McDonald Hopkins welcomes former HHS OCR Investigator William Lawton to growing Data Privacy team

McDonald Hopkins is pleased to welcome attorney William Lawton to its Litigation Department and national Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. His practice focuses on pre-breach services, incident response and regulatory defense.

Prior to joining McDonald Hopkins, Will served as an Investigator with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR). In that role, he conducted in-depth investigations into potential violations of the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, as well as federal civil rights and religious freedom regulations. Will reviewed covered entities’ policies and procedures, risk management plans, and other pertinent evidence to assess compliance with applicable regulations.  Will also provided to covered entities to resolve complaints and promote compliance.

He said he was drawn to McDonald Hopkins because of its reputation within the data privacy field.

“I worked with many attorneys during my time with HHS OCR, but the ones I worked with from McDonald Hopkins always stood out to me. They were extremely knowledgeable in the field, but more importantly they were kind, flexible, and responsive,” he said. “I’m excited to start working on complex and interesting matters with a team that puts its clients first.”

Will was drawn to the data privacy field because of its dynamic nature. With regulations constantly evolving, he enjoys the intellectual challenge and the opportunity to think strategically while advising clients on both compliance and risk mitigation. He values collaboration and believes that open and effective communication is key.

“We’re thrilled to add another talented attorney to our dynamic team with an invaluable background coming from HHS OCR. His investigative experience and deep understanding of regulatory compliance gives him a unique perspective that will be a real asset to our clients. He’s a great fit for our collaborative, fast-paced group, and we’re looking forward to his future here,” said Dominic Paluzzi, co-chair of the firm’s Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group.

Will received his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School and a B.A. from Providence College.