Lisa Sotto serves as managing partner of Hunton & Williams’ New York office and is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Seventeen years ago, Sotto anticipated the coming wave of privacy, data security and cyber threats and took action, creating and building one of the world’s foremost privacy and cybersecurity law practices. Today, she is chair of Hunton & Williams’ Global Privacy and Cybersecurity practice and works with a renowned group of privacy and data security professionals located across the United States, Europe and Asia. Together, they have handled more than 1,200 data breaches, including some of the largest cyber incidents in history, and have helped shape cybersecurity and privacy policy across the globe.

When it comes to privacy matters, Sotto is so well respected that governments around the world seek her counsel. She is chair of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee and has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Subcommittee on Privacy and Confidentiality and the CSIS Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency. She is also editor and lead author of the 1,400-page Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Deskbook.

Sotto still finds time to give back to her community. As the former chair of the New York Office Pro Bono Committee, she established a legal clinic at the St. Agnes Homeless Drop-In Shelter and was awarded the Champion of Justice Award by the New York City Bar Association.

“Diversity and inclusion mean having a seat at the table and being regarded as an equal,” says Sotto. “The world is not just one gender and one race. My clients are global, and their consumers and employees come from around the world. When company management and their lawyers reflect this diversity, companies can make better business decisions, find more growth opportunities, and drive up revenues.”

Sotto advises up-and-coming lawyers: “Start by being an A-level lawyer, someone clients can rely on and turn to at any moment. Then seek the chance to fly solo and shine. Finally, have someone in your court who can vouch for you and pave the way forward.”