POTOMAC, MD, March 17, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Karen Lee Lust has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Ms. Lust currently serves as associate general counsel of privacy for products at Meta, a position she has held since 2021. In this capacity, she has been responsible for overall data privacy compliance for new launches and existing products across the company's central products, research platforms, and communication platforms, including Messenger, Messenger Kids, chat functionality and generative AI features on Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp. She supervises a team of lawyers dedicated to separate workstreams managing data compliance for her product portfolio. Both internally and externally at Meta, she is recognized as an expert in data privacy, a distinction underscored by her leadership in developing data privacy compliance for cutting edge, innovative artificial intelligence products.

Prior to joining Meta, Ms. Lust was a partner at Reed Smith LLP in 2021. During her career path to partnership, she recognized the overall underrepresentation of women in leadership roles across large law firms generally - while also personally navigating the challenges of raising two children with simultaneous demands of billable-hour requirements within Biglaw. Motivated by these experiences, she led the firm's internal network for working mothers, expanding the program to encompass support for all working parents. This initiative provided practical guidance and strategies for individuals returning to work after a leave of absence, helping them manage uncertainty and navigate professional challenges during a delicate period of readjustment - with a goal of building community within the legal profession, supporting colleagues in achieving fulfillment and balance as working parents.

From 2011 to 2021, Ms. Lust served as counsel and associate at Reed Smith LLP. Her responsibilities included complex litigation and regulatory matters, where she further honed her expertise in privacy law and compliance. She also contributed significantly to pro bono work during this period, with a particular focus on domestic abuse cases and court representation—areas she cites as her favorite pro bono matters. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she received the Sean Halpin Award from Reed Smith LLP in 2019.

Ms. Lust was an associate at K&L Gates LLP from 2008 to 2011, where she gained foundational experience in litigation and regulatory compliance. In 2007, she served as a legal extern at the National Futures Association and as a law clerk in the criminal division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, gaining valuable exposure to both regulatory frameworks and judicial processes. Her early professional journey included roles as a capital markets paralegal at McKee Nelson LLP from 2005 to 2006 and as a litigation legal assistant at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC from 2004 to 2005.

Ms. Lust's academic background has been instrumental in shaping her career trajectory. She earned a Juris Doctor cum laude from the College of Law at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2009, where rigorous coursework prepared her for the complexities of privacy law and compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Science in international business from the University of Maryland, awarded in 2004, which provided her with a global perspective essential for navigating multinational regulatory environments.

Her commitment to professional development is further demonstrated by her certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals: certified information privacy professional - United States and certified information privacy professional - Europe. These credentials have reinforced Ms. Lust's expertise in both domestic and international privacy regulations.

Ms. Lust is actively engaged with several industry-related organizations. She has been a fellow with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity since 2021 and is co-founder and executive committee member of the E-Discovery Roundtable of DC since 2015. Additionally, she is affiliated with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

Her dedication extends beyond her professional obligations through extensive civic involvement. Since 2018, she has served as a pro bono legal assistant for Kids in Need of Defense. She has mentored emerging legal professionals through the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity since 2009 and previously volunteered with Chelsea's Light Foundation from 2015 to 2021. Ms. Lust's commitment to immigrant rights was evident during her time as a pro bono volunteer attorney for Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition (now Amica Center) from 2015 to 2016. Earlier contributions include serving as a pro bono legal assistant for Neighborhood Legal Services from 2010 to 2013 and mentoring youth through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America from 2010 to 2012.

Outside of her professional commitments, Ms. Lust enjoys baking and cherishes spending time with her family and children. Looking ahead, she aims to remain an expert at the intersection of data privacy and artificial intelligence while upholding her values by working diligently and being present for her family.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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