Ashley Hurst  is a commercial litigator and solicitor-advocate with a particular specialism in disputes relating to the internet, data, and reputation. He is also Osborne Clarke's International Head of Tech, Media and Comms.

His wide-ranging practice covers all sides of the media and internet spectrum, acting for broadcasters, publishers, content owners, website operators and internet intermediaries on a broad range of commercial and content-related disputes, investigations and risks. He is a recognised expert in data privacy and cyber security and is the first port of call for many international companies for cyber incident response and data protection litigation.

Bojana Bellamy is the President of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP's Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL), a preeminent global information policy think tank located in Washington, DC, London and Brussels. At CIPL, Bojana works with global business and technology leaders, regulators, policy and law makers to shape global data policy and practice and develop thought leadership and best practices for responsible and trusted use of data in the 4th Industrial Revolution. With more than 25 years of experience and deep knowledge of global data privacy and cybersecurity law, compliance and policy, Bojana has a proven industry record in designing strategy, and building and managing data privacy compliance programs. She was one of 20 privacy experts to participate in the transatlantic "Privacy Bridge Project" from 2014-2015 that sought to develop practical solutions to bridge the gap between European and US privacy regimes.

Bridget Treacy leads the UK Privacy and Cybersecurity practice at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.  Her practice focuses on all aspects of privacy, data protection, information governance and e-commerce issues for multinational companies across a broad range of industry sectors. Bridget's background in complex technology transactions (including wide-ranging experience of advising on outsourcing agreements, strategic alliances and other collaborative arrangements with a technology focus) enable her to advise on the specific data protection and information governance issues that occur in a commercial context.  Bridget is the Editor of Privacy & Data Protection journal.

Damien Welfare came to the Bar in 2001 after a career in Local Government. He specialises in freedom of information, data protection and the Environmental Information Regulations. He appears in the Information Tribunal, advises on all aspects of information law, and speaks and writes regularly on information law matters.

Damien is a member of the Editorial Board of Privacy & Data Protection Journal, and is a Member of the Examination Board for the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection

David Dumont is an associate in the firm’s European data protection and privacy practice. He advises multinational clients on a range of EU data protection and privacy issues, including employee privacy issues (e.g., CCTV, whistleblowing hotlines and employee monitoring), pharmaceutical and medical privacy, international data transfer strategies and other data protection compliance issues.

Ellis Parry is Director at Data Privacy Compliance Solutions having previously work as Data Ethics Advisor at the ICO. He started his career as a solicitor in private practice, after gaining his MBA, before joining AstraZeneca pharmaceuticals in 2001 as a specialist IT lawyer. Ellis became AstraZeneca's Global Privacy Officer in 2005, leaving to join BP as its Global Lead for Data Privacy in 2010. At BP Ellis was responsible for devising and implementing BP's global approach to personal information handling, including the maintenance of BP's Binding Corporate Rules.

 

Glen Hymers is Head of Data Privacy and Compliance at the UK Cabinet Office. Having started his career in the RAF Police, Glen began his journey into the private sector with Fujitsu Defence and National Security as their Head of Operational Security & Risk Management, before moving to Sopra Steria as Head of Operational Security for Government accounts.

In 2016 he moved to the Prince’s Trust taking up the role of Chief Security and Risk Officer as well as being appointed as the DPO in 2017.  After a successful tenure at The Prince’s Trust during which he introduced both GDPR and Cyber Essentials Plus at the organisation he moved to Save The Children International where he was the Global Chief Information Security Officer and Head of Data Protection for this massive international charity and NGO.  In May 2021 he moved to the Cabinet Office where he is the Head of Data Privacy and Compliance.

John Fitzsimons is a barrister at Cornerstone Chambers. He has particular expertise in data protection and information law. He regularly advises clients on a wide range of GDPR and FOI issues and has particular experience in rectification requests. John was instructed to advise and assist the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on various issues arising in respect of the Data Protection Bill 2018. As a result, he has subsequently been instructed to provide assistance in relation to the Data Protection Act 2018, including assisting with the implementation of changes to the Data Protection Act 2018 that will be necessitated by Brexit. His trial experience in this area includes a four day multi-track trial involving a long running damages claim against a public body for alleged breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998.

John Wilson has worked as an information professional for over 35 years and since 1994 he has worked as an independent trainer and consultant specialising in information management with particular emphasis on knowledge sharing, document and records management, indexing and taxonomy.

John has developed and delivered many training courses on information and records management in Europe and the Middle East. He has undertaken consultancy projects for clients in a wide range of sectors including central and local government, banking, energy, biotechnology and utilities in the UK, Europe and the Caribbean. John has worked in both the public and private sectors and was Head of Information Services with BP Exploration before re-training as an in-house information management consultant with BP.

He is a founder member and past Director of the IRMS. In 2011 he was appointed IRMS International Officer and in May 2013 he was awarded Fellowship of the Society.

John is Head of the Examination Board on the Practitioner Certificate in Records Management.

 

Olivia Whitcroft is a solicitor and has worked in the field of data protection for over 20 years. Since 2011 she has run her own legal practice, OBEP, specialising in data protection and technology laws. Olivia read Mathematics at university before moving to a legal career, and previously led the data protection practice at PwC Legal. Olivia enjoys assisting her clients to find practical data protection solutions. She finds the intricacies of the law exciting, and seeks to inspire others to feel the same! Olivia is a Member of the Examination Board for the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection. Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection.

Peter Given is Legal Director at Womble Bond Dickinson specialising in data protection and privacy law. He advises clients on a wide range of data protection matters in a variety of contexts, including in relation to general data protection compliance, data processing and outsourcing arrangements, direct marketing, data subject access requests and cross-border transfers of data. In addition to data protection and privacy matters, Peter also advises on general commercial law including in relation to outsourcing, information technology, e-commerce and intellectual property matters.

Peter has previously undertaken secondments to a global US-based financial institution and a major European pharmaceutical organisation. In both secondments Peter supported the internal legal teams on a variety of matters and projects, including those relating to data protection and privacy. He also spent time as a Judicial Assistant to Lord Justice Jackson, assisting him with his review of the costs of civil litigation in England and Wales.

Peter has written the ‘Marketing’ chapter for Data Protection – a practical guide to UK law (6th Edition, Oxford University Press).

Peter regularly contributes articles to academic and trade publications. He has authored articles which have been published in Privacy and Data Protection Journal.

Robert Bond is a Senior Counsel at Bristows. He has specialised in technology law for many years and is a well recognised expert and author in the legal fields of TMT, ecommerce, data protection and cyber security. He is a member of Tech UK Big Data and Analytics Council and the United Nations Privacy Advisory Group, is on the advisory Board of the Data Protection Academy of Malaysia, and is an Ambassador for Privacy by Design. He is named in the National Law Journal's list of 50 Governance Risk & Compliance Trailblazers, listed in the top 10 in “the Who’s Who of Information Technology Lawyers 2014” and also in "Best Lawyers in UK 2016”. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.

Rosemary Jay is a Senior Consultant Attorney in Hunton Andrews Kurth's Global Privacy Practice and author of Guide to the General Data Protection Regulation (Sweet & Maxwell). She advises clients on privacy, data protection, human rights, access to information and related information law issues. She has worked in the area of information law since 1987. Rosemary joined the firm having previously been a Partner and Head of the Information Law group at Pinsent Masons. Prior to that she worked in the public sector, including 12 years spent at the office of the Data Protection Registrar where she headed the Legal Department.

Rosemary speaks and writes widely on data protection and access to information, both nationally and internationally.

Simon Elliott focuses on advising multinational corporates on a wide range of data protection and technology law issues. He has more than 10 years' experience with Dentons' tier one ranked Data Privacy practice advising clients on data privacy and information governance matters, including global data transfer solutions, data processor engagement, marketing and CRM strategies and data incident responses. He regularly advises clients on compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation, leading multiple audit and gap assessment exercises and implementation projects. He has also advised on multiple Binding Corporate Rules applications – for both data controllers and data processors – and Privacy Shield applications. His clients span the financial services, technology, media, retail and transport sectors.

He also regularly advises clients on complex commercial and technology contracts, including vendor procurement, outsourcing and commercial partnership arrangements.

 

Victoria Hordern is a Partner at Bates Wells, specialising as a data privacy lawyer. Victoria has practised in this area for many years helping clients across various sectors and industries, and advises on the full range of data protection and privacy compliance matters including GDPR implementation, employee privacy compliance, and privacy issues connected with the online environment and mobile apps.