Charlyn Ho, Founder and Managing Partner

Charlyn is a seasoned deal lawyer who brings a wealth of experience from the business and legal worlds into her practice.

Prior to launching Rikka Law, Charlyn was a partner in the Technology Transactions & Privacy Group at Perkins Coie, one of the largest law firms in the United States. Before Perkins Coie, Charlyn was an associate at Arent Fox and Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

Charlyn has deep experience in drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including strategic partnerships, cloud service agreements, data licensing and other technology agreements. She counsels clients on privacy and data issues. She has particular expertise in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), virtual reality (VR)/ augmented reality (AR)/ immersive reality (XR), cloud services, blockchain, digital identity, and the Internet of Things.

    • Represented a leading mobile phone manufacturer in its global product launch and negotiated contracts with carriers around the world

    • Worked closely with a large aerospace defense company to streamline its master services agreement, incorporating industry best practices

    • Drafted and negotiated intellectual property agreements for a major virtual reality company that required navigating complex government use rights

    • Represented industry-leading retailer in licensing of innovative payment processing and biometric sensor technology to evaluate consumer behavior in stores

    • Represented global technology company to develop overarching privacy strategy

    • Provided privacy and data security counseling, including on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), and other privacy law guidance, for multiple startups

    • Counseled major health, home, and nutrition company on legal requirements following a data breach incident, including providing legally required notifications

    • Provided product counsel to a multinational internet company on projects launched by its internal startup incubator

    • Advised on data privacy strategy for company to launch cancer diagnostic test protocol using AI/ML

    • Counseled numerous clients such as social networking platforms, healthcare providers, fintech companies, and other technology companies to launch new tech products

    • Represented blockchain company in development of privacy-preserving method of advertising delivery and monetizing data

    • Advised creative applications developer and leading sports franchise on strategy to mint, sell, and buy NFTs

    • Advised film company on image-use rights and guidelines for minting nonfungible tokens (NFTs) in connection with film production

    • Negotiated marketing, publisher, advertiser, SSP, DSP and other adtech agreements for one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world

    • Provided strategic counseling and privacy advice to leading adtech exchange

    • Seconded to Amazon in their adtech team

    • Seconded to Microsoft in their Developer Tools Division

    • Seconded to Meta in their Internet.Org group

    • Seconded to Magic Leap in their in-house legal department

    • Seconded to Sony PlayStation’s technology transactions group

  • Prior to being a lawyer, Charlyn served six years as an active duty Navy Supply Corps officer. During her time in the Navy, Charlyn was stationed at Naval Reactors where she was responsible for negotiating billions of dollars of federal contracts for nuclear-powered aircraft carrier refueling and overhaul projects.

  • Charlyn is a graduate of Harvard Business School, the Georgetown University Law Center, and the University of Pennsylvania (dual degree from the Wharton School and the College of Arts & Sciences).

  • Charlyn is a member of the Washington, DC and New York bars.

  • Outside of work, Charlyn enjoys spending time with her partner, Jake, and their three cats and dog, volunteering at the animal shelter, playing polo, practicing Brazilian jujitsu and being outdoors.