She provides cutting-edge legal advice by blending her privacy and data security legal experience with a business-oriented approach. She has significant experience negotiating the privacy and cybersecurity issues in M&A, private equity, financings, IPOs, SPACs, asset purchases and other commercial transactions, product counseling (developing products and services that comply with privacy and data security laws), developing privacy and security policies, and managing cybersecurity incidents and breaches.
She has represented clients ranging from emerging start-up ventures to global public companies in developing, licensing, selling, acquiring, protecting, and commercially exploiting data assets. Helen advises companies on changing and complex privacy, internet and cybersecurity laws governing the use, storage and disclosure of information.
In addition to her law practice, Helen is Adjunct Professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, where she developed the curriculum for and teaches the school’s inaugural cybersecurity law class.
Helen is ranked as one of California’s Top Cyber Lawyers by The Daily Journal from 2019-2022.
Helen Christakos
Partner
Helen has broad experience spanning transactional, counseling and contentious matters.
Expertise
Industries
Qualifications
Admissions
Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2024
Academic
J.D., University of California, Berkeley
Fulbright Scholar, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin
M.Phil., Cambridge University
B.A., Vassar College
Languages
French, German, Greek
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.