Heidi Y. Echols is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP based in the Firm’s Chicago office. As a member of the Health Department, Heidi’s practice focuses on information technology (IT) transactions and counseling and privacy and security issues. Heidi is chair of the Firm’s Health Information Technology Affinity Group and a member of the Firm's e-Business Group. Heidi is also co-chair of the Firm’s new Electronic Data Management, Privacy and Discovery Group.
Her experience includes advising clients and negotiating and drafting agreements with respect to the acquisition, development, implementation, licensing, marketing, distribution and support of information technology. Heidi negotiates and drafts marketing, consulting and other services arrangements and agreements to protect trade secrets and other confidential information. Heidi’s practice includes providing legal counsel on technology ventures and day-to-day matters for companies in a broad range of industries, including health, financial, consulting and IT. Heidi also analyzes and advises clients with respect to electronic and digital signatures and online contracting issues and has experience in copyright and trademark prosecution.
Heidi also has substantial experience in analysis of privacy and security issues, including the privacy and security rules promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Gramm Leach Bliley Act. She drafts and negotiates agreements that comply with the requirements of HIPAA and the Gramm Leach Bliley Act for companies that are subject to each of these acts. Heidi also assists clients in corporate formation and start-up matters.
Heidi is co-chair of the American Health Lawyers Association Tech Licensing and IP Affinity Group, and is a member of AHLA’s Health Information Technology Practice Group and the American Bar Association. Heidi presented “Pragmatic (and Effective) Negotiation Strategies” at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s (HIMSS) 2007 Annual Conference & Exhibition.
She is admitted to practice in Illinois.
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, J.D. (with honors), 1999
- Saint Olaf College, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1996