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We advise the world’s leading companies and investors on their tech deals, regulatory issues and risks.

Our teams excel at complex cross-border challenges, where our market-leading expertise in M&A, antitrust, data privacy/protection, governance, securities litigation, patent disputes, tax/state aid and investigations is a powerful source of competitive advantage.

Freshfields TQ is where we explore key issues at the intersection of technology and the law, offering insights and practical tips for big tech, investors, disruptors and digital transformers.

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When GDPR and Data Act clash: what Businesses need to know

Like other parts of the EU Digital Strategy, also the Data Act reaffirms the supremacy of data protection laws, ensuring that the rights and obligations under the GDPR, being the centrepiece of EU…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Elisabeth Pferschy, Estella Dannhausen

  • data
  • data protection
  • eu data act
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • internet of things
  • manufacturing
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms

The AI Act: Calling for global compliance with EU copyright?

In an earlier blog (here) we dissected the copyright framework for text and data mining under the EU Copyright Directive (Directive 2019/790/EU) and its applicability on AI training data. By way of…

Author(s): Lutz Riede, Oliver Talhoff, Matthias Hofer

  • ai
  • intellectual property
  • eu ai act
  • eu digital strategy
  • eu dsm directive

Navigating AI Governance

Background AI is transforming industries. Companies around the world are accelerating their organisational pace to adapt and integrate AI into their business models. Like most key technologies, AI is…

Author(s): Thomas Mollnhuber

  • ai
  • eu ai act
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • innovation
  • regulatory
  • corporate

Building Your Company’s AI Governance Framework

The use of AI has grown rapidly, from simplistic chatbots to sophisticated conversationalists that are close to passing the Turing test of whether a machine can engage in a conversation with a human…

Author(s): Rikki Haria, Theresa Ehlen, Christine Lyon, Jeanne Queneudec, Edward Dean, Christine Chong, Laura Llangozi

  • ai
  • consumer
  • corporate
  • cyber security
  • data protection
  • employment
  • eu ai act
  • europe
  • innovation
  • intellectual property
  • tech media and telecoms

Trends in fintech: our EU predictions for 2024

As we did in 2021,  2022, 2023 we have crowdsourced some fintech predictions for the year ahead from the EU Freshfields Fintech team, with a couple of longer-term trends. The topics for these…

Author(s): Natalie Pettinger Kearney, Eva Schneider, Alicia Hildner, Daniel Klingenbrunn, Jimena Gonzalez, Victor Garcia Lopez

  • consumer protection
  • europe
  • financial institutions
  • financing and capital markets
  • governments and public sector
  • platformeconomy
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms
  • retail markets
  • regulatory framework
  • financial services
  • fintech

Unlocking the treasure trove: The EU introduces mandatory Business-to-Government data sharing

The EU Data Act has brought a new rule for businesses. Chapter V requires that businesses share their data with the government: Business-to-Government (B2G) data sharing. According to the EU…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Estella Dannhausen, Tina Fokter Cuvan

  • data
  • eu data act
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • governments and public sector
  • innovation
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms

The first of its kind: exploring the European Health Data Space

We are going through what is known as the third major global economic wave at an unprecedented pace. This wave is driven by the growth and achievement of industries that rely on data as the most…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Estella Dannhausen, Carolina Costa, Ludwig Hartenau

  • eu mobility data space
  • data
  • eu digital strategy
  • europe
  • european data spaces
  • life sciences

Freshfields AI thought-leadership events: Key takeaways for global businesses

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been at the heart of two major events focusing on the implications of AI for global businesses.  Hosted by the Rothschild Foundation, and organised by Tortoise…

Author(s): Beth George, Natasha Good, Giles Pratt

  • ai
  • data
  • eu ai act
  • eu ai liability directive
  • europe
  • global
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms
  • us

IAB Europe judgment (C-604/22): the CJEU clarifies the notion of personal data and the roles of parties under the GDPR in the AdTech sector

On 7 March 2024, the CJEU issued its judgment in the IAB Europe case (C-604/22). In this judgment, the CJEU clarified the notion of personal data and the role of parties under the GDPR in the AdTech…

Author(s): Christoph Werkmeister, Satya Staes Polet, Mark Egeler, Irem Güzel

The 'lead claimant' model - the future for data privacy mass claims?

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Lloyd v Google (on which we have previously blogged), coupled with the vast upfront costs of bringing claims via a group litigation order (GLO), is leading claimant law…

Author(s): Cat Greenwood-Smith, Charlie Fisher

  • data
  • data protection
  • cyber security
  • litigation

UK data protection reforms may be coming soon – after more reforms of the reforms

In November 2023, the UK government introduced further amendments to the already-extensive set of data protection reforms proposed in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (the Bill).…

Author(s): Rachael Annear, Giles Pratt, Claudia Chan, Adam Gillert

  • data
  • data protection
  • europe
  • gdpr
  • tech media and telecoms

EU Platform Workers Directive – Where is the legislative process now and what does this mean for platforms and workers?

The EU platform workers directive (directive) is almost adopted. On 11 March 2024, after two years of discussions and negotiations, a provisional agreement reached between the European Parliament…

Author(s): Holly Insley, Raquel Flórez, Laura Llangozi

The Law Commission consults on the treatment of digital assets in England & Wales

The Law Commission of England and Wales recently announced two updates regarding digital assets – a consultation on the introduction of a new category of personal property, and a call for evidence on…

Author(s): Emma Probyn, Frank Clarke, Christine Simpson, Gustav Brincat

  • cryptocurrency
  • fintech

The 2024 Responsible AI Forum: Making the rules for AI

Freshfields is Knowledge Partner for the Responsible AI Forum 2024. Hosted by the Rothschild Foundation and organised by Tortoise Media, the annual Responsible AI Forum sees well-known figures from…

Author(s): Giles Pratt

  • regulation
  • risk
  • ai
  • intellectual property
  • data

Regulating AI Globally Mimics a Six-Dimensional Game of Chess

Freshfields attorneys address the global nature of regulating AI and the many factors companies must monitor as governments and regulators advance new policies. (Article published by Bloomberg Law, 5…

Author(s): Giles Pratt, Natasha Good, Beth George

  • regulation
  • risk
  • ai
  • intellectual property
  • data

Why the EU Data Act does not care for “well-done” data

The EU Data Act came into force on 11 January 2024. While its provisions will not be applicable for a while yet, businesses will likely need the intervening period to scope out and plan for the…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Estella Dannhausen, Ludwig Hartenau, Tina Fokter Cuvan

  • eu data act
  • eu digital strategy
  • data
  • european data spaces
  • europe
  • internet of things
  • regulatory
  • tech media and telecoms

Generative AI driving the M&A landscape

Background Generative AI is everywhere. The world’s brightest minds are racing to excel in what is expected to be the single most important game changer since the internet. The industry is on the…

Author(s): Thomas Mollnhuber

  • ai
  • corporate
  • data
  • eu ai act
  • innovation
  • legaltech
  • mergers and acquisitions
  • tech media and telecoms

European Parliament moves SEP regulation forward

On 28 February 2024, Members of the European Parliament adopted their position on the draft regulation on standard essential patents (hereinafter “the draft regulation”). Despite a number of…

Author(s): Corin Gittinger, Diana Baum, Victor Garcia Lopez

  • automotive
  • intellectual property
  • internet of things
  • litigation
  • patents
  • telecommunications

A Game-Changer in Data Regulation: The EU Data Act unpacked

The EU Data Act, being a key pillar of the European Data Strategy, came into force on 11 January 2024. It aims at creating a horizontal framework for the access to and sharing of data generated…

Author(s): Gernot Fritz, Tina Fokter Cuvan, Theresa Ehlen, Christoph Werkmeister, Estella Dannhausen

  • eu data act
  • eu digital strategy
  • data
  • european data spaces
  • europe
  • internet of things
  • manufacturing
  • regulatory
  • retail and consumer goods
  • tech media and telecoms

Email Monitoring in Italy: would a meaningful internal investigation still be possible?

Introduction Recent guidelines issued by the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali (DPA)) regarding email metadata collection in workplace settings…

Author(s): Matteo Tola

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Cazoo

Representing Cazoo in $7B US De-SPAC

See press release.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Freshfields represents Hewlett Packard Enterprise in acquisition of Determined AI

See press release.

Marriott

Marriott on the international response to the Starwood database security incident.

WEX Inc

Advising WEX Inc in landmark Material Adverse Effect (MAE) litigation arising from COVID-19

Read our case study.

Zymergen

Freshfields serves as issuer’s counsel to Zymergen on its IPO on Nasdaq as a public benefit corporation valued in excess of $4bn

Read our case study.

Honeywell

Honeywell on combination of Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum Computing

See press release.

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