Susan Duarte

A driven and highly trusted senior corporate counsel with comprehensive expertise in commercial transactions, contract negotiations, litigation management, M&A oversight, privacy, and cybersecurity. Delivers effective regulatory compliance counsel on privacy, financial services, technology, and consumer protection matters. Negotiates strategic transactions, including SaaS, procurement, product, and technology licensing, to support the marketing, product, and channel organizations. Excels at identifying risk, operationalizing strategic plans, and driving outstanding results across the business to deliver innovative products and services for Fortune 100 companies.

Verisign, Reston, Virginia
Senior Director and Senior Corporate Counsel, 2021-2023 

Served as global regulatory compliance and transactional attorney reporting to deputy general counsel in 900-member domain name registry services and internet infrastructure company.

Legal Subject Matter Expert: $30 Million Brand Strategy

• Advised on consumer protection, advertising, IP (e.g., FTC Section 5, DMCA, UDAP, TCPA, Lanham Act, copyright, trademark, and personality rights), and substantiation data to ensure compliance with regulations and industry standards. 
• Oversaw and reviewed all corporate communications, social media, digital advertising campaigns, and sponsorship materials. 

Marketing Procurement Support

• Negotiated and drafted procurement, talent, music, sponsorship, advertising agency, media buying agency, SaaS, product, technology licenses, and vendor agreements.

Product Support

• Counseled product managers on all aspects of product lifecycle, including compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., privacy and security), requirements from third-party vendors, and support for end-of-product issues. 

Privacy Matters

• Implemented and enacted domestic and international privacy compliance programs, focusing on GDPR, CAN-SPAM, TCPA, CCPA / CPRA, TSR, and other privacy laws. 

Law Department Management

• Maximized and enhanced productivity of legal operations and oversaw legal budget. 
• Managed outside counsel and legal staff as required to facilitate commercial and legal matters. 

T-MOBILE, Reston, Virginia

Director and Senior Counsel, 2005-2020

Tapped as global compliance, regulatory, and litigation / enforcement attorney, reporting to vice president in 30,000-member wireless telecommunications company.

Financial Services Lead Counsel: Installment Billing and First Wireless Handset Leasing Program

• Championed installment billing program and pioneered $6 billion device leasing initiatives (first in U.S. wireless industry).
• Operated as primary counsel and team lead for financial services support (i.e., FCRA, ECOA, TILA, and UDAP), licensing, and regulatory inquiries and investigations. 
• Advised team and investigated credit, payments, billing, and lending legal issues. 
• Drafted consumer financial services agreements and ensured compliance with financial service advertising laws.

Lead Advertising and Consumer Protection Expert (Brand and Product Teams)

• Advised and counseled business partners on $700 million brand and product strategy incorporating oversight of advertising materials and consumer protection. 
• Led product managers on all aspects of product lifecycle, including compliance with regulatory requirements and requirements from third-party vendors, and supported end-of-product issues, including shutdown of telecommunications networks.
• Drafted and reviewed consumer contracts, terms of use, product policies, and disclosures and implemented related processes to support compliance.

Privacy Matters

• Counseled and advised on consumer and data privacy and policy issues in context of innovative and rapidly changing mobile wireless platforms and services.
• Developed consumer product flows and direct-to-consumer marketing to ensure compliance with applicable privacy laws.
• Worked cross-functionally to support government affairs privacy, cybersecurity, data security issues, fraud, and operational privacy risk management.

Litigation, Enforcement, and Investigations

• Named lead counsel on cross-carrier enforcement investigation before CFPB, FCC, and all state attorneys general, with fine lowered by $40 million while negotiating favorable settlement terms.
• Implemented and managed post-settlement compliance with settlement agreements. 
• Negotiated solutions and litigated cases contributing to company’s risk management strategy. 
• Resolved consumer disputes as well as FTC, FCC, BBB, and congressional inquiries.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Designed comprehensive financial services, privacy, and cybersecurity compliance programs to mitigate risk and comply with settlement obligations to help avoid potential enforcement action.

Leadership

• Led and managed core team of 18, including attorneys and legal staff members. 
• Owned and controlled budget, eliminating unnecessary costs as possible. 

Change Management

• Developed and implemented turnaround strategies functioning as cost savings enablers. 
• Partnered with executive leaders in Sprint transformation office to boost profitability and realize 650% ROI increase. 
• Increased profitability and revenue growth across board.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY, & POPEO P.C., Washington, D.C., Associate, 2001-2004. Acted as subject matter expert, counseling on wireless, broadband, internet, technology, telemarketing, privacy (CPNI and ECPA), CALEA, E911, cable, and CLEC matters. Advocated before regulators, including FCC, FTC, NTIA, state PUCs, and local franchise authorities. Responded to agency inquiries regarding compliance with federal laws. Interpreted statutes and regulations, advising clients on compliance matters. Prepared pleadings for federal and state courts as well as regulatory comments for FCC and FTC administrative dockets. 

EDUCATION

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, Washington, D.C., Juris Doctor and Communications and Technology Law Certificate

BOSTON COLLEGE, Boston, Massachusetts, B.A., English and History