Privacy Compliance Counsel for Technology Companies

Privacy professional reviewing company data practices at her desk

Privacy compliance is no longer limited to a website privacy policy. Enterprise customers, regulators, investors, and acquirers increasingly examine how a company collects, uses, shares, secures, and retains data.

Sutter Law helps growth-stage and established technology companies build practical privacy programs and negotiate the privacy and security terms that come with larger customers, vendors, AI features, and international operations.

Team mapping how the company collects and uses personal information

CCPA and CPRA Compliance

California privacy compliance requires companies to understand what personal information they collect, why they use it, where it goes, and which consumer rights apply. We help companies map those practices into notices, contracts, internal procedures, and response processes appropriate to their business.

GDPR and International Privacy

Companies serving European users or customers may face GDPR requirements involving lawful bases, processor terms, data-subject rights, international transfers, and governance. We help companies evaluate applicability and coordinate contractual and operational compliance.

Data Processing Agreements and Security Addenda

Enterprise customers often require DPAs and security addenda as part of the sales process. We draft and negotiate processor obligations, subprocessors, security commitments, incident notification, audit rights, deletion and return, international transfer terms, indemnification, and liability allocation.

Attorneys marking up a data processing agreement

Customer Privacy and Security Reviews

Privacy questionnaires and security reviews can become a gating item for enterprise sales. We help legal and business teams respond consistently with the company’s actual practices and negotiate contract language that does not overstate the company’s systems or commitments.

Laptop in a conference room used to draft website privacy policies and terms

Privacy Policies, Terms, and Data-Sharing Agreements

Public-facing disclosures and commercial contracts should tell a consistent story about data. We prepare privacy policies, terms of service, cookie disclosures, vendor agreements, and data-sharing terms aligned with the company’s product and business model.

Data Breach Response Planning

Incident response works best when responsibilities and escalation paths are established before an event. We help companies develop legal response procedures, vendor notification requirements, and documentation practices and coordinate with security and insurance advisors when incidents occur.

Privacy Review of AI Features

AI features can change how customer and personal data is used, retained, inferred, or shared with vendors. We review AI product flows and contracts to identify privacy issues and align AI governance with the company’s broader privacy program. Privacy practices are also reviewed closely in acquisitions and financings.

Why Companies Choose Sutter Law

Experienced Business Counsel

Our attorneys work on the corporate, financing, commercial, and transaction issues that arise as private companies grow, allowing related issues to be handled in a coordinated way.

Direct Attorney Involvement

Clients work directly with the attorneys responsible for the matter. The team is structured to keep senior lawyers involved rather than passing routine responsibility through multiple layers.

Bay Area and California Focus

We serve companies, founders, investors, and owners throughout the Bay Area and California, while regularly handling matters involving Delaware entities, national counterparties, and international operations.

Practical, Transaction-Oriented Advice

We focus on the legal issues that affect economics, control, timing, and execution, and coordinate with tax, accounting, financial, and other advisors when a matter crosses disciplines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the CCPA apply to our company?

Applicability depends on statutory thresholds and the company’s activities. Businesses should evaluate current revenue, data practices, and relationships rather than assume that startup or private-company status creates an exemption.

Why are enterprise customers asking for a DPA?

Privacy laws and customer compliance programs often require contractual terms governing vendors that process personal data. DPAs allocate processing instructions, security duties, subprocessors, rights requests, incidents, and deletion obligations.

Do we need a separate GDPR program?

That depends on the company’s European activities and existing privacy program. Many controls can be coordinated, but GDPR may impose requirements that differ from U.S. state privacy laws.

What should we do before a customer security review?

Confirm that privacy policies, security descriptions, subprocessors, retention practices, and contractual commitments are accurate and consistent. Avoid promising controls the company does not actually maintain.

Does adding AI change our privacy obligations?

It can. AI tools may introduce new vendors, uses, inferences, retention practices, or training rights. Those changes should be reviewed against existing notices, contracts, and legal requirements.

Privacy Compliance Legal Resources from the Sutter Law Blog

Our attorneys publish practical guidance on corporate, financing, transaction, employment, privacy, intellectual property, and business-law issues. Recommended reading:

Ready to Talk?

Need a privacy program or help with a customer review? Schedule a consultation or call 415-341-2888.

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