Overview
Richard advises multinationals and governments on complex information management and data privacy issues. He has worked on data related projects across the globe, including major cyber security incidents, large-scale privacy litigation, inquiries by regulators, contentious and large-scale subject access issues, online monitoring techniques, government access programs, data localisation and AI.
In addition, Richard advises on complex technology contracts, including large scale cloud digital development and related services contracts in both contentious and non-contentious environments.
Richard splits his time between London and Dublin, and has advised on privacy, information governance and digital transactions in more than half of the firm’s offices around the world. He also works closely with the firm’s leading Corporate lawyers on technology and separation issues associated with corporate transactions. He is ranked by both Legal 500 and Chambers as in the first tier of UK privacy and data lawyers, and leads our top ranked UK team.
Experience
Richard has worked with key clients on a wide range of privacy, data protection, new technology and tech transactions. These include advising:
- A major online entertainment platform in a series of investigations in the UK and Ireland, including its response to the Irish privacy regulator’s inquiry into data transfers outside Europe (including successful stay and appeal proceedings).
- A major social media platform in privacy and AI related investigations in the UK, France, Italy and Ireland, including having findings successfully withdrawn in relation to the use of wearable tech.
- Major cyber incidents involving tens of millions of individuals across multiple geographies, including in the tech, logistics, managed services, entertainment, retail and hotel sectors. The vast majority of those are not in the public domain, but include some of the most high profile incidents in the Middle East, Europe and the UK over the last decade.
- The UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, on a scheme to provide emergency cash aid to 5,000 displaced Ukrainians using a dollar-equivalent cryptocurrency. Refugees were able to exchange the funds for cash via a digital wallet on their smartphones. The work involved contracts to ensure the tech was secure and that anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing protocols were followed. This transaction was highly commended in the FT’s Innovative Lawyer Awards.
- Experian on its successful defence in the UK courts of the UK privacy regulator’s investigation into its marketing services business.
- News International on the fallout from the high-profile telephone hacking proceedings and inquiries.
- Adecco, Deloitte, KPMG, Hyatt Hotels, Sainsbury’s, UBS and Walt Disney and numerous others on domestic and international data protection and information governance projects, including the implementation of GDPR compliance programs and binding corporate/processor rules.
- a consortium of global banks on the development and roll out of blockchain technology for use as a utility settlement coin.
- Numerous technology services deals, including for Belron (the Autoglass business) with Oracle and Salesforce), John Lewis with New Day and Sainsbury’s with TCS.
- Global Media on its contract with Transport for London (TfL) for outdoor advertising on the London Underground, one of the largest outdoor advertising contracts in the world.
- The Royal Free Hospital on the UK Information Commissioner’s investigation into, and audit of, the use of Google DeepMind’s artificial intelligence technology, resulting in a final confirmation of compliance by the ICO.
Admissions