Overview
For Molly Arranz, being a lawyer is about being an advocate. Growing up, she witnessed legal challenges her father faced while he ran his own, small business—issues that resulted from his not finding necessary legal assistance for his company’s needs. Her decision to go to law school stemmed from her desire to address this gap and provide legal support for businesses like the one her father owned.
Molly is the chair of SmithAmundsen’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Service Group. She is a certified privacy professional (CIPP-US) and a recognized Privacy Law Specialist by the American Bar Association. Molly regularly advises companies about how to protect against, and respond to, cyber and privacy invasions, and has provided compliance counseling to a global provider of cloud services. Molly also counsels clients on compliance considerations involving consumer protection regulations, data privacy practices, notification and consent requirements, including the requirements of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (BIPA), and advertising regulations.
Molly is a partner in the firm’s Class Action Service Group. She has defended more than 80 class actions involving a range of legal theories, including privacy violations, consumer fraud, breach of contract, breach of warranty and misrepresentation. She defends clients in claims arising from BIPA, the Fair & Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, and RCRA. She represents a wide variety of companies from small family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
In her career, Molly has also defended more than 75 mass tort cases involving claims arising from allegations of exposure to asbestos, silica and benzene.
Molly litigates in federal and state courts throughout the country. She briefed and then argued issues of statutory construction in front of the 11th Circuit, in a class action arising out of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Federal Communication Commission regulations. In another class action arising from consumer claims, she first defeated class certification and then tried the case to a defense verdict. Thereafter, she briefed, argued and won the appeal before the D.C. Court of Appeals.
Outside of practicing law, Molly participates in community, school and church organizations. An avid sports fan, she has volunteered at her daughter’s school as an assistant basketball coach and is currently part of a women’s league north of the city.
Experience
Membership & Involvement
- Member: International Association of Privacy Professionals; American Bar Association; Wisconsin Bar Association
- Former Co-Chair: SmithAmundsen Committee for Diversity and Inclusion
Court Admissions: Illinois; Wisconsin; U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals Eleventh Circuit; U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan; and, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Pro Hac Vice Admissions: Florida; Indiana; Arizona; District of Columbia; U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri; U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina; and, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Honors
- Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers List: 2021, 2022
- Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers List of Rising Stars: 2011, 2013
Resources & Insights
In the Media
Alerts
Speaking Engagements
Published Works
Blog Posts
Education on Demand
The Biometric Illinois Privacy Act (BIPA) was enacted over 12 years ago and many questions are still being battled in court as employers and employees continue to navigate this biometric privacy law.
Firm News
- Ransomware and Other Cyber-Related IssuesRansomware and Other Cyber-Related Issues
All companies have data that threat actors find attractive. No entity can think they are immune to a cyber attack.
- Top 5 Cyber Security Threats the Manufacturing Industry Should Watch in 2022Top 5 Cyber Security Threats the Manufacturing Industry Should Watch in 2022
Companies continue to see headlines about cyberattacks, but manufacturing companies, specifically, have become more targeted in the last few years.
- 35 SmithAmundsen Attorneys Included on 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists35 SmithAmundsen Attorneys Included on 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Congratulations to all of our attorneys named to the 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and 2022 Illinois Rising Stars lists!
- Cyber Threat Actors Have their Eyes on the Construction IndustryCyber Threat Actors Have their Eyes on the Construction Industry
It is not if, but when. Though construction companies—especially smaller ones—may believe it won’t happen to them, more and more companies have suffered or will suffer a “data incident” or cyber-attack in some form.
Services
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D.
Marquette University, B.A., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa
Certified Privacy Professional (CIPP-US)
Admissions
- Illinois
- Wisconsin