Joe Brennan

Skilled Corporate, Technology and Data Governance Attorney | CIO / CCO | Board Member

Highland Park, Illinois, United States

About

Skilled Corporate/Technology attorney with hands-on experience as CIO and CCO. Trusted business partner and counsel to all levels of business leadership. Tenacious advocate with extensive experience in technology law, corporate governance (start-up and high growth), regulatory planning and compliance (federal, state, local), and global data/AI governance. Strategic board member to start-up and scale-up companies. • Industries: Technology; Enterprise Software; SaaS/PaaS; Telecommunications/IoT; Science; Not-For-Profit; Government; Education; Start-ups. • CIPP/US

Experience

  • Founder and Principal at MTL LLC - Digital, Technology and Business Law
    Oct 2013 - Present · 12 yrs 9 mos

    MTL provides a full palette of corporate, regulatory and general business legal services to clients ranging from early-stage start-ups to enterprise organizations. MTL combines pragmatic and innovative thinking with deep industry experience to assist clients in solving the complex problems that arise at the intersection of law, compliance and technology. Corporate formation | Software | Commercial Negotiations, Strategic Partnerships | Compliance/Legislative Matters | Strategic Transactions (M&A, Investments, etc.) | Telecommunications | Privacy/Data Security

  • Fractional General Counsel at Outside General Counsel
    Apr 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

    Outside General Counsel offers an outsourced legal function on a fractional basis focused on business outcomes, not billable hours. At Outside General Counsel, we redefine legal services for small and medium-sized businesses by offering a flexible, outsourced legal function that operates like an in-house team. Our mission is to provide strategic legal support that aligns with your business objectives, ensuring you achieve your long-term goals without the burden of unpredictable legal fees.

  • Board Member at Wire Pulse
    Jun 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 1 mo

  • Adjunct Professor at University of Illinois Chicago
    Aug 2025 - Dec 2025 · 5 mos

    I taught "Business Associations" law.

  • QualSights (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
    • Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
      Sep 2022 - Apr 2024 · 1 yr 8 mos

    • General Counsel (external)
      Mar 2022 - Sep 2022 · 7 mos