Thomas Barrett Email & Phone Number

15+ years experience at the cutting edge of data protection from providing cross-government expert legal advice, to leading on international negotiations, privacy-by-design, compliance, ICO engagement, training, international transfer regimes, DPO support, breach reporting, Subject Access handling, enforcement and infractions. From being responsible for designing, drafting and legislating for the the first monetary penalty notice regime and appeals system under the DPA 1998 (as implementing the DP Directive 95/46). All the way through to now being lead lawyer and negotiator for the ‘world first’ UK-US Data Access Agreement as well as being the HOLA lead Co-Ordinating Lawyer for the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill before Parliament with particular focus on reforms to the UK DP system including those relating to Automated Decision Making and AI. Substantial experience in working in a fast-paced, high profile, demanding and tech focused environments both as a member of multi-skilled agile project teams as well as the leader of a network of subject area experts. I have an established track record of dealing with the most complex data protection and privacy issues from the challenges of making archaic legacy systems compliant through to providing practical forward leaning advice in novel and untested circumstances such as the deployment of new technology (e.g. facial recognition) or establishing compliant methodologies for international co-operation spanning multiple borders and legal jurisdictions. Commercially and internationally aware, including by having closely worked with all the major ‘Big Tech’ firms to ensure the Data Access Agreement was commercially as well as politically viable and by regularly advising on the DP aspects of large tech contracts between business and the public sector such as for adopting cloud services. I have the honour of serving as a member of several committees for my professional organisation, the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, including their Technology Programme Board, their Advisory Benchers committee, and their Audit and Risk Committee as well as being a founder member of the Equalities Diversity and Inclusion committee.