Alston & Bird today announced the launch of the Women in Cyber™ network, a unique and innovative program that brings together private practice and in-house lawyers, cybersecurity practitioners, and information technology professionals to tackle the need for cross-functional engagement in addressing enterprise cybersecurity risk.

Partners Kim Peretti, co-leader of Alston & Bird’s Cybersecurity Preparedness & Response Team, and Amy Mushahwar, member of the firm’s Privacy & Data Security and Cybersecurity Preparedness & Response Teams, serve as co-directors of the network, with support from Alston & Bird associates Emily Poole and Alysa Austin.

Providing strategic guidance to the network is an advisory board that includes Jeannie McCarver, senior vice president for cybersecurity at U.S. Bank; Tracey Scraba, chief privacy officer at CVS Health; and Jennifer Martin, global cybersecurity counsel at Verizon Media.

“Today’s cybersecurity challenges require creative, interdisciplinary solutions that draw on diverse sets of knowledge and skills, especially now as the COVID-19 pandemic raises significant issues and risks in ways that we haven’t seen before,” said Alston & Bird’s Kim Peretti, who was recently named to Cybersecurity Docket’s 2020 “Incident Response 30,” which recognizes the country’s top cybersecurity and data breach response lawyers. “By building and strengthening connections among the increasing number of women cybersecurity professionals, the network will leverage the disparate perspectives, leadership, and experience that women bring to the table in solving complex cybersecurity legal and technical issues.”

In addition to other activities, the network will serve to help showcase members’ thought leadership through writing and speaking about cutting-edge issues at the intersection of law, technology, and information security. It will also curate community service-oriented projects and events for women to give back to their communities, as well as offer a mentoring network for members to draw on.

“With a number of women attorneys in key Alston & Bird practices, including cybersecurity, privacy, litigation, and regulatory, we believe it’s important to provide a forum for connecting, supporting, collaborating, and inspiring women in cybersecurity and to increase women’s participation in the cyber field to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals in the U.S.,” said Alston & Bird’s Amy Mushahwar. “We welcome women across the cyber spectrum – in-house counsel, chief privacy officers, chief information security officers, compliance officers, and others – who want to connect and interact with their peers.”

A leader in cybersecurity and data privacy, Alston & Bird was recently named to the “BTI CyberSavvy 16,” a select group of law firms recognized by the BTI Consulting Group in a new report, “BTI Cybersecurity & Data Privacy 2020,” and singled out by general counsel for their ability to “simplify even the most complex legal matters” and their “unwavering dedication to clients.”

Alston & Bird is also a recognized leader in women and diversity issues, having been named multiple times to Fortune’s “100 Best Workplaces for Women” and “100 Best Workplaces for Diversity.”

For more information about Alston & Bird’s Women in Cyber network and how to become a member, please visit the firm’s website.