Melissa Krasnow is a Partner and the sole attorney recognized in both Nationwide Privacy & Data Security and Nationwide Technology for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023) in Chambers USA for having “an impressively well-rounded privacy practice,” “handling data breach incidents,” as well as for being “a highly regarded attorney whose broad practice exhibits strength across a number of technology-related issues” and routinely advising “on M&A, data security issues and related regulatory matters.” 

She counsels companies on HIPAA, FERPA, financial services regulatory laws, state laws (including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)/California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)), and the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Melissa advises companies on privacy, data security, technology matters, and cyber governance, including data breaches/incidents/other events (ransomware, account takeover, business email compromise, phishing, and vulnerabilities), preparing written information security programs (organizational and employee), devising incident response plans, and facilitating and participating in tabletop exercises. She counsels boards of directors and officers on privacy, data security, and technology risk oversight and developments. and reviews cyber liability insurance policies.

Melissa advises companies on regulatory inquiries and complying with state, federal, and international privacy and data security, advertising and marketing, governance and compliance, and regulated industry laws. She prepares website and mobile application privacy policies and terms (including regarding the GDPR, CCPA/CPRA and other state privacy laws, geolocation, big data, and artificial intelligence/chatbots), and technology policies.

Melissa works with companies on negotiating (and renegotiating in the wake of data breaches/incidents/other events) and documenting technology and commercial transactions, including master services agreements (MSAs), non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), data security addenda (DSAs), business associate agreements (BAAs), data license agreements (DLAs), GDPR and other data processing agreements (DPAs), and CCPA/CPRA and other state privacy law agreements.

In mergers and acquisitions, Melissa counsels companies on privacy, data security, and technology matters and on foreign investment filing obligations.

Education

  • J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, 1992
  • A.B., Wellesley College, 1989, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa and Durant Scholar
  • University of British Columbia, visiting student, 1987-1988, Class 1 Standing

Honors & Awards

  • Chambers USA recognition in Nationwide Privacy & Data Security and Nationwide Technology – 2022 and 2023
  • Who’s Who in America, Women in Law – Minnesota, 2021 – present
  • Minnesota State Bar Association North Star Lawyer, Pro Bono Service, 2014 – 2022
  • VLP is a BTI Cybersecurity Standout 2020 – Leading Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Law Firm