People

David P. Saunders

Partner
Areas of focus

Defends clients across industry sectors in privacy-related litigation and regulatory investigations including involving data breaches, website tracking, ambient recording and biometric data 

Counsels clients on data privacy, cybersecurity, and compliance matters across the full data lifecycle, providing a litigator’s perspective on compliance and incident response 

Assists clients with privacy and cybersecurity due diligence in corporate transactions and private equity investments 

David P. Saunders (CIPP/US, CIPM) is an experienced litigator who focuses his practice on privacy and cybersecurity matters. David helps clients through the life cycle of their data privacy needs. He helps them mitigate and manage risks related to data privacy and cybersecurity by assisting their government affairs teams with the development of new privacy legislation, their legal and compliance teams through the implementation of privacy programs, and their litigation teams through regulatory investigations and civil class action litigations.

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“David can jump in and give timely advice on acute issues.” 

Chambers USA

“David is very good on state privacy laws and provides really helpful advice in the healthcare privacy space.”

Chambers USA

Ranked in

Ranked in

Chambers USA, 2026

Recognized in

Recognized in

Legal 500 US, 2024-2025

Recognized in

Recognized in

Lexology Data 100 as a Recommended Lawyer, 2026

Results
  • Represented numerous companies in consumer class action in the wake of publicly announced data breaches
  • Represented a wide array of companies in the successful resolution of website tracking civil litigations and arbitrations
  • Represented AdTech companies in Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state regulator public and non-public investigation

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Recognitions
  • Chambers USA, 2026
  • Legal 500 US, 2024-2025
  • Lexology Data 100, Recommended, 2026
  • Global Data Review, 40 Under 40, 2021

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Capabilities and industries
Regional markets
Community
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals, member
  • University of Virginia School of Law Alumni Council, president
  • Field Museum, Founders’ Council advisor
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Privacy and Information Security Law Committee, former chair and vice-chair, member
  • Seventh Circuit Bar Association Board of Governors, former president
  • Cabrini Green Legal Aid, former director and chair
  • Leadership Greater Chicago, 2018 fellow
Credentials
Education
  • University of Virginia School of Law, JD
  • University of Chicago, BA
Admissions
  • Illinois
  • Maine
Courts/Agencies
  • US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois - Trial Bar
Languages
  • English