Davis Wright continues California expansion with privacy litigator

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP announced Spencer S. Persson will join the firm as the Los Angeles office's third addition this year.

"He's going to be a very critical key part of our group," said privacy security and technology practice co-chair Nancy C. Libin. "The depth of his experience, in particular privacy and data security litigation, was extremely attractive. His record of success in that, and the fact that he has significant experience generally in class action litigation and consumer protection litigation, and in California, really made him the ideal person to lead our data security and privacy litigation."

The firm had been pursuing Persson to join the firm for a while, Libin said.

Before joining Davis Wright Tremaine on April 1, Persson spent more than 15 years at Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP in Los Angeles.

Persson said his decision to move was based on the firm's West Coast presence and the existing strength and depth of its privacy practice. The California Consumer Privacy Act poses important issues for clients, including the possibility of lawsuits, he said.

"California, as a general rule, is usually at the fore of consumer protection and has been at the fore of privacy issues in the United States," Persson said. "Coming to a firm with a strong presence that Davis Wright has, in both privacy and on the West Coast, was appealing in order to really be able to help our clients with the CCPA -- both in compliance, which they have covered, and also with litigation."

Persson's addition brings the number of Davis Wright Tremaine attorneys in California to 120. Preceding him in February were Stacie K. Neroni and Hope R. Levy-Biehl, both of whom joined from Nelson Hardimann LLP.

Attracting a top litigator in a lateral move to a growing practice group is tough, according to Zeughauser Group legal strategist Peter D. Zeughauser. He commended Davis Wright Tremaine's ability to do so with Persson.

"On-boarding a cybersecurity litigation partner in L.A. is a twofer," Zeughauser said. "Cybersecurity litigation is boardroom-level, high stakes litigation often filed as a class action. L.A. has been a hot spot for class action for over a decade."