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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

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Tax Litigation and Investigations

News & insights

Aerial view of ripples on a bed of water

Publications: 13 OCTOBER 2021

Progress towards adoption of the Belgian corporate vigilance and accountability act

As previously reported in our article of 4 May 2021, the proposed Belgian Vigilance Proposal (“Proposition de loi instaurant un devoir de vigilance et un devoir de responsabilité à charge des…

Close up image of laptop screen downloading information

Blog Post: 16 AUGUST 2021

Impactful High Court judgment on damages related to cyberattacks

On 30 July 2021, the UK High Court handed down a helpful judgment clarifying the causes of action likely to be available (or otherwise) to claimants in cases where a data breach occurs through…

Blog Post: 12 JULY 2021

Cybersecurity challenges and mitigation strategies for financial services firms

Recent industry feedback published by the UK Financial Conduct Authority shares insights on the identification and management of cybersecurity challenges and mitigation strategies for financial…

Publications: 15 FEBRUARY 2021

Surveillance reports may not be privileged

A dispute about the use of private investigators highlights some attendant risks, in particular the possibility that the report generated may not be privileged: Gerrard & Gerrard v Eurasian Natural…

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 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 disabled colleagues

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.