When a ransomware attack shuts down a university network or a health system is under regulatory investigation for alleged violations of data security laws, organizations often turn to Sara Goldstein. A partner at Baker & Hostetler in Philadelphia, Goldstein helps health care systems, universities and energy companies navigate the chaos that follows a cybersecurity incident — investigating what happened, containing the threat and guiding clients through regulatory and communications challenges so they can get up and running. She enjoys the mix of strategy and technical problem-solving the work demands, from understanding how threat actors operate to advising clients on how to respond to regulatory inquiries. Her interest in the field began at Drexel’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. During a co-op in the Office of General Counsel at the University of Pennsylvania, she researched emerging regulations such as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and early state data-breach notification laws.

The experience introduced her to the growing intersection of health care, privacy and cybersecurity. It was what propelled her career forward, and to this day, she says, she remains closely tied to her Drexel classmates and professors; she believes the Kline School has built a community that is truly unique, one that has served her well and has much to offer aspiring law students.