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Elvia Patricia Gastelo is an immigrant, a Latina, a lawyer, and a globally minded leader. The director and assistant general counsel for privacy and data at Dollar Tree Stores has amassed an incredible résumé in her legal career. Gastelo has worked with US federal agencies and top multinational law firms, counseled startups and foreign government regulators, managed teams in Europe and Latin America, and served as the US head of compliance and data protection officer for the fourth-largest retailer in the world.
Gastelo’s expertise spans a wide and diverse array of legal sectors, including privacy and security, antitrust, intellectual property, international transactions, and white-collar criminal. She has litigated at the state and federal levels, worked on global mergers and investigations, and represented the US government in precedent-setting cases and negotiations. She has appeared on Univision, Telemundo, and CNN en Español as an expert on antitrust and consumer protection.
While serving at the Northeast regional office of the US Federal Trade Commission, Gastelo secured millions in redress for Hispanic consumers after leading her trial team in a complex and challenging case in federal court in California.
None of these accomplishments would have been possible had Gastelo’s parents not made the difficult and life-changing decision to leave Peru when she was only ten. Gastelo’s parents loved their country, but terrorism and the related socioeconomic crisis destined them for a new beginning in New York City.
“My parents’ courage taught me to value sacrifice, commitment, and perseverance,” Gastelo explains. “Those attributes have marked the development of my personal and professional life.”
Privacy Matters
Gastelo’s career is still breaking new ground. She is Dollar Tree’s first in-house privacy and cybersecurity attorney. She says that given the proliferation of data privacy laws and the rapid advancements in information technology and its deployment by companies, in-house privacy lawyers need to learn the intricacies of a company’s data ecosystem, adopt a global understanding of data flows, and focus closely on departments handling consumer and employee data.
“You cannot do any of this without learning the business and forging working relationships that are pivotal for developing a strong privacy program,” Gastelo says. Since arriving at Dollar Tree, she has built cross-functional partnerships and helped guide the business through the ever-changing privacy legal landscape.
As Dollar Tree’s first director and assistant general counsel for privacy and data, Gastelo is the architect of its evolving privacy compliance program, leading its rapid expansion and implementation across the multinational enterprise.
“It is an exhilarating time to be in this field [of privacy law].”
Elvia Patricia Gastelo
She says a good privacy compliance program starts from the top down. “When corporate leadership values privacy, as Dollar Tree’s does, the commitment resonates throughout the company.” She explains that gaining buy-in is crucial. She has found success by highlighting all the benefits of a strong privacy program.
Gastelo is also deep into the weeds of AI. She supports Dollar Tree’s efforts to integrate AI tools in a legally compliant manner that aligns with the company’s strategic goals and industry standards. Reflecting on the passage of Colorado’s AI Act and the various regulatory guidance being issued—especially from the Federal Trade Commission—she is excited to play a role in the future of AI governance in the United States.
“Privacy lawyers are well poised to deal with all these issues and to lead AI governance programs,” she explains. “They benefit from the experience of building and implementing privacy program frameworks. It is an exhilarating time to be in this field.”
Finding Your Community
As a Latina, Gastelo has often been one of the few Hispanic attorneys in her field of law. While she does not consider herself a trailblazer, she acknowledges she always felt a great responsibility to represent her community and excel.
She could not have done it alone. She is grateful to have found influential mentors in two organizations that have been constants in her career: the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia. Gastelo considers the friends she has made through both organizations to be part of her family.
As a director and assistant general counsel-level attorney, Gastelo encourages first-generation and immigrant attorneys to build a network with those who know firsthand the challenges of building a life from scratch in the US.
“Find those whose career you would like to emulate and ask for their counsel,” Gastelo advises. “Learn from their story and do not be afraid to get involved in organizations that support your dreams.”
Gastelo has become the same kind of mentor she has encountered throughout her career. She serves as an advocate and counselor for many students and young professionals and says there is no better feeling than helping someone else reach their dreams.
It is difficult to summarize a career as rich as Gastelo’s. She has accomplished so much in so many fields, effectively having a multitude of law careers in one lifetime. But it is not about prestige or honors for the lawyer. What guides her, then?
“My faith in God, my family, and my commitment to service,” Gastelo says simply.
A ten-year-old from Peru made it in New York City—and, as the song goes, she has made it everywhere.
BCLP:
“At BCLP we are privileged to work alongside Elvia, whose exceptional ability and visionary leadership set such a high standard in the field for those she mentors and leads. Elvia’s expertise in navigating complex privacy issues is nothing short of extraordinary, and we are proud to celebrate her many well-deserved accolades.”
“Elvia is a remarkably skilled attorney and an inspiring leader who excels in navigating the rapidly changing challenges in the retail industry, especially in privacy. We are grateful for our partnership and thrilled to celebrate her many well-deserved successes,” said MVA Privacy and Data Security Team co-head Karin McGinnis.
Member Marcus Lee echoes these sentiments, noting that Elvia “is fiercely committed to her craft, her colleagues, and her company’s business objectives.” Further, “she is poised and personable, and demonstrates an intrinsic ability to think on her feet while at the same time balancing stakeholder interests and mitigating potential risk.”
