Claire O'Brien
- Greensboro
- t: 336.271.3141
- f: 336.232.9141
- cobrien@brookspierce.com
Overview
Claire O’Brien is a trusted strategic advisor to health care entities and professionals on regulatory compliance, data privacy, and AI governance issues.
My Practices
Claire counsels clients on a wide range of health care issues, with an emphasis on compliance with federal and state law, including HIPAA, FERPA, Stark, the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and professional licensing rules. She regularly advises on privacy incidents, internal and government investigations, employment matters, contracting, governance, and health care-related corporate transactions. She also helps clients navigate licensing concerns involving the North Carolina Medical Board, North Carolina Board of Nursing, and the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners.
Claire is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and one of the Brooks Pierce Artificial Intelligence (AI) Team leaders. She regularly provides expert counsel on data privacy, AI governance, AI-related contracting, and other compliance considerations arising from emerging technologies.
Having formerly practiced with a large international law firm in Washington, D.C., Claire has experience preparing public comments and petitions related to complex federal agency rulemakings and guidance documents. She frequently publishes and speaks on matters related to the health care industry, data privacy, and AI.
Credentials
Clerkships
Law Clerk to the Honorable Liam O'Grady, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2017-18
Honors & Recognitions
Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© "Ones to Watch" for Health Care Law (2026)
Recognized as one of the Triad Business Journal's "40 Leaders Under 40" (2026)
Greensboro Bar Association Herb Falk Society Pro Bono Award
Recognized by the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division as the Young Lawyer of the Quarter (October - December 2020)
Education
University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., 2016, high honors; Order of the Coif; Gressman-Pollitt Award for Outstanding Oral Advocacy; Comments Editor, North Carolina Law Review, Top Grade in Class: Health Law Organization, Regulation, and Finance (2015)
Wake Forest University, B.A., 2011, magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
Certifications
Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), 2026
Admissions
District of Columbia
North Carolina
Newsroom
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Professional & Civic
Professional & Civic Activities
Council Member, Health Law Section, North Carolina Bar Association (2024-present)
Member, Joseph Branch Inn of Court (2023-present)
Member, North Carolina Society of Health Care Attorneys (2023-present)
Board Member, Partners Ending Homelessness (2022-2025)
Board Member, Greensboro Beautiful
Member, American Health Law Association
Member, North Carolina Bar Association
Member, Young Lawyers Division, North Carolina Bar Association (2020-present)