Alan Raul, Founder of Sidley Austin’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Practice Elected FPF’s New Board President
Avviso contenuto: FPF Founder Christopher Wolf and Board Chair steps down after 15 years of service FPF is pleased to announce Alan Raul, former Vice Chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, has been elected to serve as President and Chair of the organi
FPF Founder Christopher Wolf and Board Chair steps down after 15 years of service
FPF is pleased to announce Alan Raul, former Vice Chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, has been elected to serve as President and Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. Raul succeeds Christopher Wolf, founding Board President and founder of FPF, who is stepping down after a foundational and impactful tenure spanning 15 years.
Wolf, a pioneer in Internet and privacy law, is Senior Counsel Emeritus of Hogan Lovells’ top-ranked Privacy and Cybersecurity practice. As a leading attorney with the firm, he co-founded and led the development of the practice for over a decade, advising and shaping the thinking of Internet free speech, hate speech, and the parameters of government access to stored information. Wolf will continue as a member of FPF’s Board of Directors throughout this year before stepping down.
“In 2008, when I founded the Future of Privacy Forum, our vision was that it would be a place where we could advance the responsible use of data while respecting individual privacy,” Wolf said. “We believed that if dedicated technologists, policymakers, industry groups, and advocates focused on advancing privacy in a manner that businesses can achieve, we could strike a balance between consumer privacy and personalization that enables greater innovation for all.”
FPF flourished under Wolf’s guidance, becoming instrumental in steering collaborative and innovative efforts to address the complexity of the data-driven world. The organization regularly publishes substantive policy papers and reports tracking and analyzing data protection developments in different jurisdictions worldwide. Since launching, FPF has expanded its offices to Europe, Tel Aviv, and the Asia Pacific region and convened numerous international events, including the Brussels Privacy Symposium, now in its 7th year and first annual Japan Privacy Symposium.
Wolf’s dedication has not only set a high benchmark for leadership but also has helped regulators, policymakers, and staff at data protection authorities better understand the technologies at the forefront of data protection law. FPF will honor and celebrate Wolf’s contributions to the privacy sector and FPF during his tenure at their 2024 Advisory Board Meeting’s Opening Night Reception on June 5.
“In my experience in leading privacy and cybersecurity law and research, I’ve come to recognize the qualities that make a dedicated privacy trailblazer,” Wolf said. “Alan Raul shares my commitment to fostering a thriving, diverse privacy landscape that advances responsible data practices and technological innovation. His values align with the needs of FPF, and I am confident
he will work tirelessly with integrity and dedication to build on the successes of recent years and take on new challenges.
Raul has served on FPF’s board for eight years and is the founder and, for 25 years, the leader of Sidley Austin LLP’s highly-ranked Privacy and Cybersecurity Law practice. He is currently Senior Counsel at Sidley. Raul brings his breadth of knowledge in global data protection and compliance programs, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, national security, and Internet law. He is also currently a member of the Technology Litigation Advisory Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Litigation Center. Raul is also a Lecturer in Law at Harvard Law School, where he teaches Digital Governance and Cybersecurity.
“I’m thrilled to take on this role and continue working to advance responsible data practices and safeguard individual privacy rights,” Raul said. “By leveraging my experience in advising global compliance programs and navigating complex regulatory landscapes, I hope I can contribute meaningful insights to the Board of Directors and effectively guide the direction of FPF’s work as we continue to grow globally as well as meet the new challenges and opportunities in the era of Artificial Intelligence.”
Olivier Sylvain and George Little also join FPF’s Board of Directors as two new members to serve. Sylvain is a Professor of Law at Fordham University and a Senior Policy Research Fellow at Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, where his research has focused on information and communications law and policy. Sylvain served as Senior Advisor to the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission from 2021 to 2023. Little is a partner at the Brunswick Group specializing in crisis communications, cybersecurity, reputational, and public affairs matters. Little co-chairs the firm’s Global Cybersecurity, Data & Privacy Practice, pulling from his experience working in the highest levels of the national security and defense community and the private sector.
Sylvain and Little join the ranks of recently named board members, including Tom Moore, recently retired as AT&T’s chief privacy officer; Jane Horvath, partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP and former Chief Privacy Officer of Apple; and Theodore Christakis, Professor of International, European and Digital Law at University Grenoble Alpes (France), Director of the Centre for International Security and European Law (CESICE), and Director of Research for Europe with the Cross-Border Data Forum. FPF’s distinguished new Directors join other privacy luminaries on our Board of Directors – namely, Anita Allen, Debra Berlin, Danielle Citron, Mary Culnan, David Hoffman, Agnes Bundy Scanlan, and Dale Skivington.
“It’s been a pleasure getting to work with Chris Wolf and seeing the vision we had for FPF as a hub for privacy education and research develop over the years and grow into the leading institution it is today,” said Jules Polonetsky, CEO of FPF. “I am confident in Alan’s ability to lead the board to greater heights and continue informing the organization’s future work.”
Composed of leaders from industry, academia, and civil society, the input of FPF’s Board of Directors ensures that FPF’s work is expert-driven and independent of any stakeholders.
About Future of Privacy Forum (FPF)
The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) is a global non-profit organization that brings together academics, civil society, government officials, and industry to evaluate the societal, policy, and legal implications of data use, identify the risks and develop appropriate protections. FPF believes technology and data can benefit society and improve lives if the right laws, policies, and rules are in place. FPF has offices in Washington D.C., Brussels, Singapore, and Tel Aviv. Follow FPF on X and LinkedIn.