WSGR logoWSGR logo
Christopher N. Olsen
Partner
Data, Privacy, and Cybersecurity
Washington, D.C.

D202-973-8803

Download vCard
Open PDF
  • Privacy and Data Security Expert with Track Record of Success

    Chris advises clients on all aspects of privacy and cybersecurity matters, and represents companies under investigation by the FTC and state attorneys general. He has successfully resolved investigations without enforcement action, and clients regularly seek his guidance when faced with regulatory scrutiny.

  • Former Agency Deputy Director with Extensive Government Background

    Chris is a former deputy director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC, and previously was the assistant director of the FTC’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection. He also served in a variety of roles at the FCC.

  • A Leader in His Field

    He is recognized among the nation’s top privacy attorneys by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, and the Global Data Review. Clients remark he has “excellent work ethic” and “provides practical, sophisticated, and timely legal advice” and is a “brilliant leader and creative thinker.”

  • Chris is a frequent contributor to The WSGR Data Advisor

    Wilson Sonsini’s Data Advisor is your source for privacy news and insights—brought to you by our global privacy and cybersecurity team. Visit wsgrdataadvisor.com and subscribe to stay connected.

Christopher Olsen is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini and co-chair of the firm’s privacy and cybersecurity practice. Chris advises clients on all aspects of privacy and cybersecurity matters and represents companies under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. He has an established track record of success in resolving investigations without enforcement action and clients regularly seek his guidance when facing high-stakes regulatory scrutiny.

Chris is a former deputy director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where he directed the international work of the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection and acted as the agency's co-lead negotiator in discussions with the European Commission regarding improvements to and renewal of the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework.

Prior to joining the bureau director's office, Chris was the assistant director of the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection at the FTC. In this role, he managed a number of significant privacy and security enforcement actions, as well as several of the most important privacy initiatives in recent FTC history, including a seminal 2012 FTC report on consumer privacy that formulated important recommendations for businesses.

Previously, Chris served in a variety of roles at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), including deputy chief of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, where he directed several of the most significant enforcement matters in the commission's history, including the agency's first net neutrality order; its first actions enforcing the National Do-Not-Call requirements; and multimillion-dollar cases involving local competition and consumer protection rules.

Prior to joining the FCC, Chris was a partner at Howrey Simon Arnold & White, LLP, where he managed a variety of complex litigation matters.

Experience

Christopher Olsen is a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini and co-chair of the firm’s privacy and cybersecurity practice. Chris advises clients on all aspects of privacy and cybersecurity matters and represents companies under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. He has an established track record of success in resolving investigations without enforcement action and clients regularly seek his guidance when facing high-stakes regulatory scrutiny.

Chris is a former deputy director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where he directed the international work of the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection and acted as the agency's co-lead negotiator in discussions with the European Commission regarding improvements to and renewal of the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework.

Prior to joining the bureau director's office, Chris was the assistant director of the Division of Privacy and Identity Protection at the FTC. In this role, he managed a number of significant privacy and security enforcement actions, as well as several of the most important privacy initiatives in recent FTC history, including a seminal 2012 FTC report on consumer privacy that formulated important recommendations for businesses.

Previously, Chris served in a variety of roles at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), including deputy chief of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, where he directed several of the most significant enforcement matters in the commission's history, including the agency's first net neutrality order; its first actions enforcing the National Do-Not-Call requirements; and multimillion-dollar cases involving local competition and consumer protection rules.

Prior to joining the FCC, Chris was a partner at Howrey Simon Arnold & White, LLP, where he managed a variety of complex litigation matters.

Focus Areas
Recent Insights
News Articles
Wilson Sonsini Practices, Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Chambers USA Guide
The 2026 Chambers USA guide has recognized Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as a leading law firm in 44 geography-specific practice categories and named 87 Wilson Sonsini attorneys among the best in their fields. This year, the firm received four new practice area rankings, including in the nationwide National Security and Capital Markets: Convertible Debt categories, and three improved practice area rankings.
Learn More
News Articles
Wilson Sonsini Attorneys Named to 2026 Lawdragon Leading Global Cyber Lawyers Guide
On May 8, 2026, Lawdragon announced its 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers guide, recognizing world leaders in privacy, data, security, and incident response, as well as the deals and lawsuits that revolve around all things cyber. The Wilson Sonsini attorneys named to the list included:
Learn More
View All
Recent Events
WSGR Events
Regulatory Outlook for 2025
Join former senior regulatory officials from the US and EU to discuss likely regulatory priorities in 2025 in Wilson Sonsini's San Francisco Office. Wilson Sonsini partners Maureen Ohlhausen, former Acting Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Maneesha Mithal, former Chief of the FTC’s Privacy Division, and Chris Olsen, former Deputy Director of the FTC Consumer Protection Bureau, will share their perspectives on what to expect post-election on the regulatory enforcement and policymaking front at the FTC. Wilson Sonsini partner Yann Padova, former Secretary General of the CNIL, France’s data protection authority, will discuss how the DSA, DMA, the EU AI Act, and other EU laws are shaping enforcement priorities in the EU and emerging enforcement trends.
Learn More
Speaking Engagements
Soft Law Summit -- Advancing Industry and Self-Regulation -- The Modern Challenges of Protecting Children’s Privacy Online
Today’s youngest generations are digital natives – they have never lived without the internet.
Learn More
View All
WSGR logo
Copyright © 2026 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. All Rights Reserved.