This month, we’re excited to feature Maria Castro, the Founder and Principal Attorney of CastroLand Legal, combining advanced legal expertise with first-hand business experience. She holds a Masters of Law (LL.M.) degree in Cybersecurity Law from the University of Texas, with a focus on data privacy, cybersecurity, business law, corporate compliance, and emerging technologies. Maria’s legal expertise includes areas such as: regulatory compliance, licensing, cybersecurity and data protection (including breach response), governance and risk management (including corporate resilience strategies and AI governance). 

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1. What first sparked your interest in cybersecurity law, and how did you begin to bridge the gap between law, regulations, and technology?

I first got interested in cybersecurity law when I noticed how fast technology was changing the way we work and live and how the rules didn’t always keep up. I saw that even companies trying to do the right thing could run into trouble if they didn’t fully understand the risks or the regulations. That’s when I decided to focus on cybersecurity and compliance. I wanted to translate complicated tech terms and online dangers into clear legal advice that follows the rules and keeps people and businesses safe.

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2. In your journey from traditional legal practice to leading digital risk and governance initiatives, what challenges pushed you to grow the most, and how did you build confidence working across such varied disciplines?

The hardest part was realizing that I wasn’t going to know everything right away, especially in technology where things change so fast. I had to get comfortable asking the right questions, learning from people who knew more about certain topics, and always keeping up with new information with continuous learning. What really built my confidence was leaning into what I did know: how to explain risks in clear legal terms, how to set up strong rules and processes, and how to communicate well with all kinds of people - from engineers to executives.

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3. Can you walk us through the work that you do, and how your role supports businesses navigating legal, cybersecurity, and operational challenges?

At CastroLand Legal, we help businesses - big and small - understand and manage their legal and technology risks so they can stay safe and keep growing. That means making sure they follow privacy rules, creating clear internal policies, getting them ready for cybersecurity audits, and guiding them if something goes wrong so that there isn’t a negative impact to their reputation or operations. We also act as trusted partners, like with Crimson Vista, helping to build a compliance culture that doesn’t just “tick the boxes” but actually drives their security and growth.

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4. After serving as General Counsel, you recently opened your own legal practice. What guiding principles or philosophies have shaped your approach to growing and developing your career over the years?

My main rule has always been that honesty and doing excellent work are non-negotiable. I would never give up my integrity just to get a client or make a deal. I’ve also learned that good legal advice is about finding smart, safe ways to help people reach their goals without holding back their ideas or progress. I deeply believe in lifelong learning and development – law, technology, and business never stand still, and as advisors, neither should we.

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5. For someone who’s interested in doing the kind of work you do - combining law, cybersecurity, and business - how does one get started? What skills or experiences are most important to build early on to get started and succeed in this field?

My advice is: don’t limit yourself to studying law alone. Understand how businesses work, learn basic technology concepts (like networks, information systems, and data management), and develop strong strategic communication skills. Try to join projects that mix different fields, like compliance, risk management, or improving digital systems – even if it feels confusing at first, the experience will pay off.  And above all, stay curious and adaptable, because the intersection of law, technology, and business is a space that will be constantly evolving.