Meet Sarah
Sarah Sargent is a member of the Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Technology practice. She holds the CIPP/US, CIPP/E and CIPM certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals, allowing her to draw from both domestic and international best practices when it comes to questions of data privacy and cybersecurity.
Sarah’s practice focuses on assisting clients in implementing innovative technology and finding practical business solutions for global privacy compliance. She counsels clients on privacy compliance with a variety of state, federal and international laws, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and various other state and industry-specific privacy laws. Sarah’s understanding of these regulations allows her to advise companies seeking to implement entity-wide privacy programs, walking them through each step necessary to prepare for the next emergent privacy law.
Sarah’s focus further includes cybersecurity advising, including data breach response and remediation in various industries, including healthcare, financial, non-profit, manufacturing and retail. She routinely works with opposing counsel, forensics experts, insurers and government regulators to resolve security incidents promptly and efficiently. She also advises clients on a variety of technology issues, including software licensing, vendor management, Internet-of-Things (IoT) product launches and SaaS and software development contracting. Specifically, she has deep experience representing technology vendors in regulated industries, such as healthcare. Additionally, Sarah assists in cybersecurity and privacy due diligence in mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to joining Godfrey & Kahn, Sarah worked at a large Milwaukee-based law firm where she routinely represented clients in data privacy compliance planning and data security breach response, including malware and ransomware attacks. Sarah has also worked on a range of commercial litigation matters in state and federal court.
Sarah enjoys volunteering in her community to support Centro Legal, the Association of Women Lawyers, and Code the Way.
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Iowa College of Law, with distinction
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Colorado at Denver, magna cum laude
Activities
Code the Way – Board Member
Centro Legal – Board Member
Southern Wisconsin IAPP – Chapter Chair (2021 – 2023)
Honors
Named a 2018 "Up and Coming Lawyer" by Wisconsin Law Journal
Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), CIPP/US and CIPP/E from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
Recognized by Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” (Privacy and Data Security Law, 2024)
Recognized by Super Lawyers as a Wisconsin Rising Star (2024)
Admitted To Practice
WisconsinCourt Admissions
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Professional Associations
Association for Women Lawyers, Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, Milwaukee Bar Association