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Bristows is ready to help with any data breaches, large or small. We can call on many years of experience, assisting clients in connection with many of the world’s largest breaches. We can assist with the immediate response and containment of a security incident, notifying authorities, as well the longer-term impact, including any follow-on litigation. With security breach reporting laws strengthening around the world, getting the right legal advice is an essential part of any breach response plan.

Breach reporting laws in the UK, EU, and around the world mean it is essential to have good, reliable and pragmatic legal advice as soon as you think you might have suffered a data breach. Bristows can help you identify your legal obligations, prioritise the most important, and begin taking steps to reduce your overall exposure.

Bristows has a wealth of experience advising multinational and UK companies on data breaches, including some of the most high profile cyber security incidents in recent years. Working with our international network, we help with reporting obligations around the world, as well as public statements and communications to affected individuals.

Effective data breach management is not limited to the immediate response. Bristows has extensive experience with ICO investigations and other supervisory authorities around the world. We can also assist with civil claims from affected individuals, clients or business partners.  

Longer term, we can also help with ongoing risk management, including identifying and implementing remedial measures, as well as embedding incident reporting and breach management within your wider compliance processes. 

Key contacts

Mark Watts

Contact

Marc Dautlich

Contact

Publications

Data Protection publication

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Experience

Advising a US-headquartered consumer app with the UK aspects of a data breach affecting several million data subjects.

Assisting a household name company with a major cyber security incident, including immediate incident response and subsequent ICO investigation.

Resources

Latest articles

What others say

“Very responsive and knowledgeable team.”

Legal 500 2025

“The team combines technical excellence with a pragmatic and commercial approach. They have taken the time to get to know our business and tailor advice accordingly.”

Legal 500 2025

“They have lawyers who understand the need for a company to be practical, so there is a good balance of legal analysis, and practical and actionable solutions.”

Legal 500 2025

“The Bristows team has a very strong focus on interpersonal relationships. Everything just happens in a very smooth way to a high level of satisfaction.”

Legal 500 2025

“They have multiple experts with a broad range of experience in matters that range from litigation to compliance counselling.”

Chambers and Partners Europe 2024

“They have a great ability to find pragmatic and simple solutions to complex issues.”

Chambers and Partners Europe 2024

“I was thoroughly impressed with their expertise and professionalism. I have worked with law firms from all around the world and Bristows for sure is among the best ones. What makes Bristows practice unique is their ability to combine deep legal knowledge with a practical, business-focused approach.”

Legal 500 2024

“Bristows’ willingness to engage and work with us to understand our organisation’s aims and objectives makes it a fantastic partner to work with. Its pragmatic and commercially-focused advice provides confidence that we can make the best commercial decisions.”

Legal 500 2023

“‘I use Bristows for its expertise in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors and for its unrivalled knowledge of topics, responsiveness and timeliness of its pragmatic and client-focused advice. Its lawyers take the time to get to know and understand the client’s business so they can tailor their advice to the client’s particular circumstances. They think long term and not simply about the immediate challenges.”

 

Legal 500 2023

“The ‘technically excellent and very engaging’ team at Bristows LLP provides ‘pragmatic and commercially-focused advice’ to a range of well-known names, including Facebook, Google and WarnerMedia, on data protection matters, including litigation, data breaches and global compliance projects.”

 

Legal 500 2023

“The [Data Protection] team is approachable, responsive and provides advice of the highest quality.”

Legal 500 2022

“Outstanding people and very efficient on costs.”

Legal 500 2022

“Excellent data protection and privacy knowledge, combined with a pragmatic and risk-based approach.”

Legal 500 2022

“They offer professionalism with a strong people-centric culture.”

Legal 500 2022

“There is a lot of expertise in the firm and the lawyers collaborate to provide the best service to their clients”.

Chambers and Partners 2021

“They know the law and they also realise that clients need pragmatic, risk-based advice which can be utilised within a commercial environment.”

Chambers and Partners 2021

“They [Bristows] are at the top of their game.”

Chambers and Partners 2021

“Broad range of skills, good and cost effective advice.”

Legal 500 2021

“Clear understanding of the technology and specifically fintech/insurtech market.”

Legal 500 2021

“They have deep professional relationships with a wide swath of organisations in every industry as well as with regulators.”

Legal 500 2021

“They are extremely experienced, thoughtful, pragmatic and measured.”

Legal 500 2021

“Bristows’ data protection practice is the best data privacy practice out there — bar none.”

Legal 500 2021

“Unparalleled breadth and quality of expertise in the field with an ability to address both data protection compliance issues and contentious privacy litigation.”

Legal 500 2021

“I enjoy working with Bristows.”

Legal 500 2021

“Good at maintaining position as a trusted adviser.”

Legal 500 2021

“Due to size managing, case load may be challenging at times but this has never been an issue because the quality of the deliverables has consistently been very high.”

Legal 500 2021

“Very capable and knowledgeable team with excellent leadership.”

Legal 500 2021

Bristows have “a strong bench of practitioners.”

Legal 500 2021

“The firm is top-notch in the privacy field”

Chambers and Partners 2020

“It is a very good outfit and very reliable”

Chambers and Partners 2020

Recent rankings and awards

FinTech Legal: Data Protection and Cyber Security - Band 1

Fintech - Tier 3

FinTech Legal: Data Protection & Cyber Security - Band 1

Data Protection (Europe wide) - Band 3

Data Protection in Global: Multi-Jurisdictional - Band 3

Data Protection (Europe wide) - Band 3

Data Protection & Information Law - Band 1

Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity - Tier 1

Information Technology and Outsourcing - Band 1

Data Protection - Band 1

Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity - Tier 1

IT and Telecoms - Tier 1

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