Wilson Elser, Ankura, and Privado AI host a conference on privacy, security, and AI governance.
More than 150 AI-related laws have now been enacted across all U.S. states.
New York, October 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — National U.S. law firm Wilson Elser, in collaboration with Ankura Consulting Group, LLC and Privado AI, recently hosted its inaugural conference focused on privacy, security, and AI governance. The event highlighted evolving privacy laws and security best practices, with artificial intelligence at the center as organizations navigate the increasingly complex patchwork of state AI regulations.
The event, titled "Convergence: The Intersection of Privacy, Security & AI Governance," took place on September 30 at the Wilson Elser office in New York, featuring speakers from Wilson Elser, Ankura, Privado AI, and several insurance companies. JD Cheema, founder of Privado AI, delivered a keynote address on technology-driven data discovery and AI governance.
Jana Farmer, Co-Head of the Data Use and AI Governance Practice and Partner at Wilson Elser, said: “Privacy, security, and AI governance are no longer separate topics. Agent-based AI, stricter regulations, and a more active enforcement environment have brought them into the same conversation.” She also noted: “Currently, the United States lacks a comprehensive federal standard regulating the use of AI.”
Farmer said, “Instead, we’re seeing a rapidly expanding patchwork of state laws and regulations.” She noted that over the past year alone, more than 150 laws related to AI have been passed in states including New York, California, Utah, Texas, and Colorado. She added, “Given this environment, businesses should plan for the possibility that certain use cases of AI technologies may be restricted after deployment, ensuring their AI investments remain resilient as regulations continue to evolve.”
The event combines content tailored for professionals with built-in networking opportunities. Attendees of the Convergence conference include general counsels, heads of privacy and security, cybersecurity and risk professionals, the insurance and underwriting community, and external advisors serving these groups.
The panel discussion includes:
Navigating Privacy and the AI Environment: From New Laws to the Courtroom
Panelists: Jana Slavina Farmer (AIGP) from Wilson Elser; N. Nguyen, Senior Director of Privacy Engineering and Technology at Ankura; JD Cheema from Privado; and Christina Van Wert, Senior Manager of the Cyber and Professional Liability Team at Tokio Marine HCC.
Topic: Privacy and AI regulation continue to evolve at multiple levels, with organizations facing increasing attention from lawmakers, regulators, and plaintiffs. Through an interactive discussion, speakers outlined the latest privacy and AI legislation, current enforcement priorities, and litigation trends, providing attendees with practical, actionable compliance guidance.
Cybersecurity and AI: Governing Agent-Based Systems
Panelists: Dominik Cvitanovic of Wilson Elser; John Schrader, Senior Managing Director of the Network, Privacy, and AI Security Practice at Ankura; Craig Linton, Head of U.S. Cyber Risk Underwriting at Beazley; and Bridget Choi, Head of Cyber Insurance Products at Gallagher.
Topic: Agent-based AI is transforming how organizations operate, introducing new cybersecurity, contractual, and operational risks. Insurers and insured parties alike are raising questions across industries deploying such systems. Drawing on real-world deployment scenarios and cybersecurity incident case studies, the panelists provided attendees with practical guidance on governing agent-based AI before, during, and after an incident occurs.
Cybersecurity traps and how to avoid provoking regulatory authorities
Panelists: Anjali Das of Wilson Elser; Nle Nguyen, Senior Director of Privacy Engineering and Technology at Ankura; John Schrader, Senior Managing Director of Network, Privacy, and AI Security at Ankura; and Cody Valdez, attorney at Wilson Elser and former Deputy Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey.
Topic: When cybersecurity incidents occur, regulatory agencies are often involved, and increasingly, they intervene simultaneously from multiple angles. A single incident may trigger parallel investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, state financial regulators, health privacy enforcement authorities, and state attorneys general—each with distinct rules, deadlines, and enforcement positions. Drawing on recent investigations and enforcement actions, this session identifies the most common areas where organizations falter and provides attendees with a practical guide to maintaining compliance before key regulatory bodies.
Implementing AI Across the Enterprise: A Risk Practice Guide
Panelists: Jana Slavina Farmer (AIGP) from Wilson Elser; Jonathan Meer from Wilson Elser; Scott Margolis, Managing Director of the Data and Information Governance practice at Ankura; Matthew McQueeny from AAANow.ai and Earnfluencing; and Rahmila Nadi from Women Leading AI.
Topic: AI is transforming how organizations operate, and its legal and operational risks extend far beyond any single department. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, common themes exist for businesses considering how to adopt AI responsibly. Through real-world scenarios that companies are currently navigating, the panelists provided attendees with practical, actionable recommendations on the legal and business implications of deploying AI.
Regarding Wilson Elser's data usage and AI governance services
Wilson Elser is a trusted U.S. law firm specializing in privacy, security, and AI governance, and a leading defense litigation firm in privacy and cybersecurity class actions. For more information, visit: https://www.wilsonelser.com/data-use-ai-governance
About Wilson Elser
Wilson Elser is among the leading defense litigation firms in the United States. For over four decades, its trial and litigation attorneys have built a reputation for taking on and winning the most complex and technically demanding cases, often stepping in to resolve matters left unresolved by other firms. The firm attributes its success to achieving outcomes on clients’ terms and strictly adhering to client directives. It ranks 94th on the Am Law 100 and 30th on the National Law Journal’s NLJ 500. For more information, visit www.wilsonelser.com.
About Ankura, LLC
Ankura is a leading global advisory and expert services firm with extensive expertise across multiple industries, including cybersecurity, data privacy and governance, and artificial intelligence. The company combines strategic advisory with deep technical expertise, implementation capabilities, and expert support to address complex business challenges. Ankura operates more than 35 offices worldwide, supporting projects in over 115 countries. For more information, visit: https://ankura.com/
About Privado AI
Privado AI is a generative AI-powered data privacy management platform that helps privacy and compliance teams automate manual governance processes, map data flows, and discover consent compliance violations at scale. Founded in 2020, the company replaces traditional, slow, questionnaire-based compliance methods with specialized AI agents. Learn more at: https://www.privado.ai/
Media contact:
Andrew Blum, AJB Communications | [email protected] | 917.783.1680