Prof. Lydia de la Torre is a dual-qualified attorney (U.S./EU) with extensive expertise in privacy, data protection, and artificial intelligence (AI). She has taught courses on these subjects at UC Davis School of Law, UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), and Santa Clara Law.

An international expert on data governance, Prof. de la Torre specializes in the European Union’s regulatory frameworks for data and AI. A prolific writer, Prof. de la Torre’s work has been published in both mainstream media and specialized legal and privacy-focused outlets. She is the co-editor of Golden Data, a Medium publication that explores developments in data law. She is also a sought-after speaker on topics such as AI regulation, data governance, and key privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

In 2021, Prof. de la Torre was appointed to the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) Board by California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins. She also contributed to the Prop 24 ballot campaign as a member of the Advisory Board of Californians for Consumer Privacy. The CPPA, established under the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA), is the first dedicated privacy regulatory agency in the United States. Prof. de la Torre stepped down from her role on the CPPA Board in March 2024.

Currently, Prof. de la Torre serves as of-counsel at Squire Patton Boggs and is the founding partner of Golden Data Law (GDL), a teaching law firm that mentors a diverse group of law students and recent graduates. GDL focuses on supporting not-for-profit organizations and fostering the development of ethical and accomplished legal professionals. GDL also provides a range of expert witness services, led by Prof. de la Torre with support from her team. These services include writing expert opinions and providing courtroom testimony from the discovery stage through trial. Prof. de la Torre began her legal career as a corporate and tax attorney at the Spanish law firm Garrigues.

After relocating to the United States, she earned an LL.M. in Intellectual Property (IP) from Santa Clara University School of Law. She served as the inaugural privacy fellow at Santa Clara Law from 2017 to 2019 and has built a distinguished career in data governance, having worked in the privacy law departments of pre-IPO and multinational tech organizations, as well as with leading law firms.