MICHAEL COLE

Mike Cole is Managing Counsel at Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North American, headquartered in Silicon Valley. Mike has 10 years of experience as a privacy, data, and cybersecurity attorney, including 9 years of in-house experience where he built and lead a multinational privacy and data program from the ground up. Mike collaborates with business and engineering teams to navigate complex legal landscapes surrounding privacy and data to achieve creative solutions that reduce legal risk, increase customer trust and maintain ethical integrity. These solutions cover topics ranging from artificial intelligence, new products and services, US/EU data transfers and use, eCommerce, open source software, to mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures.

Prior to joining Mercedes-Benz, Mike spent over 8 years with Hagerty, Inc., a publicly traded automotive enthusiast company with global operations. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree from Albion College and his Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University College of law. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and Michigan.