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Heather D. McArn

Senior Legal Editor, Thomson Reuters

Heather is a Senior Legal Editor at Thomson Reuters where she leads efforts to develop financial services legal content and products, including on topics related to consumer finance, data privacy and security, payment system innovation, and AI risk management.

Prior to this role, Heather was a financial services regulator, serving as Chief of Staff and Special Counsel at the New York Department of Financial Services, where she led efforts to modernize the agency's examination, supervision, and investigation processes and resources, including implementation of first-in-the-nation cyber security and virtual currency regulations. She also led the planning and implementation of agency-wide risk management initiatives, including the creation of Compliance and Research Innovation divisions.

As a Partner at two international law firms, Heather has advised clients and court-appointed fiduciaries in high-profile bankruptcies and restructurings, led examinations and internal investigations, and advised on cybersecurity and data privacy laws. She has also helped clients develop and implement regulatory risk management and compliance programs.

Heather is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/EU) and has published and presented extensively on financial services-related topics. She currently serves on two committees of the New York City Bar Association and previously served as co-chair of the Compliance Committee's Cybersecurity and Privacy subcommittee. Heather is formerly associated with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and Jenner & Block and clerked for The Hon. Burton R. Lifland and The Hon. Arthur J. Gonzalez, Chief Judges of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York.

Education

  • J.D., Vermont Law School
  • M.S., Columbia University
  • B.A., Tulane University