Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

On December 9, 2022, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP London senior consultant attorney Rosemary Jay received the 2022 PICCASO Privacy Award for Achievement in recognition of her longstanding contributions to the data privacy industry.

Hunton Andrews Kurth is pleased to announce the release of Sweet & Maxwell’s fifth edition of Data Protection Law and Practice, written by Rosemary Jay, Hunton Andrews Kurth’s senior consultant attorney. This edition has been re-written to provide a thorough review of the current state of data protection law in the UK, along with details of relevant background context.

On July 18, 2017, the European Union Committee of the UK’s House of Lords published its paper, Brexit: the EU data protection package (the “Paper”). The Paper urges the UK government to make good on its stated aim of maintaining unhindered and uninterrupted data flows between the UK and EU after Brexit, and examines the options available to ensure that this occurs. It warns that data flows have become so valuable to cross-border business that failure to establish an adequate framework could hamper EU-UK trade.

On March 1, 2017, Hunton & Williams senior consultant attorney Rosemary Jay presented evidence on the data protection reform package and the impact of Brexit to the UK Parliament’s House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee meeting. 

On February 21, 2017, Sweet & Maxwell published a Guide to the General Data Protection Regulation, written by Hunton & Williams senior consultant attorney Rosemary Jay. The book was released as a companion to Data Protection Law and Practice.

Hunton & Williams LLP announces the firm’s Global Privacy and Cybersecurity practice was again recognized by Chambers UK 2016 and The Legal 500 UK 2015 guides, earning Tier 1 rankings. Chambers UK noted that the practice has a “superbly strong bench of highly experienced counsel adept at advising on the most complex of information law concerns. Particularly accomplished in guiding clients through the privacy implications of new technologies, international data transfers, and BCR applications and implementations.” Additionally, the firm’s European data protection practice leaders are recognized in the “Star” and “Senior Statesman” categories by Chambers UK, the highest categories of rankings. Bridget Treacy, head of the firm’s UK Privacy and Cybersecurity practice, and senior attorney consultant Rosemary Jay, received the top honors of “Star” individuals for data protection. Richard Thomas, formerly the UK Information Commissioner and the firm’s global strategy advisor, was again recognized as a “Senior Statesman.”

Hunton & Williams proudly announces that the firm was ranked in Tier 1 in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2015 guide for data protection. Bridget Treacy, head of the firm’s UK Privacy and Cybersecurity practice, and Rosemary Jay, senior consultant attorney, both received recognition as leading individuals for data protection.

On October 15 and 16, 2015, Hunton & Williams is pleased to sponsor PDP’s 14th Annual Data Protection Compliance Conference in London. Bridget Treacy, Head of the UK Privacy and Cybersecurity practice at Hunton & Williams, chairs the conference, which features speakers from the data protection industry, including Christopher Graham, UK Information Commissioner, and Rosemary Jay, senior consultant attorney at Hunton & Williams.

Hunton & Williams LLP announces the firm’s Global Privacy and Cybersecurity practice was again ranked in Tier 1 by Chambers & Partners in their 2015 Global and USA guides. Over the last eight years, the firm has been recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers UK and Chambers USA as a Tier 1 firm for privacy and data protection. As noted by Chambers USA, the practice lawyers “have established themselves as real leaders in this area.”

This week, the Article 29 Working Party (“Working Party”) prepares to debate various proposals on the “one-stop-shop” mechanism under the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation (“Regulation”). Hunton & Williams’ Global Privacy and Cybersecurity practice and its Centre for Information Policy Leadership submitted a strategy paper on the one-stop-shop to the Working Party. The paper proposes a methodology for selecting and defining the role of a lead regulatory authority with the objective of making the one-stop-shop more operational, flexible and viable. The work draws on a more detailed article published on November 3, 2014, by Hunton & Williams senior attorney Rosemary Jay in the magazine for the Society for Computers and Law, entitled The “One Stop Shop” – Working in Practice.

Senior Attorney Rosemary Jay reports from London:

On June 25, 2013, Advocate-General Jääskinen of the European Court of Justice (“ECJ”) delivered his Opinion in Google Spain S.L. and Google Inc. v Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (Case C-131/12, “Google v AEPD” or the “case”).

The case concerns Google Search results, and whether individuals have a right to erasure of search result links about them. The Opinion concludes that under current law, individuals have no such right. The European Commission’s proposed General Data Protection Regulation (the “Proposed Regulation”) would introduce a right to be forgotten. However, this Opinion appears to demonstrate unease with the basic concept of such a right.

On June 5, 2013, Hunton & Williams hosted a seminar in the firm’s London office: Tracking the Draft EU Regulation ̶ General Update and the Concept of the “One-Stop Shop.” Bridget Treacy, Rosemary Jay and Tim Hickman of Hunton & Williams gave a presentation on the operation and effects of the “consistency mechanism” to be introduced in the proposed General Data Protection Regulation. The June 5 update was the most recent in Hunton & Williams’ ongoing series of Executive Briefings on the Proposed Regulation. The consistency mechanism is intended to ensure that, once the ...

Hunton & Williams LLP is pleased to announce the firm’s global Privacy and Data Security practice again ranked in “Band 1” in 2013 Chambers USA, Chambers Global and Chambers UK.

Global practice group leader Lisa Sotto, who was recently named among The National Law Journal’s “The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America,” was recognized in Chambers USA as a “Star” performer, the guide’s highest ranking. Sotto was the only privacy lawyer in the U.S. to receive this distinguished ranking. In the same guide, New York partner Aaron Simpson was highlighted for his notable work in advising on global privacy and data security matters.

On January 28, 2013, the London office of Hunton & Williams marked European Data Privacy Day with the launch of the fourth edition of Data Protection Law & Practice, written by Senior Attorney Rosemary Jay. A panel comprised of the current UK Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham; his three predecessors, Eric Howe CBE, Elizabeth France CBE and Richard Thomas CBE; and the UK Minister of State for Justice, Lord McNally, spoke at the event and provided a retrospective on data protection in the United Kingdom since the Information Commissioner’s Office’s (“ICO’s”) inception in 1984.

On January 28, 2013, European Data Privacy Day, the London office of Hunton & Williams hosted the launch of senior attorney Rosemary Jay’s fourth edition book, Data Protection Law & Practice, by publisher Sweet & Maxwell.

Hunton & Williams is pleased to announce the firm maintained its top-tier “Band 1” ranking in Data Protection in the 2013 edition of Chambers UK. Our London-based principals also maintained their high rankings as leading Data Protection lawyers:

• Bridget Treacy, managing partner of the firm’s London office and head of the UK Privacy and Data Security practice, was ranked as a “Star Individual.”
• Richard Thomas, Global Strategy Advisor to the Centre for Information Policy Leadership at Hunton & Williams LLP, was ranked as a “Senior Statesman.”
• Rosemary Jay, a senior ...

Hunton & Williams LLP is pleased to announce that five attorneys of the firm’s Privacy and Data Security practice group have been named as “The International Who’s Who of Internet, E-Commerce & Data Protection Lawyers” in 2012. They include partners Lisa J. Sotto, Wim Nauwelaerts and Bridget Treacy, Senior Attorney Rosemary Jay and Associate Dr. Jörg Hladjk. Who’s Who notes that “[t]he ‘cross-disciplinary’ and ‘client-focused’ Hunton & Williams LLP performs well, with a total of five lawyers selected from its ‘sophisticated’ IT and data protection ...

Join Hunton & Williams at the 2012 Europe Data Protection Intensive, now hosted by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (“IAPP”) in London, April 25-26, 2012. Hunton & Williams privacy professionals will be featured speakers in the following sessions:

On February 7, 2012, the UK Ministry of Justice launched its Call for Evidence on the European Commission’s proposed general data protection regulation and criminal justice data protection directive (the “Proposals”). The Ministry is looking to gain perspective and solicit feedback on how the Proposals likely would impact organizations and individuals in the UK.

On January 12, 2012, Hunton & Williams hosted an hour-long webinar on the current enforcement environment in the U.S. and EU. The webinar, Current Trends in Global Privacy Enforcement, covered issues ranging from the Federal Trade Commission’s tougher approach to investigations to increased monitoring of corporate privacy practices by European data protection authorities. Hunton & Williams speakers included Lisa J. Sotto, partner and head of the Global Privacy and Data Security practice, London partner Bridget Treacy, London senior attorney Rosemary Jay and Brussels ...