Bird & Bird ranked as the leading global law firm for Data Privacy & Protection, Information Technology and Telecoms & Media by Who’s Who Legal in 2023

Who’s Who Legal’s annual analysis of Data Privacy & Protection & Security, Information Technology, Space & Satellites and Telecoms & Media has ranked more Bird & Bird lawyers than any other international firm.

Legal experts from 13 Bird & Bird jurisdictions feature in the latest guide.

  • We top the rankings for Data: Information Technology with 29 lawyers featured, including a first ranking for our new Dublin office.
  • 23 experts were listed for Data: Privacy & Protection & Security as we retained our leading position.
  • We also led the Telecoms & Media analysis with 13 lawyers ranked, in addition three of our lawyers feature in the specialist Space & Satellites category.

The Who’s Who Legal research methodology is “based on recommendations and feedback from eminent private practitioners in the sector or industry in question as well as from corporate counsel or other clients who have worked closely with the nominees…WWL’s guides do not list law firms or consulting firms, only individual lawyers and experts. The firms whose individuals receive the most nominations in the research are featured in our editorials”.

Numerous Bird & Bird lawyers were singled out for individual praise in their field:

Australia

Thomas Jones has been named as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Telecoms & Media, being described as ‘a technology and communications specialist, known for his depth of knowledge of cross-border regulatory issues.’

Finland

Sakari Halonen is considered to be a “long-term figure in IT law”, who is ‘“very capable” on complex projects’. Tobias Bräutigam “runs an internationally renowned data protection practice that spans GDPR compliance and strategic data management.”

France

Stéphane Leriche is an “internationally recognised IT lawyer”, with “solid expertise in the data privacy and protection field.” The “very effective” Ariane Mole, has “been a recognised data protection and privacy lawyers for many years”. Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol is a ‘recognised name’ within the telecoms sector ‘with over 30 years of experience’, she ‘is particularly knowledgeable when it comes to French and foreign regulatory matters.’ Jean Claude Vecchiatto advises clients on ‘a range of matters surrounding satellites and communication systems and comes highly recommended for his more than 20 years of experience in the sector’.

Germany

Sven-Erik Heun is ‘lauded by peers as “a great practitioner” whose practice encompasses all aspects of regulatory compliance and outsourcing in the telecoms space.’

Netherlands

Marjolein Geus ‘enjoys a reputation as a leading lawyer in the telecoms arena. She focuses her practice on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters in the sector.’

Poland

Izabela Kowalczuk-Pakula has impressively “built a reputation as a “pragmatic expert” with “very deep knowledge of data privacy regulations, TMT sector challenges, and IT security measures”.

United Kingdom

Ruth Boardman was recognised again as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Privacy & Protection and Security, and “is hailed as a leading figure in the data protection field due to her encyclopaedic knowledge of GDPR”. Graham Smith “impresses market sources with his 40-plus years of experience practising data protection and IT law”. Graeme Maguire was mentioned as ‘a seasoned telecoms specialist who advises his clients regarding international projects and transactional matters in the communication and technology sectors.’

Regional breakdown:

Australia

Hamish Fraser (Information Technology)

Jim FitzSimons (Information Technology)

Shane Barber (Telecoms & Media)

Thomas Jones (Telecoms & Media)

Belgium

Benoit Van Asbroeck (Data Privacy & Protection/Information Technology/Telecoms & Media)

China

Gigi Cheah (Information Technology/Data Privacy & Protection)

Denmark

Jan Ussing Andersen (Information Technology/Telecoms & Media)

Jesper Langemark (Data Privacy & Protection/Data Security/Information Technology)

Lau Normann Jørgensen (Information Technology)

Martin von Haller Grønbæk (Data Security/Information Technology)

Finland

Pekka Takki (Information Technology/Telecoms & Media)

Sakari Halonen (Information Technology)

Tobias Bräutigam (Data Privacy & Protection)

France

Ariane Mole (Data Privacy & Protection/Information Technology)

Jean Claude Vecchiatto (Space & Satellites)

Stéphane Leriche (Data Privacy & Protection/Information Technology)

Willy Mikalef (Space & Satellites)

Germany

Fabian Niemann (Data Privacy & Protection/Information Technology)

Henriette Picot (Data Privacy & Protection/Data Security/Information Technology)

Jörg-Alexander Paul (Information Technology)

Sven-Erik Heun (Data Privacy & Protection/Information Technology/Telecoms & Media/Space & Satellites)

Valerian Jenny (Telecoms & Media)

Ireland

Deirdre Kilroy (Information Technology)

Italy

Adriano D'Ottavio (Data Security/Data Privacy & Protection)

Massimiliano Mostardini (Information Technology)

Netherlands

Jeroen van der Lee (Information Technology)

Marjolein Geus (Telecoms & Media)

Paul Waszink (Telecoms & Media)

Roelien van Neck (Information Technology)

Poland

Izabela Kowalczuk-Pakuła (Data Privacy & Protection)

Tomasz Zalewski (Data Security/Information Technology)

United Kingdom

Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol (Telecoms & Media/Information Technology)

Graeme Maguire (Telecoms & Media)

Graham Smith (Data Privacy & Protection/Data Security/Information Technology/Telecoms & Media)

James Mullock (Data Privacy & Protection/Information Technology)

Michelle Chan (Telecoms & Media/Information Technology)

Roger Bickerstaff (Information Technology)

Ruth Boardman (Data Privacy & Protection)

USA

Kai Westerwelle (Data Privacy & Protection/Data Security/Information Technology)

WWL Analysis Reports can be accessed here:

Telecoms & Media 2023

Data 2023 - Information Technology

Data 2023 - Privacy & Protection and Security

Transport 2023 – Space & Satellite

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