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Jess Gonzalez Valenzuela

Jess Gonzalez Valenzuela (they/them and she/her) is an associate in the firm’s San Francisco office, specializing in the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. Jess assists clients with cybersecurity issues such as incident response, risk management, internal investigations, and regulatory compliance. Additionally, Jess supports clients navigating complex data privacy challenges by offering regulatory compliance guidance tailored to specific business practices. Jess is also a member of the E-Discovery, AI, and Information Governance Practice Group and maintains an active pro bono practice.

Jess is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the legal field. They are a member of Covington’s LGBTQ+ and Latino Firm Resource Groups, and serve as is co-lead for the First Generation Professionals Network and Disability and Neurodiversity Network in the San Francisco office.

On November 20, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it was voluntarily dismissing the case it brought against SolarWinds Corp. (“SolarWinds”) and its Chief Information Security Officer, Timothy Brown, regarding the company’s security practices and related statements in connection with the “Sunburst” cybersecurity incident. The SEC stated in a brief release that its decision to dismiss with prejudice the case against SolarWinds and Mr. Brown was “in the exercise of its discretion” and “does not necessarily reflect the Commission’s position on any other case.”Continue Reading SEC Voluntarily Dismisses SolarWinds Litigation

This quarterly update highlights key legislative, regulatory, and litigation developments in the third quarter of 2024 related to artificial intelligence (“AI”) and connected and automated vehicles (“CAVs”).  As noted below, some of these developments provide industry with the opportunity for participation and comment.Continue Reading U.S. Tech Legislative, Regulatory & Litigation Update – Third Quarter 2024

Last month, the Maryland legislature passed the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (“MODPA”). Pending Governor’s signature, Maryland will become the latest state to enact comprehensive privacy legislation, joining California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Florida, Delaware, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Kentucky, and Nebraska.

MODPA contains unique provisions that will require careful analysis to ensure compliance, including: data minimization requirements; restrictions on the collection, sale, or transfer of sensitive data; and consumer health data-related obligations.  These unique provisions have the potential to create additional work streams even for companies who have come into compliance for existing state laws.  This blog post summarizes the statute’s key takeaways.Continue Reading The Maryland Online Data Privacy Act Set to Reshape the State Privacy Legislation Landscape with Stringent Requirements

At its March 8, 2024 meeting, the Board of the California Privacy Protection Agency (“CPPA”) moved, by a 3-2 vote, to advance proposed regulations addressing automated decision-making technology (“ADMT”) and risk assessments for the processing of personal information.  Notably, the Board’s vote only allows staff to begin paperwork preliminary to a rulemaking; it did not actually initiate the formal rulemaking process.  At the meeting, the CPPA Staff clarified that the Board will need to re-review the draft rules for ADMT, privacy risk assessments, and cyber audits and vote again to initiate the rulemaking process.  The CPPA’s General Counsel Philip Laird said he expects the Board will vote to begin the formal rulemaking process for all three topics in July 2024, at the earliest.  Once formal rulemaking begins, the Board has one year to finalize the regulations, per California’s Administrative Procedure Act.Continue Reading California Privacy Protection Agency Takes Next Step on New Automated Decision-Making Regulations and Privacy Risk Assessments