As the leader of Arent Fox's privacy, cybersecurity and data protection group, Bruno is charged with helping companies such as Mars Inc., LG Electronics Inc. and American Honda Motor Co. Inc. keep abreast with technological advances and consumer privacy laws.
"It's a lot of keeping up with regulations around the globe as they're being implemented," she said.
Bruno is currently prepping for the EU's General Data Protection Regulation to go into effect in 2018. The GDPR governs data collection, use, storage and transfer in Europe and carries steep fines for non-compliance: the greater of 4 percent of global turnover or 20 million euros.
"I love my job, but at times, it can be frustrating. I feel the client's frustration when I bring them bad news," she said, referencing the fact that a company may need to scrap a consumer security plan after months of work due to the passage of new legislation.
But whether it's a new European statute or Federal Trade Commission guidance stateside, Bruno jumps headfirst into her work to make sure that her clients' products and services are legally up to snuff, learning what user input her clients' products require and how that information is used and shared.
"This is fun work," she said of the process, which provides her an in-depth behind the scenes look at how her clients' products and services work.
Bruno also helps clients handle data security breaches. This work includes everything from small-scale phishing incidents to larger ransomware attacks on a variety of companies which Bruno cannot disclose. When a general counsel urgently calls her to report such a breach, Bruno evaluates the harm that has been done and advises clients on their notice obligations.
But Bruno's practice doesn't end with privacy and data security matters. A powerhouse in her firm's intellectual property arm, Bruno has helped obtain slogan, tagline and trademark clearance for Uncle Ben's Ben's Beginners program, the Honda Civic Tour concert series, the card game Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix tournament, Uber's Patent Purchase Program known as UP3, and San Diego State University's "I Believe That We Will Win" and "Aztecs."
On the wilder side of her IP practice, Bruno represents the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions and gets to test the latest innovations in the amusement park ride industry at conventions in Europe, Asia and the United States.
"The show floor itself is like an amusement park," she said of the weeklong conventions, which are replete with amusement park standards such as popcorn, candy and hot dogs. "Kids who go to it say it's more fun than [an] amusement park."
— Nicolas Sonnenburg
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