The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) awarded recent GW Law graduate Charlotte Kress, JD '19, the 2019 Elise Berkower Memorial Fellowship.
The Elise Berkower Memorial Fellowship is dedicated to the memory of Elise Berkower, a leader in the consumer privacy field, who was known for her ability to identify and nurture young lawyers, with a focus on consumer protection and business ethics. The year-long fellowship focuses on consumer and commercial privacy issues, from technology-specific areas such as advertising practices, drones, wearables, connected cars, and student privacy, to general data management and privacy issues related to ethics, de-identification, algorithms, and the Internet of Things.
“I’m so humbled and thankful to GW Law for providing me with the opportunity to explore my interests and to FPF for allowing me to practice in the area that I want to spend my whole career in,” Ms. Kress said. “I look forward to learning more about privacy law and the many different areas of expertise in the field.”
During her fellowship, Ms. Kress will track new privacy legislation, watching for major state players and trends. She will work with governmental organizations, businesses, and law firms to bring stakeholders together to develop privacy practices that are strong and reasonable.
Ms. Kress said she’s already had experience tracking legislation after working with John Marshall Harlan Research Professor of Law Daniel Justin Solove as his research assistant.
“Mid-way through my career at GW Law, I realized I had a passion for privacy law,” Ms. Kress said. “Under Professor Solove’s guidance, I decided that privacy law was an area of expertise that I wanted to get as much experience in as possible.”
“I am very pleased to hear that Charlotte Kress obtained this prestigious fellowship, which is a superb way to begin a career in information privacy law,” Professor Solove said. “Ms. Kress was a standout student and research assistant with a strong interest in information privacy. I’m confident that she will be a star.”
Ms. Kress was also a member of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal and the Society for European Law Students and volunteered with the International Privacy and Security Forum. A fluent German speaker, she undertook post-graduate studies at Heidelberg University in Germany after her graduation from Bucknell University. Ms. Kress served as a legal intern at the Office of General Counsel for the District of Columbia Housing Authority and at DLA Piper and Sedgwick law firms.
“Charlotte’s energy and enthusiasm for legal scholarship, collaboration, and ethical negotiation makes her a fitting recipient of the Elise Berkower Memorial Fellowship,” said Howard Berkower, partner at McCarter & English, and brother of Elise Berkower. “Her international experience, drive, and commitment to the continued development of technology and privacy laws will be a great asset for FPF.”
The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) brings together industry, academics, consumer advocates, and other thought leaders to explore the challenges posed by technological innovation and develop privacy protections, ethical norms, and workable business practices. FPF’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for privacy leadership and scholarship, advancing principled data practices in support of emerging technologies.