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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
UK
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.
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.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Mark Watts is a good lawyer."
"Mark Watts is ex-IBM and he is impressive."
"Mark is very thoughtful, insightful and always calm and collected. He has essentially all of the excellent qualities you want in your external counsel but which you don't always get."
"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."
"Mark is great with strategy as well as great in highly complex situations and cases."
"Mark Watts is a good lawyer."
"Mark Watts is ex-IBM and he is impressive."
"Mark is very thoughtful, insightful and always calm and collected. He has essentially all of the excellent qualities you want in your external counsel but which you don't always get."
"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."
"Mark is great with strategy as well as great in highly complex situations and cases."
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