Women in Law 2025

2025

ALESSANDRA SWANSON

CO-CHAIR, GLOBAL PRIVACY & DATA SECURITY PRACTICE Winston Strawn

A lessandra Swanson co-founded and currently co-chairs the global Privacy & Data Security Practice at Winston & Strawn— one of the 50 largest firms in the U.S. In addition to being a sought-after industry thought leader, Alessandra demonstrates a tireless commitment to mentorship, placing a particular emphasis on advocating for women and first-generation professionals. With 15+ years of dedicated experience in the privacy space, Alessandra’s career is distinguished by both government service and her work at Winston. Before joining Winston in 2015, she spent nearly 6 years at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services—Office for Civil Rights, where she was involved in numerous high-profile privacy investigations and settlements. The knowledge she gained there has proved to be invaluable for her clients and is a unique touchstone as she helps shape the next generation of lawyers in her practice area. Alessandra is among the leading authorities on privacy compliance, privacy investigations, and data breach response. In this capacity, she counsels some of the country’s most recognized health care, technology, e-commerce, and consumer brands on their most complex high-stakes data privacy and cybersecurity challenges. Her leadership has global reach—she has led cross-border teams to help clients through major data breaches, regulatory investigations, and compliance overhauls. Alessandra also does extensive work with her clients to proactively prepare for security incidents by conducting incident response table-top exercises and developing response plans.

Alessandra leads 45 attorneys as Winston’s Privacy & Data Security Practice co-chair (most of whom are women) and serves as a formal and informal mentor to members of her team. Her approach to leadership and mentorship is shaped by her personal experience— she is a first-generation American on one side of her family and the first in her family to graduate college. As a result, she is dedicated to building a diverse team of privacy lawyers and supporting their professional advancement. To this end, she also serves as chair of Winston's First-Gen Professionals Network where she helps other first- generation lawyers navigate the daunting economic, educational, and cultural hurdles many face while beginning their careers in law. Outside of Winston, Alessandra mentors students who participate in DePaul College of Law’s First Generation in Law Scholars Program (FGLP). The intensive 3-year program provides first-generation students with an immersive, holistic experience that introduces them to law school and the practice of law. The organization prioritizes enrolling students from historically underrepresented groups, and those who demonstrate an interest in attending law school. A nationally lauded legal practitioner, Alessandra is regularly recognized in The Legal 500 US for Media, Technology and Telecoms: Cyberlaw (2021–2025). Her global impact has also earned her a place on Lawdragon ’s 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers list (2024–2025), reflecting her status as a trusted adviser on some of the world’s most pressing data privacy and cybersecurity matters.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025