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Zach Willenbrink

Zachary R. Willenbrink

ShareholderCIPP/US, CIPM, CC, Security+, AIGP

Meet Zach

Zach is a shareholder on the firm’s Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Technology and Litigation teams. He leads the Data Disputes and Cybersecurity practices and is also a member of the firm’s recruiting and ethics committees.

Clients turn to Zach for practical, business-oriented advice on compliance, breach preparation and response, and tech litigation. Zach helps clients design and implement cybersecurity and privacy programs to comply with the growing number of applicable state, federal, and international laws. Zach also stays on the forefront of Artificial Intelligence developments and works with clients to development AI programs reflecting current best practices. He counsels clients on preparing for and responding to information security and privacy breaches, including leading tabletop exercises and acting as breach coach to guide clients through the complex process of responding to a data incident. And, when disputes arise on security, privacy, IT contracting, and related issues, Zach leads high-stakes commercial litigation and consumer-class- and regulatory-action defense.

Zach’s professional experience outside Godfrey & Kahn includes in-house-counsel, governmental, and academic work. Zach led the global privacy program and cybersecurity operations of the in-house legal department of a Fortune 500 manufacturing company. Zach developed and teaches the course Cybersecurity: Law and Practice at Marquette Law School. He also spent nearly a half-decade clerking for U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller of the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Zach’s industry certifications and service include:

  • CompTIA Security+
  • ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
  • UCLA Cybersecurity Certificate
  • IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional, United States (CIPP/US)
  • IAPP Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)
  • Service on the Sedona Conference Working Group 11’s drafting group on the legality of ransomware payments

Outside of work, Zach enjoys writing music. He’s released music and toured the country as a member of several bands, and his solo work has been used in the scores of feature-length films.

Get in Touch

Milwaukee

833 East Michigan StreetSuite 1800Milwaukee, WI 53202

414.273.5198414.273.5198

Charlie Gibbs

414.287.9427414.287.9427