Mark Watts

Ranked in 2 Practice Areas

Star Individuals

Data Protection & Information Law

UK-wide

10 Years Ranked

Band 3

Information Technology & Outsourcing

London (Firms)

3 Years Ranked

About

Provided by Mark Watts

Practice Areas

Mark heads Bristows’s data protection practice and is also leader of the firm’s technology sector group. He has a doctorate in semiconductor physics from the University of Oxford and specialises in how data protection works in a technology context, particularly new technologies, such as cloud computing, AI, facial recognition and Adtech. For several years, Mark was in-house at IBM where he held various roles, including that of Global Data Privacy Counsel.

Mark’s practice comprises helping clients to establish proportionate and pragmatic compliance programs globally, product counselling for several of the largest technology companies and representing companies in connection with regulatory enforcement. Mark has defended companies in several of the largest, most high profile regulatory enforcement actions in the world, both in respect of data breaches and also data misuse cases.

Career

BSc (Hons) Physics, University of Wales

D.Phil Semiconductor Physics, University of Oxford

Qualified 1995

Partner 2003

Joint Managing Partner 2010 – 2016

Publications

Data Protection Top 10

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK

Data Protection & Information Law - UK-wide

Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Mark Watts demonstrates an exceptional knowledge of compliance and enforcement in the data protection market and offers extensive experience in the representation of clients before regulatory bodies. He counts some of the best-known global companies, including tech giants, among his clients.

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Information Technology & Outsourcing - London (Firms)

Band 3

Individual Editorial

Mark Watts leads Bristows' data privacy team. He advises technology companies and their customers on the development of projects at the frontiers of computer science, and their compliance with data protection and internet regulation regimes.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

He is utterly pragmatic, proactive and creative. Paired with his unparalleled knowledge of the privacy landscape, he is one I would always trust with the most important strategic matters.