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With 18 offices, from New York to Los Angeles and Seattle to Orlando, we live and work in communities all over the U.S., collaborating across locations, disciplines and even borders. Our experienced, highly ranked lawyers serve businesses wherever they are and wherever they want to go.

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Am Law 100 firm with practices in Business, Digital Assets and Data Management, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation and Tax.

Home | BakerHostetler

Justice Department’s New Policy on Prosecutions to Focus on Bad Actors, Not the Digital Asset Industry (The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law)

Rev Up!

Rev Up! What to Know BEFORE You Use that AI Tool

Jonathan Forster Presents at Ameritas Pinnacle Group Meeting

Blockchain Monitor

Blockchain Monitor - Planet earth in outer space with network connection and sunlight.

Weekly Blockchain Blog – June 30, 2025

Nichole’s practice spans privacy and data protection, information governance&nbsp;and emerging technologies, with a focus on assisting companies subject to multiple privacy laws. A certified privacy professional (CIPP/E and CIPP/US), Nichole advises on a wide range of legal questions related to information and data use. She regularly counsels clients on domestic and cross-border regulatory and compliance matters, including cross-border data transfers, international security incident response, advertising technologies and information governance. Nichole also has considerable experience handling all aspects of discovery in complex litigation and regulatory investigations, and frequently advises on electronic discovery issues, particularly as they intersect with privacy concerns. In addition to holding a foreign language doctorate, Nichole spent several years living and working in Europe, including a clerkship at the Court of Justice of the European Union.

core/freeform

J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 2012, 

Ph.D., Scandinavian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 2008

B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College, 1997, 

<ul>
<li>The Legal 500 United States
<ul>
<li>Media, Technology and Telecoms: Cyber Law (including data privacy and data protection) (2022 to 2025)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>International Association of Privacy Professionals
<ul>
<li>Certified Information Privacy Professional – Europe (CIPP/E)</li>
<li>Certified Information Privacy Professional – United States (CIPP/US)</li>
<li>Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)</li>
<li>Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Webinar: GDPR Compliant…Now What Else are You Missing?

New York

From Regulation to Compliance – Decoding the DOJ’s Data Security Program

BakerHostetler attorneys and practice areas spotlighted in the 2025 Legal 500 annual guide

USA: HR Best Practices for Collecting Identification Documents (OneTrust DataGuidance)

Nichole Sterling Comments on Montana’s Amendment to State Privacy Law in Cybersecurity Law Report

Data Counsel

DSIR Deeper Dive: Artificial Intelligence – Banner Years (and Counting) for AI Guidance and Regulation

Webinar: The Privacy Strategist 2025 – Mind the Gap: Avoiding the Privacy Pitfalls of Overlooked Personal Data

BakerHostetler Team Represents Publicly Traded UK Publishing Firm Wilmington PLC in Sale of Wilmington Compliance Week

David Sherman, Nichole Sterling Present at NYCBA 16-Hour Bridge-the-Gap

Nichole Sterling Speaks on the Regulation of AI at Sedona Conference Working Group 13

Webinar: The Privacy Strategist – New Year, New Privacy Problems?

Year-End Review – Data Privacy Insights to Take into 2025

DSIR Deeper Dive – The Worst Cookie Recipe

Nichole Sterling Speaks at ABA International Law Section Fall Conference

Nichole Sterling Presents at Privacy + Security Forum Fall Academy

BakerHostetler Columbus Office Hosts Roundtable on AI

ADventures in Law

FTC’s Operation AI Comply – Let’s Discuss Dissents

Webinar: The Privacy Strategist – Demystifying Cybersecurity Concepts for Privacy Lawyers

Webinar: 2024 Advertising CLE Showcase –  AI in Advertising: Practical Uses and Risk Management

BakerHostetler attorneys, practice areas stand out in The Legal 500 annual guide

BakerHostetler Advises Roark in its Acquisition of Subway

Nichole Sterling, Eric Gyasi Lead Discussions at The Sedona Conference Working Group 11 Annual Meeting 2024

James Sherer, Nichole Sterling Quoted in CIO Magazine on EU AI Act

David Sherman, Nichole Sterling Present “Data Defense for Legal Minds” Webinar

Nichole Sterling, James Sherer Participate in Panel Discussion on Data Risk and Resilience

Three BakerHostetler Attorneys Speak at IAPP Global Privacy Summit 2024

An Introduction to the Basics of the EU AI Act

Goldstein, La Voi, Sterling, Zeiser Present for PDMI Winter Seminar Series

Data Privacy Team Speaks on Lawline.com Webcast

James Sherer, Nichole Sterling Participate in IAPP Webinar

Nichole Sterling Discusses International Clerkship Opportunities with Students on Zoom Panel

AD Nauseam

AD Nauseam: AI – We Had to Discuss it Eventually – Part 1

Nichole Sterling, Luke Record Discuss Data Retention on Today’s General Counsel Webcast

David Sherman, Nichole Sterling Present at 16-Hour Bridge-The-Gap

NAIC Adopts Model Bulletin on Artificial Intelligence

Webinar: The Privacy Strategist: 2024 – U.S. Consumer Privacy Goes Mainstream

2023 Advertising CLE Webinar Showcase

Sterling addresses compliance obligations in light of new EU-US Data Privacy Framework

BakerHostetler deal team helps facilitate $1.385 billion acquisition

Sterling addresses the challenges of managing global eDiscovery amid varying regulations

DSIR Deeper Dive: Absent Legislation, Privacy Regulators Offer Guidance on AI

Organizations need ‘functional definition of AI’ to craft effective internal policy

Navigating cross-border discovery in a globally integrated information economy

Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection (Ethics): Essentials for Lawyers

State laws limiting geolocation tech around health centers pose compliance challenges

Nichole Sterling Takes Part in ABA Cross-Border Institute in Paris

The New EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework in Half a Dozen FAQs

BakerHostetler Attorneys and Practice Areas Recognized in The Legal 500 2023 Guide

New York Office Hosts Program on Managing Data Retention to Lower Business Risk

New York State Adds Health Care Geofencing Prohibition, Taking a More Measured Approach Than Washington’s Similar Ban

Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection (Ethics) – Essentials for Lawyers

Nichole Sterling Discusses Cross-Border eDiscovery

Nichole Sterling Discusses Privacy in Cross-Border Transfers

Nichole Sterling Takes Part in EU-US Data Privacy Framework Event

Nichole Sterling and Robyn Feldstein Offer Primer on Cybersecurity in Litigation

Gil Keteltas and Nichole Sterling Take Part in Sedona Conference Annual Meeting

BakerHostetler Elevates 23 Attorneys to Firm Partnership

Nichole Sterling Offers Global Update on Cyber Privacy Laws, Regulation and Oversight

James Sherer, Nichole Sterling and Luke Record Discuss Information Governance

Aleksandra Vold, Nichole Sterling Address Incident Response at Georgetown Advanced eDiscovery Institute Pre-Conference Webinar Series

DSIR Report Deeper Dive - 2022

2022 DSIR Report Deeper Dive: Personal Data Deletion

Nichole Sterling Is Editor-in-Chief of Sedona ‘Cross-Border Privilege Issues’

Nichole Sterling speaks at ABA Cross-Border Institute in Amsterdam

Deeper Dive: Why Personal Data Deletion Matters

Nichole Sterling Speaks at Sedona Conference

BakerHostetler Attorneys, Practice Areas Shine in The Legal 500 2022 Guide

International Data Protection Update

James Sherer, Nichole Sterling Speakers at Sedona Conference Sessions

Nichole Sterling Joins IAPP Publications Advisory Board

Jeewon Serrato, Nichole Sterling Update Chapter on International Personal Data, Cross-Border Data Transfers

Are More European Standard Contractual Clauses Coming?

Nichole Sterling a Speaker at Georgetown Law Advanced eDiscovery Institute

Nichole Sterling Leads Sedona Conference Publication, Webinar on Cross-Border Privilege Issues

Melinda McLellan, Carolina Alonso, Shea Leitch, Alexandra Royal, Nichole Sterling Discuss Trends in Global Data Protection Law

Webinar:  The EU’s New Standard Contractual Clauses: Key Requirements & Practical Guidance

Melinda McLellan, Carolina Alonso, Shea Leitch, Alexandra Royal, Nichole Sterling Join Data Protection Law Panel

Commercial Litigation

Digital Assets and Data Management

IncuBaker – Emerging Technologies

Comprehensive State Privacy Laws

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Privacy Governance and Technology Transactions

Digital Risk Advisory and Cybersecurity

Emerging Technology

Industries

Media and Telecommunications

Aerospace and Defense

Retail

Multidistrict Litigation

<ul>
<li>Advises on the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and other privacy and data protection laws, and assists with the development, implementation, assessment and maintenance of compliance programs.</li>
<li>Counsels personal data importers and exporters on compliance with international data transfer restrictions and data localization requirements, including data processing agreements, transfer assessments and the use of cross-border data transfer mechanisms, such as the European Union&#8217;s Standard Contractual Clauses. Assists clients with assessing and updating data transfer mechanisms after the invalidation of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework in Schrems II.</li>
<li>Advises on international data breach notification requirements and associated regulatory response, as well as the use of international data in U.S. litigation and regulatory investigations.</li>
<li>Provides guidance on the implementation of privacy-focused AdTech and global solutions for the use of cookies and tracking technologies, including compliance with the ePrivacy Directive.</li>
<li>Counsels clients on information governance practices, including developing and implementing records retention schedules, maintenance and destruction policies, legal hold policies, and related procedures and materials.</li>
<li>Creates, develops and implements global privacy and security policies, standards, procedures and guidelines.</li>
<li>Drafts and negotiates data protection/data processing agreements regarding the handling of personal data and multiparty contracts in complex technology transactions, including associated artificial intelligence (AI) development and operation.</li>
<li>Researched and wrote memoranda and a technical annex describing the scope, impact and legal implications of the EU’s Data Retention Directive as judicial background for the Court of Justice of the European Union’s decision in Digital Rights Ireland.</li>
<li>Member of the BakerHostetler team serving as court-appointed counsel to the Securities Investor Protection Act Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, an unprecedented recovery effort involving hundreds of actions.</li>
<li>Assists with developing and conducting a coordinated discovery strategy, focusing on privilege issues, for a healthcare company involved in litigation that includes lawsuits in nearly every U.S. state, a federal multidistrict litigation, a multistate attorneys general investigation, and numerous other state and federal inquiries.</li>
<li>Supported discovery efforts in litigation and regulatory investigations in connection with the representation of one of the world’s leading credit rating agencies in all matters arising out of its rating of structured finance securities, including securities backed by subprime mortgages.</li>
</ul>

Nichole L. Sterling

Nichole L. Sterling

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