Monika Sobiecki > Bindmans LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Monika Sobiecki

+44 20 7833 4433 [email protected] View profile View profile View profile

Work Department

Media and Information.

Position

Partner, Media and Information.

Monika is a specialist Data Protection and Cybersecurity barrister. She has a wealth of experience in all aspects of data and information law and is passionate about the protection of digital rights.

Monika has worked for individuals, public and private sector organisations. She has advised government bodies; research institutions; charities; universities and global companies; including in the Manufacturing, Retail, Fintech, Biotech, Aviation and Space sectors.

She has handled a number of high profile and international cyber incidents; people (individually and collectively) pressing for compensation for loss of their data; difficult and complex data subject rights requests and Freedom of Information Act (FOI) requests made by journalists and campaigners. On the advisory side, Monika has helped to build a privacy framework from the ground up for organisations as varied as well-known charities, universities, government bodies and multinational companies.

She has been involved in advising on a range of issues including: GDPR audits; vendor management; biometrics and facial recognition; cyber and data incident frameworks (alongside technical experts); direct marketing compliance; cookies and other adtech; joint controllership; and the development and deployment of artificial intelligence.

Career

In 2010, Monika was called to the Bar at Middle Temple. She qualified in 2015 and practised as a Barrister at Pump Court Chambers. In 2021, Monika joined Bindmans from Dentons as a partner.

Monika’s experience includes:

Pegasus Spyware Claims

• Representing a group of claimants challenging the global abuse of NSO’s phone hacking spyware (The Pegasus Files)

Bellingcat

• Collaboration with the Global Legal Action Network, advising an investigative journalism group on a methodology for online open source investigations (OOSI) for the purpose of collecting evidence for accountability proceedings; current projects are focused on the civilian harm in Yemen and the invasion of Ukraine

medConfidential

• Representing an NGO investigating causes of action arising out of data sharing of NHS patient data with a private AI company and calling upon 13 NHS Trusts to terminate their contracts (as covered in the Tech Press and supported by the Digital Freedom Fund)

ULEZ Camera Challenge

• Representing Open Rights Group and London Assembly member Sian Berry in launching a new legal challenge against the Mayor of London’s decision to allow the Met Police access to cameras monitoring the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone

Data Breach Claims

• Providing advice to a confidential group of claimants on the fallout from major data breaches featured in the press, including the Lister Hospital / Stor-a-File cyberattack and the Suffolk Constabulary data breach
• Charmaine Wakelin v Marks & Spencer Plc
• Represented the claimant in a disability discrimination case centred around data breach/data protection issues, 10-day hearing at London Central Employment Tribunal, reported in The Times)

Media Law

• As part of the Media law team, Monika also provides advice to publishers, campaigners and NGOs on publication risks, data protection and privacy issues, reputation management and litigation, including the Association for Community Organisations for Reform Now Limited (ACORN), Amnesty International, Byline Times, Animal Aid, Freedom from Torture, Here for Good and TaxWatch

Cyber Incident Response

• Represented confidential global brands leading on cyber incident response following global ransomware attacks (e.g.  Maze, Phobos, Blackbaud), including advice on breach notification; managing data subjects and litigation risks; data analysis; working alongside external forensics and PR and internal cyber incident response teams
• Represented a confidential confederation of public authorities providing multi-faceted advice on risks and litigation strategy arising from a ransomware attack on a supplier of forensics services

Reputation Management and Compliance Advice

• Represented a high-end national retail brand on all aspects of GDPR and e-Privacy compliance, including: a GDPR audit; proposed plans for loyalty schemes; data breaches and managing potential data breach litigation
• Advised an artificial intelligence company on facial recognition, biometrics, profiling and automated decision-making
• Advised institutional clients on legal and regulatory risks arising out of the ICO’s market investigation into the use of wealth screening companies for charitable and alumni fundraising

Represented companies, educational institutions and major charities – leading on GDPR / privacy programmes and audits, including fact-finding exercises and advice on discrete matters such as direct marketing; data subject rights requests; employee monitoring; joint controllership and the impact of Brexit and Covid-19

Memberships

Monika is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and holds both Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) qualifications. She is also a regular speaker and has featured recently at the Green Economics Institute and chaired a Panel at the IAPP Data Protection Intensive: UK 2019.

Education

Monika graduated in 2009 with a BA (Hons) Law from Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.