Partner
Seattle
Joe Santiesteban is a trusted cybersecurity lawyer and strategic advisor, who regularly steers clients through data breaches as a partner in crisis management.
He brings significant experience advising companies – from one of the largest telecommunications providers to leading entertainment companies to startups on the cutting-edge of AI and more – on the full cycle of an incident. He also advises clients regarding regulatory investigations, class actions, and contract disputes that frequently flow from privacy and cybersecurity incidents.
His goal is to help clients respond quickly and with integrity to protect their brand, build trust and mitigate legal risk. He is highly adept at directing incident investigations, analyzing potential claims and defenses, examining potential notification obligations and advising on communications strategies that build trust and engagement.
Joe is committed to using these experiences to finding creative and engaging strategies to help companies proactively prepare for an incident and mitigate cybersecurity legal risk. This includes helping to build and improve incident response programs through incident response plans, simulated incidents, threat workshops, and training. It also includes assisting clients to practically evaluate legal risk of security decisions in a variety of transactions and across the product lifecycle. He is driven by a desire to evolve what it means to be a cybersecurity lawyer in the face of rapidly evolving technologies and laws. As a leader, he strives to create spaces where people are valued and solve problems creatively and collaboratively.
He also provides strategic advice to cybersecurity companies, including those looking to push technological and defense boundaries in cyber defense, incident response, and threat intelligence. This includes helping companies maximize their security offerings by navigating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), and the Federal Wiretap Act, as well as state law analogs.
Joe serves on the Orrick’s Finance and Audit Committee and Pro Bono Committee. A leader and advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives, Joseph is the co-head of the Latinx affinity group at Orrick and served as a fellow for the Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity. He is also a member of the Washington Latino Bar Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association.
Incident Response
Counseling and Transactions
Litigation and Enforcement
6 minute read | February.23.2024