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Christine E. Nielsen

Associate

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School, 2005, J.D., Michigan Journal of Gender and Law, Associate Editor, Student Note Coordinator (January - August 2004); Entertainment, Media & Arts Law Students Association; Vice President of Communications (2004 - 2005); Moot Court Team Member (2004)
  • Western Michigan University, 2000, B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Political Science, Journalism
  • Western Michigan University, 2000, B.F.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Presidential Scholar (1999), Dance

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

  • Illinois

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois

Christine is an associate in the firm's Global Regulatory Enforcement Group.

Christine has extensive experience in the area of data privacy and security.  Prior to joining Reed Smith, Christine was an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Fraud Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s office.  Christine’s focus at the Attorney General’s office was primarily in the areas of data security privacy, and identity theft.  In that capacity, she participated in multistate investigations into large security breaches, including leading the investigation into ChoicePoint, and taking an active role in the TJX breach investigation. Illinois currently leads the monthly National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) privacy working group call, and Christine coordinated the administration of that call with NAAG representatives and the states. Christine is proficient in privacy and data security laws in the United States, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as state data breach notification laws and laws protecting Social Security numbers.  As an Assistant Attorney General, Christine also provided guidance to businesses and government agencies on compliance with Illinois privacy law and supported the office’s Identity Theft Unit. 

In addition to working in the privacy realm, Christine has litigation experience in many areas of consumer law, including advertising and marketing, home repair, and mechanics liens.  She also supervised the office’s Loan Modification Unit, which assists Illinois homeowners who apply for mortgage loan modifications from their mortgage lender or servicer

Employment History

  • 2012 - Reed Smith
  • 2005 - Office of the Illinois Attorney General