Justin B. Weiss

Drawing on more than 20 years of private-sector leadership, Justin brings clients a rare combination of legal depth and operational experience. He advises technology investors, established companies, and multinationals on privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI) governance, helping them integrate digital innovation into their business strategies while managing regulatory and reputational risks.

Justin's client work spans the full range of digital risk management, from data protection and AI compliance to cross-border regulatory strategy. He is particularly sought after by companies navigating evolving regulatory frameworks in the U.S., Europe, and emerging markets, and by investors and legal executives seeking to understand how privacy, AI, and digital sector regulation will shape their industries and business opportunities globally.

Prior to joining Crowell, Justin served as associate general counsel for digital and regulatory matters at Naspers Group, one of the largest consumer technology companies in the world. In this role, he led AI, privacy, intellectual property, and competition policy teams to help govern and support investee companies, including through the M&A lifecycle. He coordinated cross‑functional teams, managed regulatory and compliance risks, and was a key stakeholder for integration and divestment planning to ensure a smooth transition and value capture. A recognized leader in the global privacy community, Justin served as chair of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in 2020, following his service on the IAPP's global board of directors as a representative of Naspers. He is a frequent speaker at IAPP’s conferences, particularly its annual global summit in Washington, D.C., and he maintains close relationships with the IAPP board.

Earlier in his career, Justin served as assistant general counsel for privacy and international policy at Yahoo!, where he represented the company before world governments, APEC, the Council of Europe, the EU's Article 29 Working Party (the predecessor to the EDPB), and major technology trade associations. He also held roles at the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) and the Email Sender & Provider Coalition (ESPC), developing deep technical and legal experience in online advertising, tracking technologies, and their regulation.

During this period, Justin became a respected voice within the international data protection community, including a prominent role in Brussels during the lead-up to the GDPR. He was also selected as an advisor to the OECD in its 30-year review of the OECD Privacy Principles. He maintains constructive, long-standing relationships with data protection authorities around the world and is known for his ability to facilitate meaningful dialogue between regulators and the private sector.