Overview
(July 16, 2025, Chicago) – Steptoe LLP is deepening its data privacy and cybersecurity bench with the addition of Christian Auty, who joins as a partner in the firm’s Chicago office. Christian brings a powerhouse blend of legal acumen, technical fluency, and strategic insight to clients navigating the intersection of data, technology, AI, and international regulation.
Christian comes to Steptoe from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he served as the US lead of the Global Data Privacy and Security practice. He advises clients across industries, including healthcare, insurance, financial services, and consumer tech, on a full spectrum of privacy and cybersecurity matters, including HIPAA, GDPR, state privacy laws, interoperability, AI governance, and cross-border data strategy. His track record includes steering clients through high-stakes breach responses, regulatory investigations, and global compliance initiatives.
He frequently advises clients on data security and cybersecurity, including cutting-edge issues like deidentification strategies and AI training. Drawing from his background in litigation, his work includes incident response and remediation, regulatory investigations, and proactive breach preparedness planning. Christian leads the response to dozens of security incidents each year and acts as an appointed “breach coach” for multiple large, multi-national organizations.
“As cross-border AI, data, and cybersecurity issues continue to shape the global landscape, Christian positions us to meet our clients’ needs with even greater depth,” said Steptoe chair Gwen Renigar. “Christian brings an important combination of technical fluency, legal insight, and business pragmatism to the table. His arrival reflects Steptoe’s continued investment in building a future-ready regulatory capability that helps clients thrive in a data-driven world.”
Christian’s addition significantly enhances Steptoe’s ability to provide end-to-end counsel on data protection and regulatory risk. His practice will integrate seamlessly with the firm’s top-ranked Trade and Compliance team. The team has recently helped a multinational food producer resolve a US sanctions inquiry with no enforcement action, assisted a solar manufacturing company with UFLPA and EU forced labor compliance, and advised a major European satellite company on sanctions and CFIUS clearance. With more than 65 lawyers across the US, Europe, and Asia, the firm’s International Trade and Regulatory Compliance group provides seamless, cross-border counsel on sanctions, export controls, and digital governance, helping clients navigate complex regulatory environments and advance their strategic goals.
“What drew me to Steptoe is its global reach and its bold approach to high-stakes regulatory challenges,” said Christian. “I’m excited to join a team that thrives on innovation, collaboration, and delivering real-world results for clients.”
Christian earned his JD cum laude from the University of Michigan and his BA from Boston College. He is a frequent speaker and writer on data privacy and cybersecurity topics and is known for his strategic, solutions-oriented approach to client service.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
