England - London • Risk advisory

Clifford Chance LLP

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Leveraging the firm’s broader transactional, contentious, and commercial capabilities, the data privacy and cybersecurity team at Clifford Chance LLP handles complex, cross-border work for a diverse group of clients spanning numerous sectors including financial services, consumer goods, and the automotive industry. The team is jointly headed by Jonathan Kewley and the ‘fiercely intelligent’ Simon Persoff. Kewley has a broad practice with particular strength in data protection work for global corporations, while Persoff handles cybersecurity and banking secrecy mandates. On the contentious side, Samantha Ward represents financial institutions and large corporates in regulatory investigations, in addition to advising on cyber incident response planning, while Kate Scott handles civil claims as well as advising on risks related to emerging tech. At the associate level, Herbert Swaniker advises on data-related advisory and transactional matters with a focus on emerging tech including AI, fintech, and data ethics.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team has grown significantly in the last two years and is now one of the strongest on the market. They regularly act for some of the world's largest companies, dealing with multiple complex issues.’

  • ‘Jonathan Kewley is one of the top technology lawyers in the UK. He is widely respected and has built an impressive team in the last few years. Simon Persoff is fiercely intelligent and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of data protection law. He brings enormous drive and dedication to all his mandates. Herbert Swaniker is a rising star. Loved by clients, he combines great intelligence with equal affability.’

  • ‘Strong collaborative team, working well together.’

  • ‘Very strong technical abilities of course, but it's the broad and deep experience of (in particular) Simon Persoff that has impressed me most. It means we get advice that is practical and supportive of our goals.’

  • ‘Clifford Chance's data protection, privacy and cybersecurity practice provides strategic advice that is informed by its experience working for clients across different industries. The commentary is informed but also pragmatic and sensible, identifying and balancing relevant considerations. It is particularly useful when working to meet statutory deadlines. Working with Clifford Chance to respond to complex UK DSARs has been a good experience - as a client you feel well supported.’

  • ‘Partner Simon Persoff doesn't sit on the fence - he sets out your options and identifies the option he recommends. That is what clients need in practice - clear, considered, pragmatic and expert advice. Senior Associate Claudia Hall and Associate Adam Hunter are both diligent and thoughtful, and meet deadlines (which is super important when dealing with UK GDPR matters).’

Key clients

  • Citi
  • Wells Fargo
  • HSBC
  • Standard Chartered Bank
  • Nedbank
  • PNC Bank
  • Permira
  • Partners Group
  • Cerberus
  • Blackstone
  • News Group Newspapers Limited
  • Fujitsu
  • Rio Tinto
  • Viatris
  • C&C Group plc
  • GoDaddy
  • PrimaryBid
  • LZ Labs
  • Specialized Bicycles
  • Mileway
  • UK Finance
  • TheCityUK International Regulatory Strategy Group
  • TechUK
  • Stop the Traffik
  • Save the Children
  • Zero Waste
  • Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association
  • Reprieve
  • Sparkle Malawi
  • Social Business Trust
  • Advocates for International Development (A4ID)

Work highlights

  • Advising HSBC on its acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank UK, on the data protection, banking secrecy, material outsourcing and transitional services aspects of the transaction.
  • Advising a U.S.-headquartered technology company on a range of global and regional data law mandates.
  • Advising a global leader in the automotive industry on a range of data protection, privacy, and technology transformation projects.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Jonathan Kewley, Simon Persoff

Other key lawyers

Herbert Swaniker, Kate Scott, Samantha Ward, Claudia Hall, Adam Hunter