Practice Overview
Stephanie O. Sparks is a shareholder at Hoge Fenton, and chairs the firm’s Privacy & Data Security and Intellectual Property practice groups. She counsels companies on privacy laws and helps them create and implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for data security.
Stephanie also conducts onsite data security and compliance assessments; provides privacy and data security awareness training; prepares record management policies, record retention/destruction schedules, and data breach incident response plans; negotiates business associate agreements mandated by HIPAA, and other agreements involving privacy and data protection, hosting, migration and transfer.
Stephanie manages an online service provider’s responses to government requests for information, including search warrants, pen register trap & trace orders, and Title III electronic surveillance orders. She helps firm clients prepare for, and she manages all aspects of, the inevitable data breach, whether resulting from the ubiquitous stolen laptop, phishing scams, the hacking of servers, or otherwise.
Stephanie was accepted as a member of the 2016 Hipower program, a network of select women professionals who are considered at the top of their fields. She was named a “Northern California Super Lawyer” from 2009-2021. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to receive this honor through a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research, and peer evaluation.
Practice Areas
Education
- J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, with distinction
- B.A., Journalism/ Advertising, University of Nevada, Reno
Admissions
Professional Activities & Speaking Engagements
Stephanie is an active member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and International Trademark Association (INTA). She was selected to Chair the Education and Awareness Subcommittee of INTA Leadership’s Data Protection Committee for a two-year term (2022-2023). Stephanie has facilitated INTA monthly roundtables and has volunteered for INTA’s Unreal Campaign, teaching local high school students about counterfeit goods. Stephanie is also a member of the William A. Ingram Inn of the American Inns of Court.
Stephanie routinely presents seminars on privacy and data security issues and intellectual property to businesses, accountants, lawyers, and special interest groups, and has been a guest lecturer at Santa Clara University School of Law. She recently presented at the following seminars:
- Presenter, “CCPA:: What You Need to Do,” ISACA Silicon Valley, January 16. 2020
- Co-Presenter, “Don’t Leave Money on the Table!, IP Strategies to Grow Profits and Maximize Value,” Hoge Fenton, October 23, 2019
She also participated in a panel presentation to members of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners entitled, The Virtual Trip Wire: Litigation Holds & the Duty to Preserve Data in Security Breaches. Other upcoming speaking engagements include:
- Co-Presenter, “Co-Privacy Regulations:: The New Litigation Battleground,” Exterro/Jordan Lawrence, March 2020
- Presenter, “California Consumer Privacy Act:: What You Need to Know,” Hoge Fenton, Spring 2020