Carey Olsen lawyers lead the way in data protection expertise in the Channel Islands

The CIPP/E, which has been developed by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in collaboration with leading global law firms that specialise in privacy, is described as the premier European certification for data protection professionals.

Partners Mark Dunster and Elaine Gray, senior associate Luke Sayer and associate Alexandra Gill are those in Carey Olsen's Guernsey office to have attained the CIPP/E standard. In Jersey, counsel Huw Thomas and senior associate Tarina Le Boutillier have also achieved the CIPP/E standard and both qualified as Certified Information Privacy Managers, while legal assistant Adele Browne recently gained her Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection from the Chartered Institute of IT.

In addition to those that have attained the CIPP/E standard, the firm has other individuals in a variety of practice areas across its global network of offices who have gained alternative Data Protection Practitioner qualifications and also specialise in data protection and fintech advice which, given their increased prominence, can now cut through a number of areas of law.

"The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 has led to an increase in both business and public awareness surrounding responsibilities and rights under data protection legislation," said Elaine Gray, head of the dispute resolution and litigation practice in Guernsey.

"Indeed, nearly 18 months on since its introduction many businesses are still grappling with the challenges presented by GDPR, which only serves to highlight the need for companies, in particular, to ensure they have received sound and well-informed guidance and advice on all things data and privacy related. The fact that our Guernsey and Jersey offices now boast half a dozen qualified information privacy professionals not only demonstrates how seriously we regard this evolving area of practice but that we also possess the necessary strength in depth and expertise to lead and advise on data protection, privacy and information issues."

As a firm, Carey Olsen is extremely active in the data protection, privacy and cyber security space, having hosted dedicated data protection conferences in both Guernsey and Jersey earlier this year that were attended by more than 200 delegates. It has also seconded lawyers to local businesses to help them get up to speed with GDPR and performed GDPR audits for other businesses to assess their implementation.

At the same time, Carey Olsen has proactively engaged with regulators and industry groups across the Channel Islands to inform guidance around the application of the law and to continue assisting in its development. In addition, both Huw and Alexandra were invited to act as committee members for the Jersey Data Protection Association and Bailiwick of Guernsey Data Protection Association respectively.