McDermott Will & Emery has added a highly-regarded trio of privacy and cybersecurity lawyers in Brussels and Washington DC from US rival Squire Patton Boggs as regulators worldwide step up their laws around data protection and the digital economy.

Partner Rosa Barcelo has made the move in Brussels while Elliot Golding and Robin Campbell have joined in Washington DC as partner and counsel respectively.

Barcelo played a key role shaping EU data privacy legislation as deputy head of the European Commission’s DG Connect unit before moving over to Squire as a partner in 2018. She brings extensive experience in a number of privacy-related matters to McDermott including compliance with the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive and advises clients on data strategy in commercial agreements, global data transfers, data protection impact assessments and setting up foundations with lead authority assessments. 

 “As the evolving data protection and privacy landscape presents our clients with ongoing considerations affecting their business, we’re excited to bolster our Brussels capabilities with the hire of a seasoned data privacy and cybersecurity partner,” said Hendrik Viaene, head of McDermott’s Brussels office, adding that Barcelo’s industry experience would provide the firm’s clients with “invaluable insight into topical issues affecting their businesses".

Golding, meanwhile, joined Squire as a partner five years ago from Crowell & Moring and advises clients across a range of sectors on the privacy and cybersecurity aspects of matters including biometrics, the Internet of things, data monetisation, online advertising and AI. His work involves day-to-day product counselling and developing global compliance programs to harmonise US and international privacy laws, as well guiding clients through ransomware attack and breaches. 

Campbell works with clients primarily in the automotive industry to analyse the risks associated with new technologies, data use or transfers and develop appropriate controls. She covers both US and international laws and has in-depth knowledge of GDPR and international data transfers. Like Golding, she moved over to Squire at the beginning of 2017 from Crowell & Moring, where she had served as co-chair of the privacy and cybersecurity group, a role that she also held at Squire.  

“The US and the EU, Brussels in particular, are where fast-developing global data protection and privacy regulations are created,” said Raymond Jacobsen, global head of McDermott’s regulatory practice. “We are thrilled to welcome Elliot, Robin and Rosa – a team of highly skilled lawyers with multifaceted experience – who will provide our clients with full coverage of their privacy-related needs.”

He added that the trio’s collective industry experience would enable them to support other practices at the firm including healthcare, technology, IP, energy, litigation and corporate.

The trio’s hire follows McDermott adding Squire’s Singapore co-managing partner, Ignatius Hwang, last March as it prepared to relaunch in Asia with an office in the city-state focusing on energy and infrastructure. Later in the year the firm added a trio of corporate lawyers from Squire to bolster its Singapore shop, with the trio residing in the firm’s global transactions practice and focusing on general corporate work. 

For its part, Squire earlier this month announced it had hired a team of six senior lawyers to expand its global data privacy, cybersecurity and digital assets practice. The team included new UK head David Naylor, who joined the firm’s London office from Wiggin, where he was also head of its data privacy, information law and cybersecurity team.