Reena R. Bajowala has deep experience with data security, privacy, artificial intelligence, and information technology issues. Reena was designated a Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. She is also a Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT), a Certified Information Privacy Professional – US (CIPP/US) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM). Through a competitive process, she was selected as a 2021-2023 Fellow of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section with the Cyberspace Law Subcommittee. She serves on the Steering Committee of the U.S. Secret Service’s Chicago Cyber Fraud Task Force. When faced with a data breach, including in business email compromise, ransomware, or wire transfer fraud scenarios, clients turn to Reena to investigate, remediate, and comply with legal obligations. She conducts risk assessments, develops privacy and InfoSec compliance programs, and leads proactive incident response planning, including drafting incident response and communications plans, and conducting tabletop exercises. Reena also helps companies stand up artificial intelligence governance programs, including creating policies, procedures, and trainings associated with a defensible compliance program. She also assists companies evaluate the risks associated with emerging technologies. Reena helps regulated entities comply with cybersecurity requirements. She assists public companies with compliance with the SEC’s cyber rules. She also assists ERISA benefit plan sponsors with implementing cybersecurity policies and service provider management programs. The Department of Labor’s current emphasis on cybersecurity allows Reena to utilize her combined decade-plus ERISA and benefit plan counseling and litigation experience and her deep cybersecurity and vendor management practice. Reena has wide-ranging litigation and trial experience, including over 100 days of first-chair trial experience. She represents buyers and providers of IT services regarding issues ranging from billing and performance disputes arising from Master Services Agreements and Service Level Agreements to copyright and licensing disputes pursuant to Software Licensing and SaaS agreements. Reena also works to protect the interests of companies during software audits. Reena is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has a dedicated pro bono practice; both of which have been widely recognized. She has been touted as a “cornerstone” of SABA North America, a “best under 40” by NAPABA, a “powerful and influential woman” by the Illinois Diversity Council, a “transformative leader” by Womenetics, and a “woman with drive” by JKYog. She has also been acknowledged for “championing access to justice, fairness and opportunity” by the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and for her “efforts and dedication to pro bono and public interest law service” by the Public Interest Law Initiative. In 2005, she founded the University of Michigan Law School’s Origins Public Interest Fellowship through the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, which awards thousands of dollars to students annually.
