Benita A. Kahn
Columbus Office
Ms. Kahn is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the technology and intellectual property, energy, environment and utilities groups. Ms. Kahn works primarily with nationally recognized retailers advising them on privacy laws, consumer protection laws, telecommunications and information security. Over the last ten years, she has developed an expertise to assist clients with creation of their information security programs, incident response policies, marketing programs in compliance with the various state and federal consumer protection laws, and privacy policy creation and compliance.
Career highlights include:
- Advising retail clients on compromise response and issues arising from or related to a compromise, such as Notice of Breach compliance, Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) compliance, card association processes and state and Federal Trade Commission investigations
- Working with clients to draft and update privacy policies in compliance with state privacy laws, Federal Trade Commission rules and order, Canadian federal and provincial privacy laws, the European Union (EU) Directive and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998
- Assisting clients with their marketing programs in compliance with federal and state consumer protection laws, such as do not call laws, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, CAN-SPAM (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003), advertising and information collection
- Working with clients to negotiate contracts with acquiring banks and card associations, and for information security, private label credit cards, marketing, product placement and contests
Ms. Kahn is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, the International Association of Privacy Professionals and is a Certified International Privacy Professional (CIPP).
Ms. Kahn has given presentations on a variety of topics relating to customer data security and compromises of retail data to numerous retail associations and professional associations, including the International Association Privacy Professionals (IAPP), Technology & Operations Store Summit and the American Bar Association.
Ms. Kahn received her J.D. summa cum laude from The Ohio State University where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A. cum laude from the University of Akron.
Publications
- “The Federal Trade Commission’s Expansion of the Safeguards Rule,” The Federal Lawyer, September 2007
- “Spilling Your Beans: An Analysis of States’ Notice of Breach Laws and Recent Court Rulings,” Defense Counsel Journal, 2007
Professional and Community Activities
- American Bar Association, Privacy and Information Security Sub-Committee of the Antitrust Section, Vice Chair, 2007-2008
- Columbus Junior Blue Jackets Hockey, Board of Directors, 2004-2007
- Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, Member, 1982-1999; President, 1996-1997
- Franklin County Children’s Services, Board of Directors, 1989-1997; Chair, 1990, 1991, 1995
Honors and Awards
- Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 1998
- The Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law, 1999-2007
- Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Privacy & Data Security, 2008
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Information, 2004, 2007 and 2008