London, UK, 7th January 2025 – We are delighted to welcome Simon McDougall as a senior adviser to our data protection (DP) and artificial intelligence (AI) teams.

Simon has a wealth of experience in DP and AI. He is currently Chief Strategist, Privacy & AI at ZoomInfo, a leading US-listed B2B data company, a role he will continue in, even while working at Bristows. Prior to joining ZoomInfo, Simon was Deputy Commissioner & Executive Director at the UK’s Office of the Information Commissioner (ICO), where he spearheaded several important privacy and technology-related initiatives. Simon is a well-known and hugely respected figure in DP and AI, and his appointment is a natural and complementary fit for Bristows with its many market-leading technology law specialisms, including those of DP and AI.

Commenting on the arrival of Simon, Mark Watts, Data Protection Partner and head of our Technology sector group: “We are delighted to welcome Simon to the firm. He has an incredibly impressive track record and will bring his many unique perspectives to bear for the benefit of our clients, including those of an ex-regulator but also a senior executive in a technology multinational. Having known Simon for many years, I also know he is a natural fit for us, and we all very much look forward to working with him.”

Simon McDougall: “I’m delighted to be joining Bristows’ leading data protection and AI teams. Bristows’ deep expertise in technology law, combined with my experience across regulation and industry, creates a powerful opportunity to support clients navigating complex global challenges in privacy and AI. Bristows has built an outstanding market reputation for quality and thought leadership, and I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success and working with such a talented group of professionals.”