CELS Lunchtime Seminar: 'The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the free flow of personal data: A solid foundation?'

Speaker: Eleonor Duhs, Fieldfisher

Biography:  Eleonor Duhs was a senior UK Government lawyer. She was the UK's lead lawyer in negotiations on the General Data Protection Regulation. She worked as a senior lawyer at the Department for Exiting the European Union where she led on the core provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement and the framework for the future UK-EU relationship. She now advises regulators, governments and businesses on data protection at Fieldfisher LLP in London. She is the co-author of Retained EU law: A Practical Guide, London: The Law Society, 2021.

Abstract:  The aim of this session is to analyse the provisions in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) relating to personal data, how they support EU-UK data flows and the conundrum facing UK policy makers. The provisions in the TCA relating to data protection were helpful to the UK. Arguably, they will provide a stable framework for the data adequacy decision which the EU is poised to confer on the UK. This is important because previous adequacy decisions conferred on other jurisdictions have been invalidated, impeding data flows. The UK's National Data Strategy sets out an ambitious vision of the UK as a global leader in technological innovation and robust data protection standards. The UK wishes to confer "UK data adequacy" on global partners to promote trade and the free flow of data. This presentation will consider how the UK can become a strong proponent of global data flows, whilst maintaining the standards which will enable it to continue to be recognised as "adequate" by the EU.

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qCauFl0kR2y1f8Vgf-iIbw