Claudia Rast

Blending her expertise in law, business, and science, Claudia Rast assists companies in their strategic choice and use of technology. She counsels large and small entities in a variety of industries on innovative and emerging issues in the areas of privacy, cybersecurity, data theft, intellectual property licensing and registration, and the forensic preservation and analysis of electronically stored information. With the rise of cyber events, her background in forensics, IT environments, and security has proved invaluable in working with clients to defend against and respond to pervasive cyberattacks. Ms. Rast has worked within the IT entrepreneur community and the automotive supplier network to negotiate contracts covering innovative technologies associated with autonomous and connected vehicles, such as security, privacy, data ownership, and responses to evolving domestic and foreign laws and regulations. She is also an experienced environmental lawyer, focusing on alternative energy and sustainability practices, including work on the development of a global Rule of Law Index for environment and energy with the World Justice Project.

Throughout her career, each year Ms. Rast is sought for her knowledge and insight—in areas ranging from Technology, Cybersecurity, Privacy, Data Breach, eDiscovery, and Social Media—locally and nationally as evidenced by the numerous presentations, publications, and speaking engagements she offers to clients, other lawyers, and a variety of professionals at all levels of organizations. She has authored an online course for CPE credit for CPAs over numerous years spanning from 2006 to 2020. Most recently, in 2023 in collaboration with Lawline.com, an online learning platform for attorneys that offers CLE credit, she instructed the course, “Exploring the Evolving Guardrails for Using Generative AI in the Practice of Law”. Attendees provided complimentary feedback including, “it’s great you found a lawyer/cyber-security expert to conduct this course”, “very useful explanation of a complex topic”, and “One of the best lecturers I have encountered on Lawline. This is a course everyone should watch”, demonstrating Ms. Rast’s command of this evolving area of the law. She consistently keeps her finger on the pulse of the technology industry to prepare clients to stay ahead of the curve. 

Claudia Rast holds an esteemed presence in the cybersecurity realm. Nationally, she was appointed by the President of the American Bar Association (ABA) in 2013, and reappointed in 2016-2019 consecutively, to serve on the ABA's Presidential Cybersecurity Legal Task Force, where she recently concluded a three-year term as Co-Chair (2020-2023). The Task Force examines risks posed by criminals, terrorists, and nation-states that seek to steal personal and financial information, disrupt and destroy critical infrastructure, and wage cyberwar. Locally, she served as a Board Member of the Clean Energy Coalition (CEC) (2006-2013), where she developed the legal framework for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) $15M grant in 2009 to the CEC for the Michigan Green Fleets project, and the Michigan Public Service Commission's $4.5M grant for the Cities of Promise program. In Ann Arbor, she served on the Board of the New Enterprise Forum (2008-2013) where she coached technology start-ups in their efforts to connect with management expertise, venture capital, and business partners. She currently serves on the Board of the Blood Cancer Foundation of Michigan, formerly the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan (2018-present) and Chairs the IT and Security Committee, and is a member of the Finance Committee of Ann Arbor SPARK (2018-present), an economic engine in Southeast Michigan focused on four innovation-driving industries: automotive and mobility; life sciences and healthcare; data and information; and technology.

Ms. Rast is a Shareholder based in Butzel's Ann Arbor office and is the Practice Department Chair of the Intellectual Property, Cybersecurity and Emerging Technology Group. She is a leading member of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Practice Department and AI Task Force. Ms. Rast is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.S., Natural Resources) and the University of Detroit School of Law (cum laude) where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Detroit Law Review.

All Related Practice Areas

Education

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law 1986, J.D. (cum laude)

University of Michigan 1975, B.S.

Admissions

Memberships

• American Bar Association (ABA) – Presidential Appointment to the Cybersecurity Legal Task Force (Member 2013-2020; Co-Chair 2020-2023)
• ABA - Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, (Chair 2008-20009; Member 1992- current)
• ABA - Section Science and Technology Law (Member)
• Ann Arbor SPARK (Member; Finance Committee)
• Walsh College Technology Advisory Board (2016-2018)
• ICLE's Technology Training Advisory Board (1998-2016)
• “Leader in the Law”, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2015)
• Ann Arbor New Enterprise Forum Board (2008-2013)
• Michigan League of Conservation Voters Board (2008-2013)
• "Top Michigan Women in Computing", Ann Arbor Chapter of American Women in Computing (2003)
• Technology Industry Leader, Crain's Detroit Business (2001)

Awards & Recognitions

Leader in the Law, Michigan Lawyer's Weekly 2015

The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law, 2013-2024; CleanTech Law, 2018-2024; Information Technology Law, 2018-2024; Privacy and Data Security Law, 2019-2024

DBusiness Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Energy Law, 2012-2013; Information Technology Law, 2012, 2014, 2017-2024; Information Management & Discovery Law, 2014, 2016-2018, 2022-2023; Environmental Law, 2016; Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2018 & 2019; Copyright Law, 2020-2021

American Women in Computing, Ann Arbor Chapter - named one of twenty "Top Michigan Women in Computing" (2003)

Crain's Detroit Business - only lawyer named as a Technology Industry Leader (2001)

Editor-in-Chief of the University of Detroit Law Review (1985-1986)

Michigan Super Lawyers, Technology Transactions, 2017-2023