Regulatory Information

Regulatory Information by country

Copyright

All material (including without limitation photographs) on this website is, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, subject to the copyright ownership of one or more Gowling WLG entities and may not be reproduced in any format and in any circumstances without the prior written consent of a person duly authorised on behalf of the owner(s).

Users may access and download the contents of these pages and store a copy on a temporary basis for the sole purpose of viewing the pages. Permanent storage, copying or re-distribution of these pages is prohibited. Gowling WLG encourages appropriate links to its website with prior permission from the web manager.

Gowling WLG is a registered trade mark owned by Gowling WLG International Limited.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

In accordance with the disclosure requirements of the European Framework Services Directive 2006, and as implemented by local law, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP and its affiliates have the benefit of professional indemnity insurance in excess of the minimum level required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales and, if any, by the bar authority, or equivalent, in every other jurisdiction in which Gowling WLG (UK) LLP and any of its affiliates practices.

Gowling WLG (UK) LLP maintains professional indemnity insurance cover in accordance with the Solicitors' Indemnity Insurance Rules 2013, as set out by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Minimum mandatory cover is provided by a consortium of Underwriters at Lloyd's arranged by QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited. Its professional indemnity insurance covers appropriate territories.

Brexit and Data Protection - EEA Data Transfers

As a member state of the European Union, personal information was able to flow freely between organisations in the UK and EEA without any specific measures. The transitional period ended on 31 December 2020 and a withdrawal agreement reached which provided for the continued two-way free flow of personal data.

In June 2021, the European Commission adopted adequacy decisions for transfers of personal data to the UK so recognised that the UK is providing adequate protection in respect of personal data.

What other safeguards are in place?

As a global law firm we have a data sharing protocol in place which permits us to transfer data between our offices. In general terms, if you are based in France or Germany, you are likely to deal directly with our Paris or Germany offices and share data with that office. Any subsequent transfer of that data to our Birmingham or London offices is covered by our data sharing protocol and no further action is required to safeguard that data.

If you are an EU based client and are dealing directly with our offices in London or Birmingham, we think it is likely you will be sharing your data either pursuant to a contract (because we need the data in order to provide you with legal services) or because it is for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims. There is an exemption in the GDPR Article 49 which provides derogations for specific situations. In the absence of an adequacy decision or of appropriate safeguards, transfers of personal data to a third country can take place in these circumstances and no further steps or safeguards are required. However there is currently a UK adequacy decision in place.

However, if your instructions involve data that does not fall within these circumstances, we may need to take steps to put alternative safeguards in place. The EU Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for the transfer of personal data from the Community to third countries (controller to controller transfers) are appropriate safeguards because we are both separate controllers of the data you provide to us.

Should you have any queries, please contact data.enquiry@gowlingwlg.com

September 2021