Sargent knows the drill when it comes to data privacy, cybersecurity

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Within just a few years of becoming an attorney, Sarah Sargent has already handled complex, high-stakes cases.

A former member of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren’s data privacy and cybersecurity group and now at Godfrey & Kahn, Sargent has taken part in responding to a nationwide data breach and advised multinational clients on how to comply with EU and Southeast Asia data-privacy laws.

A certified professional by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, she advises clients on information-security policies, cross-border data transfers, cybersecurity risk management and responses to malware attacks.

Sargent, who joined Reinhart’s Milwaukee office in 2016 after graduating from the University of Iowa College of Law and moved to Godfrey & Kahn in September 2018, has also taken a leadership role in litigating cases involving employees’ retirement income and government pensions.

“Sarah quickly gained subject area expertise in both state and federal proceedings and is involved in all of the firm’s significant cases in this technically demanding area,” said Martin McLaughlin, corporate-law shareholder at Reinhart.

“In her brief time in practice, Sarah has quickly earned the respect and trust of both junior and senior colleagues; she is known in the firm as an extremely capable and promising associate,” McLaughlin said.

Her work has involved general commercial litigation in a range of contract-related and product distribution matters.

Besides seeing her clients “happy and relieved,” Sargent said she derives satisfaction from pro bono work. This has had her volunteering at Lotus Legal Clinic, which helps survivors of sexual violence, and being on the planning committee of Centro Legal, which assists survivors of domestic violence.

“Both organizations offer vital services to members of our community who wouldn’t otherwise have strong advocacy or resources,” she said. “I am lucky to have found such wonderful pro bono work and activities that allow me to give back to the community.”

Sargent is also a member of the Association of Women Lawyers, participates in the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association’s mentorship program for high school students and volunteers in Reinhart’s Buddy Program, which works with Marquette University law students.