The US-EU Digital Agenda: A Trans-Atlantic Business Council and K&L Gates Symposium

“Data is the new oil”—the lifeblood of the modern economy. So far, the Internet and the digital economy have benefited from relatively light touch governmental intervention. But is change coming? And are the US and EU headed in different directions regarding the treatment of data and digital companies?

K&L Gates and the Trans-Atlantic Business Council hosted a discussion among leading US and EU policymakers on data privacy and the taxation and regulation of digital companies.

Recordings of the program, broken down into five segments are available below.

Keynote Speaker: EU Ambassador to the United States David O’Sullivan 
Ambassador O’Sullivan has a long and distinguished career that spans five decades. He has served in a number of senior official posts in the European public service. Prior to his appointment as EU Ambassador to the United States, he was the Chief Operating Officer of the ‘European External Action Service’ and responsible for establishing this new EU diplomatic service. The Service is one of the largest diplomatic networks with 140 delegations across the globe.

A Discussion with General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Peter Davidson
Moderator: Bruce J. Heiman, Partner, K&L Gates, Washington, D.C.
Peter Davidson is the Department of Commerce’s Chief Legal Officer and has a lead role with respect to the Privacy Shield. Previously, he served as a Senior Vice President at Verizon Communications, and General Counsel to the United States Trade Representative. He also has served as a Vice President at USWEST and Qwest and was General Counsel and Policy Director to the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

Panel Discussion - Data Privacy
Moderator: Ignasi Guardans, Partner, K&L Gates, Brussels

Panelists:

• Claude-Étienne Armingaud, Partner, K&L Gates, Paris, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional in Europe
• João Rodrigues, Legal Adviser, European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, D.C.
• Melika Carroll, Senior Vice President of Global Government Affairs at the Internet Association

Panel Discussion - Taxation of Digital Companies
Moderator: Mary Burke Baker, Government Affairs Counselor, K&L Gates, Washington, D.C.

Panelists:

• Pierre-Olivier Pollet, Tax Attaché for North America, Embassy of France to the United States
• Tomas Baert, Head of Trade and Agriculture of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States
• Lafayette G. ("Chip") Harter, Deputy Assistant Secretary (International Tax Affairs), Office of the International Tax Counsel, United States Department of the Treasury
• Grace Perez-Navarro, Deputy Director, Center for Tax Policy and Administration, The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

Panel Discussion - Regulation of Digital Companies
Moderator: Bruce J. Heiman, Partner, K&L Gates, Washington, D.C.

Panelists:

• Maria Luisa Iennaco, DG IPOL Liaison Officer, Directorate-General for Communication European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, D.C.
• Robert D. Atkinson, President, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation