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  • Frost Brown Todd Attorneys Jane Hils Shea and Melissa Kern Achieve Privacy Certification

Frost Brown Todd (FBT) Cincinnati attorneys Jane Hils Shea and Melissa A. Kern have earned the Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential  –  the global standard in privacy certification – through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). They join the ranks of some 5,000 professionals worldwide who currently hold one or more IAPP certifications.

Shea has led FBT’s Privacy and Information Security service team since its creation in 2001. She concentrates her practice in the law governing data privacy and information security, electronic transactions and commercial mortgage loan transactions. In addition to her work with a wide variety of clients on data privacy issues, she draws on 16 years of experience as in-house counsel in the banking industry and representing financial institution clients in a broad array of regulatory and commercial matters.

Kern is an attorney in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group, and focuses on negotiating and drafting IP agreements with an emphasis on copyright law, information technology, privacy and information security. She also is part of the Privacy and Information Security team, which consists of an interdisciplinary group of business and litigation attorneys who are knowledgeable in both U.S. and international data privacy laws. The group draws upon its collective experience to solve legal issues arising in connection with this fast-growing and dynamic area of law.

Privacy professionals are the arbiters of trust in today’s data-driven global economy. They help organizations manage rapidly evolving privacy threats and mitigate the potential loss and misuse of information assets.  The IAPP is the first organization to publicly establish standards in professional education and testing for privacy and data protection. IAPP privacy certification is internationally recognized as a reputable, independent program that professionals seek and employers demand. Developed and launched by the IAPP with leading subject matter experts, the CIPP certification is the world’s first broad-based global privacy and data protection credentialing program. The CIPP/US demonstrates a strong foundation in U.S. private-sector privacy laws and regulations and understanding of the legal requirements for the responsible transfer of sensitive personal data to/from the U.S., the EU and other jurisdictions.