global technology investor Naspers, join the firm as senior counsel in Washington, D.C. Weiss will also serve as senior director at Crowell Global Advisors.
The additions bolster Crowell’s privacy and digital regulation capabilities and deepen the group’s work with boards of directors on complex privacy matters. Heimes and Weiss are highly respected privacy professionals who practice at the intersection of data, privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Both have held leadership positions within IAPP, the world’s largest and most preeminent privacy and AI governance organization.
“Rita and Justin are highly respected leaders in the privacy field who bring a strategic vision of the global privacy landscape and practical experience in leading compliance programs. Clients will value their insight because they have seen the field from many angles and can provide a steady hand in navigating complex privacy and digital regulatory matters,” said Jeffrey Poston, co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Group.
In addition to her role as general counsel at IAPP, Heimes concurrently served as the organization’s chief privacy officer, responsible for global legal and regulatory compliance and managing liability risk, including data-related liability, for the nonprofit professional association. Heimes also teaches privacy and AI law and policy at the University of Maine School of Law as a senior privacy fellow and adjunct law professor. Prior to IAPP, Heimes advised corporate clients at leading international law firms and has spent the majority of her 30-year legal career devoted to technology and data transactions and digital regulatory compliance.
“Crowell’s collaborative culture and integrated approach to privacy and cybersecurity issues makes it the ideal place for me to help clients navigate these highly dynamic issues,” Heimes said.
While at Naspers, Weiss also served as associate general counsel of Dutch subsidiary Prosus, one of the world’s largest internet technology investors, where he led the AI, privacy, intellectual property, and competition teams on regulatory matters through the full lifecycle of investments. Weiss previously held senior legal roles at Yahoo! Inc. and the Network Advertising Initiative. He served as chair of the IAPP’s Board of Directors in 2020, as well as treasurer and vice chair in earlier terms.
“The Crowell team is best in class and gives me an opportunity to counsel clients and their boards on privacy and digital regulatory issues as they intersect with every aspect of global business, including operations, technology, and compliance,” Weiss said.
At Crowell, Heimes will advise clients on a host of regulatory and compliance issues, including AI governance, cross border data transfers, international privacy law compliance, General Data Protection Regulation, and data sharing. She will help start-ups, major technology companies, Tier One research institutions, and other organizations navigate data-related transactions and disputes.
Weiss’ practice will focus on the development and execution of digital governance strategies for in-house legal and technology teams, senior executives, and boards of directors. He will counsel clients on digital risk management, including compliance with data protection, AI, and evolving digital sector regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions. At CGA, Weiss will play a key role advising clients on the management of geopolitical risks and taking advantage of the opportunities presented by emerging technologies and global market expansion.
“Privacy is a critical component of global regulatory frameworks, and companies that are innovating need to stay ahead of changing geopolitical risks. Crowell and Crowell Global Advisors work together to help clients grow their businesses in a world where data drives decision-making and can make or break the next deal,” said Geralyn Ritter, president and CEO of CGA.
Heimes earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Iowa and her law degree from Drake University Law school. Weiss earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Middlebury College and his law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. He also completed a diploma in global business at the University of Oxford.
About Crowell & Moring LLP
Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and corporate and transactional issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, as well as its programs and initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
About Crowell Global Advisors
Crowell Global Advisors helps clients navigate global business challenges, unlock new opportunities, and deliver on their promises to customers. CGA is the global policy consulting firm affiliated with Crowell & Moring LLP. Since 1987, public and private organizations around the world have turned to CGA’s team of former C-Suite executives, senior government officials, and industry leaders to solve their most complex problems and create new opportunities for their organization. With offices in Washington DC, Singapore, and Hong Kong, CGA takes a mission-driven approach to ensure that today’s commercial breakthroughs improve lives, strengthen economies, and drive meaningful, lasting impact for a more sustainable future.
