Information Governance & Privacy

Overview

Organizations face mounting pressure to understand and control information footprints in the face of exploding volumes of data, ever-changing privacy requirements, technological advances, and the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (gen AI). Gunster’s Chambers-recognized Information Governance & Privacy team helps our clients meet these challenges head-on. Integrating legal, regulatory, and technical experience, we design tailored, practical solutions to protect information, minimize risk, streamline processes, and reduce associated costs, so our clients can focus on their business priorities.

Our Services
With a wide range of clients — from private technology startups to public multinational companies —organizations turn to Gunster for pragmatic solutions to address their information governance needs. Our services include:

• Developing and implementing records retention schedules and defensible disposition practices
• Establishing customized governance policies for data usage, mobile devices, messaging apps, chat and collaboration tools
• Devising risk-mitigation strategies for business continuity, employee offboarding, terminations, privacy compliance and vital records management
• Creating governance frameworks for responsible AI deployment
• Designing and advising on the implementation of privacy programs, policies and notices; conducting privacy assessments; and developing DSAR workflows and third-party data-sharing agreements
• Establishing data governance strategies, including data mapping and data storage, access, use, retention and destruction
• Preparing litigation-readiness playbooks and templates to streamline discovery and reduce the cost and burden of legal holds, data preservation, litigation and government investigations
• Right-sizing overly broad litigation holds

Our Unique Approach
Gunster’s Information Governance & Privacy professionals have certifications, advanced training, and technological backgrounds that enable us to understand the “why” and “how” of effective information governance. We take the time to understand each client’s business and vulnerabilities, and we approach challenges with a combination of people, process, and technology.  We tailor our guidance to fit each client’s business, culture, complexities, risk profile, litigation profile and technology landscape.

By putting the right information governance strategies in place, our team enables companies to minimize privacy and security risks, meet evolving legal obligations, and build and maintain a strong, defensible governance foundation.

Recognized Leaders in the Field

Gunster is recognized nationally for its leadership in data privacy, eDiscovery and cybersecurity. Our team has earned Chambers USA Band 3 recognition for 'eDiscovery & Information Governance', and several of our attorneys also hold notable individual rankings. We are known for our practical, actionable advice on information governance, privacy, compliance, AI policy development and risk management.

Business Drivers

These are just some of the common business drivers that propel clients to seek our advice:

• When litigation arises, organizations without strong policies and practices face discovery costs that can spiral into millions of dollars—not just for document review, but for the extensive forensic work required to locate, authenticate, and produce information across fragmented systems.
• Government investigations become more protracted and expensive when an organization is unable to efficiently locate and produce requested materials, often triggering deeper scrutiny and expanded inquiry scope.
• Given an ever-evolving regulatory landscape, companies need assistance creating notices, policies, and programs that satisfy increasingly complex privacy regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Cyber incidents, already costly to remediate, become exponentially more expensive when organizations cannot quickly identify what information was accessed, where sensitive data resides, or how long compromised systems may have been vulnerable. The inability to demonstrate robust information-governance practices can also complicate insurance-coverage disputes and regulatory-reporting requirements.
• Artificial Intelligence tools, platforms and products are being increasingly leveraged for their many efficiencies, but can be accompanied by questions about associated policy considerations and compliance evaluations, often generating the need for updated corporate guidance and advice concerning data protection.