Atty. Mike Hintze
Mike Hintze is a Member Partner at Hintze Law PLLC and a recognized leader in privacy and data protection law, policy, and strategy. He advises a wide range of companies, industry associations, and other organizations – from startups to largest global technology companies.
Profile Summary
About Mike Hintze at a glance
Mike Hintze is a internet attorney based in Seattle, Washington, practicing at Hintze Law PLLC. Educated at Columbia University (J.D., 1994). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Information Technology Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Technology Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Seattle, WA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
Mike Hintze is a Member Partner at Hintze Law PLLC and a recognized leader in privacy and data protection law, policy, and strategy. He advises a wide range of companies, industry associations, and other organizations – from startups to largest global technology companies. With more than 25 years of experience in privacy and data protection, Mike emphasizes pragmatic and actionable advice that enables his clients to meet their objectives while complying with the law and managing risk.
Mike also teaches privacy law at the University of Washington School of Law, is a Senior Fellow with the Future of Privacy Forum, and has served as an adviser to the American Law Institute’s project on Data Privacy Principles and on multiple advisory boards for the International Association of Privacy Professionals and other organizations. Mike has testified before Congress, state legislatures, and European regulators; and he is a sought-after speaker and regular writer on data protection issues.
Mike was previously Chief Privacy Counsel at Microsoft, where, for over 18 years, he counselled on data protection compliance globally and helped lead the company’s strategic initiatives on privacy differentiation and public policy. Prior to joining Microsoft, he was an associate with Steptoe & Johnson LLP, which he joined following a judicial clerkship with the Washington State Supreme Court. Mike is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Columbia University School of Law.
Affiliations & MembershipsUniversity of Washington School of Law, Affiliate Instructor of Law, 2014-present
Future of Privacy Forum (FPF), Senior Fellow, 2018-present
American Law Institute (ALI)
- Adviser, Principles of the Law: Data Privacy, 2013-2019
- Elected Member, 2014-presentInternational Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
- Member, 2004-present
- Education Advisory Board, 2013-2016
- Research Advisory Board, 2016-2018Berkeley Center for Law and Technology (BCLT) Advisory Board, 2011-2016
Privacy Law Salon, Privacy Roundtable Advisory Board, 2011-2013
Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) Business Advisory Board, 2002-2007
Columbia University School of Law, JD, 1994
University of Washington, BA, 1991
Washington
New York
District of Columbia (currently inactive)
Certified Information Privacy Professional – United States (CIPP/US)
Certified Information Privacy Professional – U.S. Government (CIPP/G)
Certified Information Privacy Professional – Canada (CIPP/C)
Certified Information Privacy Professional – Europe (CIPP/E)
Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT)
Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)
Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP)
United States Patent No. 7,937,383 “Generating Anonymous Log Entries,” granted May 3, 2011.
*The Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification and certification is not a requirement to practice law in the State of Washington.
Practice Areas Explained
Mike Hintze's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Mike Hintze handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Internet and cyber lawyers for data breaches, online defamation, privacy law, and cybersecurity matters.
Mike Hintze is one of 17,958 internet attorneys indexed nationally. Browse internet attorneys in Washington →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Washington
Practicing law in Washington. Legal matters in Washington are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Seattle are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Washington state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Washington brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Washington courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
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