Karen Schuler

Partner, Governance, Risk and Compliance Practice Leader and Head of Global Privacy and Data Protection at BDO

Karen is the BDO Partner who leads the Governance, Risk & Compliance U.S. Practice, and is the Global Privacy & Data Protection Chair. She has a broad background in managing businesses that provide governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) services and is an experienced testifying expert. Over the last 30 years, she has built and managed organizations that provide privacy, data protection, digital forensics, cyber investigations, e-discovery, and data breach notification services. Karen has testified in deposition, arbitration, and federal, state, and local courts throughout the U.S.

Karen currently serves as the Data Protection Officer (DPO) for Global 500 companies across several industries and has investigated some of the most significant data breaches, which impacted millions of consumers. As DPO, she collaborates with the client, Counsel, and Data Protection Authorities to resolve inquiries, investigations, and complaints.

Her team at BDO established the first global data protection managed services market offering that allows companies to develop a robust and outsourced international privacy program, evaluate Privacy and Security by Design obligations, respond to data subjects, monitor regulatory changes, and investigate potential mishandling of personal data practices.

As founder of one of the first digital forensics consulting firms in the ’90s, she quickly became a thought leader in the areas of e-discovery and digital forensics and focused on intellectual property, securities, bribery, and insider trading investigations. Before BDO, she held senior-level positions and worked as a Senior Forensic Examiner for the United States Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”). She has also held board positions with industry associations and technology companies in the past.