Ernesto R. Claeyssen

ERNESTO CLAEYSSEN focuses his practice on transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters relating to data privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as commercial litigation and disputes, government investigations, and enforcement actions. He is an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US).

Ernesto counsels clients on navigating complex and evolving U.S. federal and state data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI issues, including compliance with U.S. federal and state privacy laws. He works with clients in developing data privacy compliance programs, including drafting privacy policies and other related policies.

Ernesto also assists clients in a wide range of corporate transactional matters, including privacy and cybersecurity diligence, contract review, and integration planning for mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. He regularly reviews and prepares master services and subscription agreements, data licensing and data sharing agreements, data processing agreements, business associate agreements, and other similar documents.

While attending law school, Ernesto served as the senior notes and comments editor of the Rutgers University Law Review and interned for The Honorable Patty Shwartz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

• OSEA Malibu, a family-owned, seaweed-infused clean skincare brand, in a strategic growth investment by General Atlantic, a global growth equity investor (pending).
• TowerBrook Capital Partners, L.P. in its strategic investment in Amylu Foods, a manufacturer of all-natural, value-added protein products.
• MarcyPen Capital Partners (MarcyPen) as lead investor, together with Brand Velocity Group (BVG), in a growth investment in The GLD Shop (GLD), a globally recognized jewelry brand.
• ZMC, a media, entertainment, communications, and technology private equity firm, in
  • Its strategic acquisition in Resonate, a provider of A.I.-powered consumer data and intelligence.
  • Its acquisition of a controlling stake of Pure Wafer, a semiconductor silicon solutions and services company.
  • Its strategic investment in Wpromote, an independent digital marketing agency.
• Simeio, a portfolio company of ZMC, in its acquisition of PathMaker Group (PMG), a provider of identity management services and solutions.
• CafeMedia, a portfolio company of ZMC, in its acquisition of Slickstream, an engagement product for independent publishers, from Hivepoint.
• Arya, a couples wellness platform, in its US$8.5 million USD Series A funding.
• Exiger in its acquisition of logistics intelligence platform XSB, a data science company known for its artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications that transform data into actionable intelligence.
• American Industrial Partners (AIP) in its US$700 million acquisition of the Grain & Protein division of AGCO Corporation.
• Thompson Street Capital Partners in its growth investment in National Arbitration & Mediation, a provider of alternative dispute resolution services, case management software, and continuing legal education.
• Siris Capital Group in its acquisition of BearCom, a North American solutions provider of wireless communications and security technologies, from Bertram Capital.
• Carlin Consumer Health in its acquisition of Penetrex from Wellbeam Consumer Health.
• CTM Group Inc., a portfolio company of the private equity arm of Z Capital Group, LLC, in its acquisition of ScooterBug Best Lockers.
• Discovery Education, a global edtech company backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., in its acquisition of Minneapolis, MN-based Pivot Interactives SBC.
• Nova Labs, Inc. in its acquisition of FreedomFi Inc.
• Hero Mighty Patch® brand (Hero) in its US$630 million acquisition by Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
• Gamma Biosciences, a life sciences platform established by KKR to address the advanced therapy bioprocessing market, in its US$600 million sale of Mirus Bio to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
• The Carlstar Group in its sale to Titan International.
• K18, a premium haircare brand, in its agreement to be acquired by Unilever.
• A fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management in its agreement to acquire a 40% equity stake in select U.S. Gulf Coast infrastructure assets from Dow Inc., with an option to increase its equity stake to 49% within six months after closing for initial cash proceeds of approximately US$2.4 billion with the potential to receive up to approximately US$3 billion in total.