Dr Mark Watts > Bristows LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Bristows LLP Offices
100 VICTORIA EMBANKMENT
LONDON
EC4Y 0DH
England
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Dr Mark Watts
Work Department
Commercial IT, Data Protection
Position
Mark is a technology specialist with over 20 years’ experience.
He advises companies on technology issues such as cloud computing, machine learning, apps and facial recognition. Much of Mark’s experience was gained in-house at IBM where he held various roles, including Global Data Privacy Counsel.
Mark has particular expertise in data privacy. He advises multinational companies on implementing General Data Protection Regulation compliant programs, Privacy Shield and Binding Corporate Rules. Mark has been involved in many of the most high profile and highest value data privacy litigation in the world and regularly advises companies in relation to incident response and defending regulatory enforcement actions all over the world.
Career
Qualified 1995
Partner 2003
Education
BSc (Hons) Physics, University of Wales
D.Phil Semiconductor Physics, University of Oxford
Lawyer Rankings
London > Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
(Hall of Fame)Bristows LLP‘s full-service offering runs the gamut of transactional, advisory, and contentious data privacy, protection, and cybersecurity issues, handling high-profile data breaches, litigation, and global compliance matters for blue-chip international technology and life sciences clients. Practice head Mark Watts has an ‘effortless mastery of the subject‘ and is recommended for his expertise in global compliance projects and regulatory litigation, while Marc Dautlich advises clients in the life sciences sector on the full range of data protection issues and cyber incidents. Hannah Crowther was promoted to the partnership in May 2023 and tackles high-profile contentious matters before UK and European data protection authorities. At the senior associate level, key names include Jamie Drucker, noted for his ‘impressive grasp of detail and technical law’, and Faye Harrison, who handles privacy compliance programmes and strategy.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
The media and data protection disputes team at Bristows LLP has acted for a number of household names in the tech and journalism sectors, including Google, Meta and ITV. In particular, the firm has a strong track record in disputes surrounding defamation, misuse of private information, and data protection. Practice head Alex Keenlyside has considerable experience in media and data protection litigation, particularly for tech companies. Mark Watts leads the firm’s data protection sub-team and acts on a wide range of privacy issues. Senior associate Victoria Baron has experience advising tech and media companies on intermediary liability and misuse of private information.
London > Industry focus > TMT
(Hall of Fame)Bristows LLP assists clients on tech-related legal issues, advisory, contentious and transactional matters. The team is well-versed in IT law and outsourcing projects, acting for clients undertaking ITO and BPO transactions. Mark Watts heads the practice and advises companies on a range of data protection issues while Toby Crick has expertise in outsourcing transactions. Myles Jelf is involved in telecoms and tech litigation, and Adrian Sim has niche expertise in the area of major financial services implementation projects.
Lawyer Rankings
- Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity London > Risk advisory
- Hall of Fame London > Industry focus > TMT
- Hall of Fame London > Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- TMT London > Industry focus
- Reputation management London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social
- Industry focus > TMT
Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- Employment > Employers