Michael (Mike) Macko advises clients on privacy and data protection enforcement, government investigations, and complex regulatory matters.
As former head of enforcement at the first independent data protection authority in the US, Mike draws on more than a decade of federal and state enforcement experience to guide clients through high-stakes regulatory and litigation challenges involving:
Mike brings a distinctive perspective to clients navigating parallel proceedings, multi-forum exposure, and sensitive government inquiries. He leverages a deep understanding of enforcement priorities and investigative strategies to develop realistic case assessments, strengthen negotiating positions with regulators, and guide client decision-making at every stage of an investigation or dispute.
Mike also advises clients on emerging privacy and data protection risks, including those arising from using personal data in artificial intelligence, digital advertising, and as data brokers. He helps clients anticipate regulatory developments and coordinate defense strategies across jurisdictions.
Before joining Latham, Mike served as the head of enforcement at the California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy), where he created the agency’s enforcement arm, engaged with regulators worldwide, and supervised all enforcement actions brought under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the Delete Act.
Prior to that, he was in-house counsel handling government and regulatory litigation at a major technology company, trial attorney in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, and Assistant US Attorney and Trial Attorney at the DOJ focused on False Claims Act enforcement and consumer protection.
Mike previously clerked for Judge Dolores K. Sloviter of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and for Judge R. Barclay Surrick of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.