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Cyber and Data Litigation

Allen & Overy’s expert team handles a wide range of litigation relating to cyber and data security, with particular experience in cross-border cases.

Working with our first rate regulatory specialists, we handle reporting, enforcement and prosecution, including cases involving cyber and data security breaches.

Our global team includes consultant David Smith, former Deputy Information Commissioner at the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.

A&O’s clients in this area include national and international businesses, ranging from telecommunications companies to the world’s largest financial institutions. Our work covers diverse issues including:

representing clients in follow-on litigation related to data breaches
advising on options for criminal and civil actions against hackers
financial crime risks in relation to the payment of ransoms (including money laundering, terrorism financing and economic sanctions)
use of injunctions
liaison with regulators
employee theft
class actions
data misuse by third parties
anti-terrorism issues
denial-of-service and distributed denial-of-service attacks
third-party disclosure applications

Explore our services

Tax Litigation and Investigations

News and insights

Publications: 28 June 2022

Lost your bitcoin private key? Bitcoin developers are not required to grant you access

Buyers of bitcoin beware: if you lose your online banking password or PIN the solution is to contact your bank and ask for a new one. However, if you lose the private key to your bitcoin, the High…

Publications: 28 February 2022

Greater China Risk Insight: Looking ahead in the Year of the Tiger

The last two years have reshaped the global economy and socioeconomic policies, and have given rise to new risks and challenges. The world of disputes is also rapidly evolving. As we look back to…

Blog Post: 29 November 2021

Beyond Lloyd v Google: Are class actions for data breach dead?

The decision of the UK Supreme Court in Lloyd v Google is a welcome relief for data controllers. However, is it the end of class actions for data breach?

Blog Post: 10 November 2021

Lloyd v Google: a sigh of relief for data controllers

In unanimously refusing to allow a representative action to proceed, the UK Supreme Court may have sounded the death knell for opt-out class actions in England for data breaches: Lloyd v Google [2021]…

Recognition

Working with them is delightful. They are highly professional, deliver immaculate client service and have a deep knowledge of data protection technicalities.

Chambers Global 2019, Data Protection

Explore diversity, equity and inclusion at A&O

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Striving for a better gender balance

For gender equality, there can be no glass ceiling. At Allen & Overy we are determined to achieve a better gender balance at all levels of our organisation, and are working hard to make sure that all of our people have the same opportunities to realise their ambitions.

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Race and ethnicity - enabling diverse people to thrive

The world is full of different. Are we truly a global firm if our business is not? We’re striving to attract talented, racially and ethnically diverse people, and create an environment where our colleagues not only feel that they belong – they feel they can thrive.

Supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues and communities

There are all kinds of different in the world. Some differences can be seen, others can’t. However people identify, whatever their difference, we want them to feel completely able to bring their authentic selves to work.

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Improving social mobility

In many countries, the socio-economic background children are born into is still the biggest determining factor in their life chances. Social mobility – enabling young people to break out of that cycle and improve on the background they are born into – is a challenge we face the world over.

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Supporting our colleagues with disabilities

Sometimes what makes us different is visible. Sometimes it isn’t immediately obvious. We know that differences can be life-changing and can change over time.