Helen Goff Foster

Helen Foster, CIPP/G, is a leader in privacy and cybersecurity compliance and consumer protection law, with over 20 years of experience across four federal agencies, the White House, and in private law practice in Washington, D.C. Her unique experience allows her to offer clients the knowledge-base of a former regulator, the business know-how of an experienced corporate advocate and counselor, and the practical experience of an implementer of privacy and data security measures across large, multi-faceted organizations.

Prior to joining Davis Wright Tremaine, Helen implemented agency-wide privacy policies and programs at the Department of the Treasury and Department for Housing and Urban Development, bringing them into compliance with the Privacy Act—the federal government analog to the recent European Union General Data Protection Regulation.

Helen’s extensive federal career began at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, performing investigations and enforcement actions, and leading some of the agency’s first rulemakings under FCRA and GLBA.

At the White House, Helen co-authored executive orders designed to improve cybersecurity and information sharing. She also created some of the first information sharing guidelines and agreements between the Department of Homeland Security and the intelligence community.  In addition, Helen served on the Executive Committee of the Federal Privacy Council and was a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on the Freedom of Information Act.

Before her federal career, Ms. Foster spent eight years in private law practice in Washington, D.C., where she counseled a range of clients, including consumer financial services providers, data aggregators, internet service providers, and retailers on the full spectrum of privacy, advertising, and marketing compliance issues. She has extensive experience representing clients in enforcement and rulemaking actions before the Federal Trade Commission.