SHERI PORATH ROCKWELL focuses her practice on privacy, data governance and risk management, and artificial intelligence issues across various sectors, including retail and ecommerce, social media platforms, healthcare and pharma, financial services real estate management and property improvement companies, and investment funds. She focuses on helping clients comply with the complex state and federal privacy legal environment and developing programs to anticipate emerging legal frameworks. Her practice includes compliance counseling, development of digital governance policies and protocols, management of ad tech risks, investigations, litigation counseling, and vendor diligence and management. She also helps companies prepare for potential acquisition, conducts privacy and cybersecurity diligence in connection with mergers and acquisitions, and assists with post-closing privacy and security integration matters. With her litigation background and experience working in-house in a regulated industry, Sheri helps her clients develop legally defensible compliance programs while remaining sensitive to commercial business needs and risk management.
Sheri was one of the founders of the Privacy Law section of the California Lawyers Association, served for several years as chair of the section, and remains active in the organization. She has been one of the primary organizers and presenters at the well-regarded CLA Privacy Summit in Los Angeles, is a frequent speaker at leading industry events, regularly writes for or is featured in privacy articles and alerts, and contributes to several leading privacy publications. With a finger on the pulse of evolving trends and legal developments, and relationships with key regulators in California and beyond, Sheri is a trusted resource to her clients and colleagues alike.
Sheri is a member of Sidley’s AI Working Group, as well as the California Consumer Privacy Litigation Task Force, a dedicated group of lawyers focused on the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), counseling clients on how to mitigate litigation risks.
Sheri also has experience litigating a variety of complex commercial matters, including copyright, trademark and right of publicity actions, commercial class actions, complex real estate actions, and contract disputes. She has litigated in federal and state court and in arbitration and mediation settings. Additionally, Sheri has successfully negotiated with state and federal regulators to avert and settle administrative proceedings. Sheri is an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) and Europe (CIPP/E).
Prior to joining Sidley, Sheri served as general counsel and vice president of operations for a national affordable housing property management company. Previously, she also practiced as a litigator at a prominent entertainment and real estate law firm in Los Angeles.