Alex Lawrence-Archer

Practice Areas

Alex delivers advisory and contentious work at the intersection of data protection/privacy law, public law, and new technologies. He works across all of AWO's practice areas, with particular expertise in:

- Facial recognition technology

- The regulation of AI harms, including in the public sector

- Privacy law and generative AI

- Workers' data rights, in particular in the gig economy

- Processing of personal data in the NHS

- Platform accountability, the Age Appropriate Design Code, and the Online Safety Act

Working on AWO's major strategic litigation challenges, Alex has extensive experience of High Court procedure and of bringing applications for judicial review in the field of data protection.

As well as advising on how individuals can exercise and enforce their privacy rights, Alex advises data controllers on complex compliance questions and disputes, including labour unions responding to complex DSARs and a major internet browser provider on the development of a suite of novel advertising attribution products.

In 2023 Alex's expertise on the UK's data protection legislation led to him being asked to give evidence to the House of Commons on proposed reforms to the UK GDPR in the (since abandoned) Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.

Career

Prior to joining AWO, Alex was Chief Operating Officer of the UK Government’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, where he influenced significant policy developments in AI ethics and established a team focused on understanding public attitudes to AI. He also previously helped lead London-based insure-tech startup Brolly as Chief Operating Officer and in-house counsel.

Professional Memberships

Member of the legal panel for LawforChange, a fund focused on taking legal actions in the public interest.

Magistrate in the family court.

Publications

Practice Note on public sector AI transparency for PLC: https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-044-3714

Work Highlights

Notable instructions have included:

- Securing a widely-reported apology and rectification for a UK journalist inaccurately categorised as a ‘vaccine sceptic’ by UK government surveillance.

- Advising Serpentine Gallery on the legal aspects of a cutting edge choral data generative AI project.

- Advising public policy clients and parliamentarians on the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, Online Safety Act, and reforms to the Investigatory Powers Act. As well as giving evidence to the Public Bill Committee for the DPDI Bill, Alex has drafted amendments tabled by parliamentarians and drafted keynote reports on AI regulation for thinktanks the Ada Lovelace Institute and Connected by Data.

- Bringing regulatory challenges to the infringement of workers’ data rights in the gig economy.

- Bringing regulatory challenges and claims in relation to the private sector use of facial recognition technology.

- Advising a labour union on challenging the exploitation of workers through the creation of generative AI replicas and composites.