Over 200 Dublin solicitors last Friday attended the Practice and Regulation Symposium 2018 at the Mansion House in Dublin 2.

Organised by the Dublin Solicitors’ Bar Association in partnership with the Law Society Finuas Skillnet, the annual event provides local solicitors with updates on essential areas of law and practice including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

Legal landscape

The conference is an opportunity for local solicitors to gather and reflect on the current legal landscape, according to solicitor Greg Ryan, of Greg Ryan Solicitors in Upper Mount Street.

Greg is President of the Dublin Solicitor Bar Association and he says it’s been a busy year for the profession.

“Six months ago, law firms and organisations across Europe were preparing for GDPR changes that impact every single person in the country.

“It is important, as solicitors and colleagues, we can come together to reflect and discuss how we are managing these changes, look at what we are doing and how we can improve.”

GDPR in action

The GDPR rules came into force for everyone dealing with European citizens’ data earlier this year.

GDPR experts, Ann Henry of Pinsent Masons, Dublin and Chair of Law Society’s Intellectual Property & Data Protection Law Committee and Paul Lavery of McCann FitzGerald, addressed the conference to discuss managing data and responding to data access requests.

Important changes

“The new GDPR rules are possibly the most important changes in data privacy regulation over the last few decades. Dublin is the centre hub for many Irish organisations, both big and small, and is important that all organisations stay compliant,” says Greg Ryan

“GDPR is about much more than storing personal data safely and it is important all Dublin businesses, from established international organisations to start-ups, are aware they have GDPR responsibilities and know how to handle personal data access requests - especially within the timeframe of 30 days.”

Personal data is any information that can identify an individual person. This can include, but is not limited to, a name, postal address, images or anything relating to the identity of a person

Access request

“If you need information on reviewing your GDPR policy, or handling an access request, talk to your solicitor at the earliest opportunity. Your local solicitor is an expert adviser and can help your business, whether it is big or small, with any business issue you may have.”