Fides Weekly Update – 11th August 2017

Hello and welcome to the Fides Weekly Update. Take a look at this week’s key trends, moves and developments in legal and compliance.

Tweet us @Fides_Search to let us know your thoughts.

This week:

1) New Data Privacy Bill Announced

On Monday the British government laid out its statement of intent regarding the country’s new Data Protection Bill. This will give individuals more control over their personal data by introducing a ‘right to be forgotten’, and asking social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook to delete their personal data.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will also be given more power to defend consumer interests and issue much higher fines for non-compliance, of up to £17 million or four percent of global turnover, in cases of the most serious data breaches.

“It will give people more control over their data, require more consent for its use, and prepare Britain for Brexit” said government Digital minister Matt Hancock.

Replacing the Data Protection Act, the main aim of the bill is to ensure that the UK’s laws are compliant with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to be introduced next year, and ensure that data can continue to flow freely between the UK and other EU countries.

Under the proposed Data Protection Bill, companies will have to set out clearly and without a fee what information they hold, how they intend to use it as well as gain a clear and unambiguous indication of consent from the customer for the use of their data. The bill also expands the definition of personal data to include IP addresses, internet cookies, and DNA.

According to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, research has shown that “more than 80 per cent of people feel that they do not have complete control over their data online.”

With the introduction of the Data Protection Bill, the government is moving to address the current reality of storing customer data in the age of mass data collection, smartphones and social media.

This is likely to continue the focus and investment on the privacy and security of customer data from financial services and law firms for the foreseeable future.

2) Movers & Shakers

APPOINTMENTS

Pharmaceutical giant Teva appoints new Europe general counsel

Deputy GC Bibianne Bon replaces longstanding GC Galit Gonen

PA Group appoints new general counsel after Guardian exit

Louise Irwin joins the Press Association as its new counsel and company secretary

MOVES

Exits in North England for PwC Legal

PwC’s head of legal for the regions Neal Shepherd has left the firm less than three years after joining from Addleshaw Goddard.

Addleshaws exits to EY continue in Manchester

Real estate partner Colette Withey joins EY’s Manchester legal team

Hill Dickinson in talks to transfer £23m 16-partner insurance business to Keoghs

Partner vote imminent on the move to allow the firm to focus on areas of future strategic growth

Linklaters bolsters US disputes practice with hire of WilmerHale white collar partner

Ex-SEC counsel Doug Davison to join the Washington DC office of Linklaters

OFFICE OPENINGS & CLOSINGS

Pinsents takes four-partner Norton Rose team for Perth launch

Kennedys expansion continues as firm recruits four-strong team for Melbourne launch

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