Karen Schuler

Karen is the BDO Principal leading the Global Privacy & Data Protection business line. With over 30 years of experience, she has built and managed organizations specializing in investigations and data protection services. She is recognized nationwide, having testified in various legal settings and assisting clients in negotiating privacy fines.

As the Data Protection Officer (DPO) for Global 100 and high-profile organizations, Karen collaborates with clients, legal counsel, and Data Protection Authorities on inquiries and complaints. Under her leadership, BDO developed the first Data Protection Managed Services offering and established the BDO Data Protection Academy, training professionals in over 100 countries.

Karen's team advises Global 500 and mid-market companies on implementing privacy measures from the design phase, investigating data leaks, managing 24x7 data subject request centers, and deploying privacy technologies. As the founder of one of the first digital forensics consulting firms in the 1990s, Karen became a thought leader and expert witness in digital forensics and e-discovery. Before joining BDO, she held senior consulting and board positions and served as a Senior Forensic Examiner for the SEC, investigating significant data breaches.