Our Information Law team provides advice to businesses and organisations across the public, private and third sectors on:
- data protection
- freedom of information
- environmental information
Information law requirements can often be daunting and appear complicated. The expertise and experience in our team enables us to guide you through the process of ensuring that processes are compliant. The size of our team and depth of our experience also enables us to provide you with a rapid and responsive service, ensuring that all relevant deadlines are met.
Data protection
The requirements of UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 are of critical importance to any business, public authority, third sector organisation or social enterprise collecting, storing and using personal data. Especially with the increasing prevalence of ever more developed technological solutions in our day to day lives.
Data protection is a broad topic, and we have a team of experts with experience across a range of legal disciplines.
How we can help your business
We can:
- ensure you understand your data protection obligations
- assess your current compliance and identify actions
- prioritise your actions by applying a risk-based approach
- help you with practical solutions that will ensure compliance
What if you do not comply?
The Information Commissioner (ICO) can issue monetary penalties for failing to comply with the relevant duties. These can be up to £17.5 million or 4% of the total annual worldwide turnover.
For further information, you can read the ICO’s guidance for organisations or read about ‘data protection and your business‘ on GOV.UK.
Freedom of information and environmental information
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) give individuals and companies rights to ask public authorities:
- whether they hold certain information
- to provide that information, unless a relevant exemption applies
A vast amount of information is potentially accessible under FOIA and EIR.
We provide advice to public authorities on:
- obligations in respect of the requests they receive
- availability of any exemptions
- terms of the response to the enquirer
