Associate - Data Protection London, England
Stephenson Harwood LLC
Full Time
London, England
10.56 - 12.04 GBP Today
Job description
What we will offer:
We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitions firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.
Team Structure:
Whilst the team works for clients in a broad range of market sectors, our focus is on financial services, life sciences, hotels and leisure, art and transport, aligning with the firm’s strengths.
Currently the team is well-represented at junior level but lacks more senior experience, particular in data protection.
Main Responsibilities:
Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.
Attributes/Skills Required:
This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.
If you require this document in an accessible format (e.g. large print), please contact [email protected].
About the Firm:
Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.
We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.
We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.
Our values:
Individuality - We encourage creativity and develop talent
These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.
Our vision into 2026
This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character – the attributes we want to see from all of our people. It also reflects the importance of remaining independent - a clear sign that we are confident in our own future.
That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.
This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.
We are an equal opportunity organisation, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives
If you require this document in an accessible format (e.g. large print), please contact [email protected] or call 020 7809 2711.
We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitions firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.
The role sits within the Commercial, Outsourcing and Technology team within the Corporate Department, which currently comprises of 3 partners and 7 associates. Our team advises on a broad range of commercial agreements, outsourcing (both IT and business process), technology matters and data protection.
Whilst the team works for clients in a broad range of market sectors, our focus is on financial services, life sciences, hotels and leisure, art and transport, aligning with the firm’s strengths.
We are looking for an experienced associate to join the team who has strong experience in data protection and general commercial agreements. Experience in IT agreements and in applying data protection law in an IT context would also be an advantage.
The Commercial, Outsourcing and Technology team advises both its own clients as well as clients of other departments of the firm. Whilst there is some corporate support advice provided, this tends to be done at a junior level and the majority of the team’s work is for its “own” clients. Associates are regularly asked to go on secondment and all associates who have been with the team for more than a couple of years have been on a client secondment.
Currently the team is well-represented at junior level but lacks more senior experience, particular in data protection.
Main Responsibilities:
- Advising on all aspects of GDPR compliance, including drafting and reviewing data protection contracts, policies and notices; co-ordinating responses to data subject access requests and data breaches; advising on international data transfer safeguards and on innovative uses of personal data such as AI or automated decision-making; giving FOIA advice.
- Advising on e-privacy requirements, complaints and investigations relating to direct marketing and cookies, including advising on the legal issues arising in ad tech, apps and IoT.
- Clear, concise and unambiguous preparation, drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements, including supply and services agreements, manufacturing, distribution, agency and franchise agreements
- Managing commercial aspects of corporate transactions, including the negotiation and drafting of TSAs
- Liaising with clients
- Managing junior team members, including three junior associates and a trainee
- Developing own informal internal and external network of contacts
- Building excellent working relationships with clients and peers within the firm
- Participating in and contributing to business development and profile raising events, such as client seminars and graduate recruitment activities
- Conducting legal research using internal and external knowledge management resources
Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.
- Data protection experience should include detailed knowledge of, and ability to apply, the UK GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018, international data transfer restrictions and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.
- Understanding of UK and EU regulation as they may affect data protection issues post-Brexit.
- Ability to draft complex commercial agreements with minimal input from others
- Experience of IT agreements (MSAs, software development agreements) and the Life Sciences industry would enhance the strength of an application
- Background in a firm with an excellent corporate reputation
- Ability to acquire, consolidate and apply fundamental and up-to-date knowledge of the law
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Excellent verbal communication skills
- Organised and able to work to strict deadlines with the ability to prioritise realistically
- Resilient with the ability to handle pressure and competing deadlines
- Cooperative and collaborative in approach and able to develop excellent working relationships at all levels and within all roles
- Ability to operate professionally and proactively at all time
- Self-aware and an active participant in self development
- Flexible, a lateral thinker
- Exhibits an understanding of the firm’s position in the market and how it distinguishes its services from its competitors
This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.
If you require this document in an accessible format (e.g. large print), please contact [email protected].
With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions, and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.
Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.
We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.
We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.
Our values:
Individuality - We encourage creativity and develop talent
Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard
Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships
Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say
These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.
Our vision into 2026
To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.
This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character – the attributes we want to see from all of our people. It also reflects the importance of remaining independent - a clear sign that we are confident in our own future.
That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.
A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transportation & trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.
This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.
If you require this document in an accessible format (e.g. large print), please contact [email protected].
We are an equal opportunity organisation, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives
