Who We Are

Business Code of Ethics

Veronica K. Contreras, P.C. (“VKC-PC”) is committed to the highest standards of ethical business conduct and compliance with laws and regulations that apply to our business. Each of us are personally responsible for supporting our core values, which consist of honesty, integrity, collaboration, accountability, and compliance. See below our Business Code of Ethics.

VKC-PC-Business-Code-of-Ethics

Mission Statement

Veronica K. Contreras, P.C. (“VKC-PC”) was founded in 2021, by its President/Owner, Veronica K. Contreras. Veronica founded VKC-PC, not only because she has a passion for privacy and security matters, but has a great desire to aid companies with their privacy and security needs and extend her legal wealth of knowledge to her clients to aid them with their data privacy and security compliance needs, whether domestic or international.

Our mission is to enhance organizations’ data privacy, security, and AI compliance through expert analysis, creation, and deployment of top-tier governance frameworks, complemented by comprehensive services, such as risk assessments, policy development, compliance audits, and on-going support.

To achieve this goal, we provide concise, practical, and customized solutions for businesses of all sizes and industries. We empower our clients with meaningful compliance choices, recognizing that one size does not-fit-all. Our risk-based approach helps companies effectively understand, and manage, their specific industry risks.

In the ever-evolving AI, and data privacy and security compliance landscape, staying ahead of changing laws is crucial. Our expert team is dedicated to keeping you informed, and compliant, with the latest laws and regulations.

What sets us apart? Our attorneys’ exceptional technical expertise. We not only understand the law, but also know how to apply it to your unique business needs. We take the time to learn about your company, engage with your employees, and ensure they grasp the legal and regulatory requirements. We guide you every step of the way, helping you build a best-in-class compliance framework that meets all relevant data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI legislation.

Choose us for a proactive, knowledgeable, and personalized approach to data privacy, security, and AI compliance.

Founder and President

Veronica K. Contreras

About

Veronica Contreras is the founder of Veronica K. Contreras, P.C., a legal consulting practice, specializing in data protection, cybersecurity, and AI consulting services, with over fifteen (15) years of experience.

Before devoting her work to Veronica K. Contreras, P.C., Veronica worked at Clario (formerly eResearch Technology, Inc.), a Global Data Management Technology Company, as the company’s global Data Privacy Officer, Counsel. While there, Veronica was responsible for the development and implementation of the company’s global data privacy compliance program, including without limitation: compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA compliance; on-going administration (and maintenance) related to data privacy policies and procedures, privacy (and security) risk assessments, data privacy compliance training, and client-related audit requirements.

Prior to joining Clario, Veronica worked at MultiPlan, Inc., a healthcare technology company, as the company’s Data Privacy Officer, Associate Counsel, responsible for the company’s data privacy program, including without limitation: compliance with HIPAA, TCPA, CAN-SPAM, and HITRUST certification requirements; on-going administration (and maintenance) related to data privacy policies and procedures, client risk assessments, privacy training, and third-party risk management requirements.

A lawyer by training, Veronica earned her Juris Doctor from the Western Michigan Cooley Law School and her Bachelor of Arts, in Philosophy, from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Awards and Speaking Engagements

Law 2.0 Outstanding Leadership Award (Dec 2022)

Veronica was recognized for her outstanding leadership by the Law 2.0 Conference.

The Law 2.0 Conference primarily comprises achievers from the legal industry who are recognized for their contributions in the legal field and have demonstrated excellent leadership skills, namely:
1) a leader’s reputation;
2) educational background;
3) professional experience;
4) creative thinking; and
5) decisive leadership.

Speaker at DIA Digital Technology in Clinical Trials Conference (Aug 2020)

Session Topic: “How to Ensure Adequate Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Measures.”

DIA is a global association that mobilizes life science professionals from across all areas of expertise to engage with patients, peers and thought leaders in a neutral environment on the issues of today and the possibilities for tomorrow.

Speaker at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute – Health Law Institute Conference (March 2020)

Speaker at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute – Health Law Institute Conference (March 2020)

PBI’s annual Health Law Institute is a premier event for health law professionals organized by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

Our Team

Michael “Mike” Yacubian is an associate with Veronica K. Contreras, P.C. (“VKC-PC”), and a licensed attorney in Massachusetts, specializing in data protection and cybersecurity for over six (6) years.

Before joining VKC-PC, Mike served as Senior Associate Counsel for Data Privacy at Clario (formerly eResearch Technology, Inc.), a global data management technology company.

There, he played a key role in developing and implementing the company’s global data privacy compliance program. His responsibilities included ensuring adherence to GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA regulations; managing a team of privacy attorneys; negotiating privacy-related contracts; conducting data privacy impact assessments; developing global data privacy training programs; and overseeing related policies and procedures.

Earlier in his career, Mike gained extensive legal experience in the technology and financial sectors. At Pegasystems, Inc., a leading customer relationship management software company, he addressed contracting and legal issues related to software as a service (SaaS). At Boston Financial Data Services, he reviewed formation documents for trusts, corporations, LLCs, and hedge funds to ensure compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.

Mike earned his Juris Doctor in 2015 from Suffolk University Law School – Boston, Massachusetts, and a bachelor’s in arts, in Criminology in 2011, from Merrimack College – North Andover, Massachusetts.

Andrea “Andi” Funk is a data privacy analyst with VKC-PC., and a former educator with over 20 years of experience in project and data management, training, and research and analysis.

As an educator, Andi has had extensive experience with creating, drafting, reviewing and revising curriculum, policies, and procedures. Andi has a wide-range of knowledge around training and mentoring, ensuring quality and best-practice in her methodology. Andi’s communication, organization, time management, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills lend themselves to effective project management.

Andi has a deep understanding of research and analysis and has used these skills in data driven initiatives and policies. Andi’s experience with the concept of best practice in designing and implementing policies and procedures has been the core of her work in education and now too in data privacy analysis.

Andi earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Ted Crawford is a senior hands-on technology leader, a consultant of Veronica K. Contreras, P.C. (“VKC-PC”), and forms an integral part of VKC-PC.

Ted brings a strong business acumen and proven record of building, collaborating, and leading cross-functional teams to plan and execute business critical initiatives to companies’ CIOs, COOs, and CISOs.

Ted has expertise in building out security programs and processes, addressing network and infrastructure security, applications security, data security, and assessing and identifying gaps, in current security technologies, processes, and procedures.

Additionally, Ted provides guidance and oversight to companies that are transitioning from enterprise applications architectures to native cloud-based applications.

Prior to Ted consulting with VKC-PC, past senior leadership roles included:

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) – Clario, a provider of clinical data management services to pharmaceutical companies. In this role he was responsible for Information Security architecture, Operations, Security and IT Compliance.
Chief Information Officer (CIO) – ERT, merged with Clario and Bioclinica in 2021. Senior technical leader supporting M&A due diligence assessments and managing complex integration IT and Security projects.
Sr. Director Cloud Platform Services (PaaS) Global Solutions and Service Delivery – Oracle Cloud.
Solutions Architect – PhaseForward (acquired by Oracle) providing consulting services to large pharmaceutical companies in integration of PhaseForward’s clinical and drug safety solutions with pharma’s internal CTMS, Clinical Data Warehouse and Drug Safety systems.

Veronica K. Contreras, P.C.