Data Protection & Workplace Technology
Our Approach & Track Record
GQ|Littler is the leading employment law firm for employers in the UK and Ireland. We offer risk-based advice and litigation services on employment, immigration, employee tax and incentives issues. We work globally as part of Littler, the world’s largest employment law firm with more than 1,800 lawyers practising across 30 countries in over 100 offices.
What makes us different:
- We tell you what you really need to know, without exaggerating the risks
- We give you clear advice, not just options
- Combined data privacy and employment expertise
- Global employment boutique
Today’s workplace is brimming with technology and data is its lifeblood. In a connected word, the line between personal and work information and devices becomes ever more blurred. Employers are required to balance the competing interests of privacy with their own business needs. They must also interpret and comply with data protection laws that were conceived before the birth of the internet.
We understand technology and have experience advising some of the world’s most sophisticated companies on both employment and data privacy issues.
We can help HR teams with every aspect of implementing GDPR including:
- External hosting of HR data.
- International data transfer.
- Data subject access requests.
- Data privacy, security and retention policies.
- Dealing with ICO complaints.
- Loss of HR data.
- Data collections for international investigations and litigation.
- ‘Right to be forgotten’ in an HR context.
- Implications of new data protection regulation to the workplace.
- Forensic IT investigations.
- Background checks.
Our lawyers are members of the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Employment Lawyers Association.
Our Team's Experience
Subject access and data breach
- Advising a law firm on a subject access request received in the context of a high-profile regulatory investigation.
- Advising a private equity house on a data subject access request and a complaint to the ICO.
- Advising a private bank on a data security breach involving an HR database including reporting obligations and remedial action.
- Advising a large financial services organisation on subject access request made by its former data protection lawyer.
- Advising a financial services institution on a subject access request received as part of a high-value disability discrimination allegation involving 53,000 documents.
Technology
- Advising a household name client in connection with the implementation of whistleblowing hotlines across the EU.
- Advising a global bank on the implementation of a hosted IT solution around the world.
- Advising numerous companies on Peoplesoft, WorkDay and other IT implementations with workforces in various EU jurisdictions.
- Advising a financial services client on employment law and privacy aspects of its new outsourced recruitment portal.
- Advising a global publisher on theft of confidential information involving forensic analysis of laptop/BlackBerry.
- Advising an HR database provider on implementation of GDPR and customer contracts.
Policies and contracts
- Advising a US law firm on its own internal compliance.
- Advising a large financial services client on HR data protection policies, data retention and contractual terms.
- Advising an international hotelier on strategic privacy matters and coordinating a worldwide privacy review project in 37 jurisdictions.
- Advising a global healthcare company on its international data privacy policies in 13 EMEA jurisdictions.
- Advising a multinational healthcare provider on the introduction of an employee email and web traffic monitoring system across EMEA.
Data transfer
- Advising global organisations on EU data privacy and local compliance issues in connection with the collection and transfer of EU-derived personal data to the US in the context of civil litigation, arbitration, internal investigations and regulatory investigations.
- Advising the management of an EU-based company on their own privacy compliance obligations in connection with demands for disclosure by their overseas parent company.
- Advising numerous multinationals on the use of international data transfer agreements.
- Advising global clients on the repercussions of the ECJ “safe harbour” decision.
What Others Say:
'Deborah Margolis is an exceptional lawyer and professional. She takes the time to understand your organisation, you as the client, and tailors her responses and advice to ensure you feel heard and supported.'
Legal 500, 2024
Get in touch with us
If you would like more information about how GQ|Littler can help you or your organisation, please get in touch.
For information about how we process your data, please see our privacy notice.
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