Overview

Cecilia has deep experience with complex commercial and innovative technology transactions, especially pertaining to e-commerce, payments and FinTech services. She is known for negotiating a wide range of technology transactions, including those involving payment systems, information technology and business process outsourcing, cloud-based services, ERP implementations, e-commerce and general licensing. In particular, she focuses on technology agreements in the financial services and retail industries. Her work often involves providing practical advice to clients on core banking platforms, account processing solutions, merchant processing services, card tokenization services, encryption solutions, payment gateway services, PCI DSS compliance, E-SIGN compliance, and emerging payment solutions, such as mobile wallets. 

Cecilia’s clients include some of the largest financial institutions and retailers in the United States.

Experience

  • Represented a major US card issuer in connection with its participation in mobile wallet solutions.
  • Represented a major US card issuer in connection with its participation in tokenization programs.
  • Represented global manufacturer and marketer of skincare, makeup, and hair care products in connection with the transformation of its point-of-sale and payments systems.
  • Represented numerous community banks in connection with the negotiation and documentation of core processing agreements.
  • Negotiated and documented several complex, large-scale outsourcing transactions, including the following:
    • Multifunction outsourcing on behalf of a Fortune 500 entertainment retailer, including application development, web hosting, help desk and data center services.
    • IT Infrastructure and application development outsourcing for department store chain with national presence.
    • Comprehensive IT and business process outsourcing for a digital media company with global presence.
    • Business process outsourcing for a prominent health care system, including hospitality services and benefits administration.
    • Comprehensive and transformational outsourcing of IT infrastructure on behalf of a Fortune 100 financial services company.
  • Advised numerous clients, including financial institutions, health care systems, pharmaceutical companies, utilities and retailers on the implementation and use of electronic signatures and record systems and compliance with E-SIGN and state electronic signatures statutes.
  • Represented a software-as-a-service provider with a global presence in numerous commercial transactions and advised on issues related to intellectual property and data privacy.
  • Represented major US and global retailers in the negotiation of e-commerce service agreements.
  • Represented a Fortune 500 energy company and a chemical manufacturer with a global presence in complex ERP system implementations.
  • Negotiated software licensing and services agreements for Fortune 500 companies representing both the customer side and vendor side across a wide range of industries.

Accolades

Honors & Recognitions

  • Recognized as a Leading Lawyer for Outsourcing (2024) and Next Generation Partner (2021-2023) and Recommended Lawyer (2016-2020), Legal 500 United States
  • Recommended for Technology Transactions (2019, 2023-2024) and Finance: FinTech (2024), Legal 500 United States
  • Recognized as a Leader in Technology & Outsourcing, District of Columbia, Chambers USA, 2022-2024

Affiliations

Professional

  • Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), 2016
  • Member, International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IOAP), 2016
  • Past Board of Directors, Truancy Intervention Project, 2010–2015

Insights

Events & Speaking Engagements

  • September 24, 2024
    Event
    Speaker
    Risk Allocation in Commercial Contracts: Indemnity, Reps and Warranties, Termination, Damages Provisions, Strafford Webinars
  • August, 20, 2020
    Event
    Speaker
    Sinking the Ink? E-SIGN, Electronic Signatures and Digital Channel Migration Post-COVID 19, VBA
  • March 19, 2019
    Event
    Speaker
    The E-Sign Act – Implications on Credit Unions, National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions Regulatory Compliance School
  • August 22, 2018
    Event
    Panelist
    Partnering With Others, Startup Law 101
  • August 22, 2018
    Event
  • October 11, 2017
    Event
  • May 11, 2016
    Event
    Speaker
    Software Agreement Warranty & Limitation of Liability, Strafford Webinar
  • March 24, 2015
    Event
    Speaker
    Technology Agreement Basics and Common Pitfalls, ACC National Capital Region Technology Boot Camp, McLean, VA
  • October 8, 2014
    Event
    Speaker
    Understanding and Avoiding IT and Commercial Contracting Pitfalls, Hunton & Williams LLP’s IT/Procurement Leadership Forum, Washington, DC

News

Education

JD, Emory University School of Law, Research Editor, Emory International Law Review, 2002

BA, Economics, University of Virginia, 1999

Admissions

Georgia

District of Columbia

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