Laura O'Brien

Laura is Access Now’s Senior International Counsel, where she advances international law and norms on technology and cyber at international organizations, particularly the United Nations (UN). Laura represents Access Now on the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) Advisory Network, and the previous FOC Task Force on Internet Shutdowns, which Access Now co-chaired with the Global Network Initiative, the United States (2022), and the United Kingdom (2023-2024). In 2024, Laura was appointed as an expert to the UN Universal Safeguards for Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure where she subsequently served as a co-chair to an internal working group.

She is a licensed barrister and solicitor with the Law Society of Ontario. Laura holds an LLM from Columbia Law School, a JD from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, an MA from the University of Kent Brussels School of International Studies, and a BA from King’s University College at Western University.

Laura is a former ballet dancer, avid matcha drinker, and enjoys yoga, art, and photography.