Mr Willy Mikalef > Bird & Bird > Paris, France > Lawyer Profile
Bird & Bird Offices

2 rue de la Chaussée d'Antin
75009 Paris
France
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Mr Willy Mikalef

Work Department
Willy is a partner in our Commercial Group, based in Paris. He is specialized in data protection, communications and satellites.
Position
Willy is a tech-friendly lawyer based in Paris, specialising in data protection, communications and satellites, with a commitment to providing business-oriented, sustainable advice.
After training at a telecommunications operator, an e-commerce world leader, the European Space Agency and the TMT departments of law firms in Paris and London, and gaining significant experience in commercial, communications, satellite and data protection law, he joined Bird & Bird in 2013.
This experience helps him advise some of the world’s most technologically advanced organisations on the implementation of regulatory requirements, the negotiation of commercial contracts with a strong regulatory component or where he acts for clients in proceedings before the regulators and courts.
He has experience in advising businesses and regulators in all areas of communications and satellite law across Europe and emerging countries. This includes network deployment, licensing, radio spectrum, numbering, interconnection, cybersecurity, public safety, law enforcement, consumer protection, terminal telecommunications equipment product conformity, regulatory taxes, etc. His expertise also covers satellite regulatory and commercial matters such as licensing requirements for space activities, liability and space contracts.
In the field of data protection, he assists organisations in developing and implementing their privacy program, establishing GDPR compliance tools (eg. information notices, internal policies and procedures, privacy impact assessments, data breach notification process, etc.), complying with international data transfer requirements (data transfer agreements, BCRs, etc), responding to data subjects requests and complaints or representing companies in their dealings with data protection authorities. With his telecoms background, he is also able to provide expert advice on data protection requirements which specifically apply in the electronic communications sector (cookies, email direct marketing, traffic data retention obligations, and other ePrivacy obligations).
Willy regularly acts as a lead lawyer on international projects and transactions. His secondment to Bird & Bird’s London office in 2017 taught him to work as a single, cohesive team with his colleagues across all of our offices, and beyond the firm with our network of trusted partners in America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. This helps him implement complex multi-jurisdictional projects smoothly and efficiently.
Lawyer Rankings
France > Data privacy and data protection
(Next Generation Partners)The team at Bird & Bird regularly handles regulatory compliance, GDPR issues, data transfers, personal data issues, ransomware attacks and data governance both in France and across other European states. Clients include large consultancy firms, sports organisations, banks and major players in the health and life sciences sectors. Digital compliance expert Ariane Mole heads the practice and has expertise in dawn raids, data-related litigation, cyber security and e-health. Willy Mikalef leverages his experience to advise on data protection and cybersecurity requirements among other matters. Oriane Zubcevic is noted for handling GDPR compliance audits and Julie Verdure provides additional support.
France > Industry focus: Telecoms
(Next Generation Partners)Bird & Bird has a strong track record advising on projects in France and in emerging markets and is able to draw on the firm’s strong capabilities in multiple areas to advise on competition issues, regulatory compliance, contentious matters, and commercial and public law issues. Clients include governments, private companies, technology conglomerates and telephone technology and handset manufacturers. Stéphane Leriche, who has a strong transactional practice, and Willy Mikalef, who combines space law with his specialism in telecoms, are the practice heads. Other key names include Jean-Claude Vecchiatto and Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol.
France > Industry focus: IT and internet
The team at Bird & Bird has a strong footing within the industry and expertise in AI, IT litigation, and cloud computing. The team is led by Stéphane Leriche, who is a transactional expert. Anne-Sophie Lampe is also a key name and combines her skill in litigation and advisory to handle the implementation of major IT projects, internet intermediaries, platforms’ liability, e-reputation, and cyber attacks. Willy Mikalef stands out for regulatory and contractual issues. Cen Zhang is also known for his competency in complex contracts.
Paris > Secteurs et industries > IT and internet
Bird & Bird regroupe des expertises juridiques de haut niveau en matière d’IA, de contentieux informatique et de cloud computing. La pratique est dirigée par Stéphane Leriche, qui intervient en conseil. Autre membre incontournable de l’équipe, Anne-Sophie Lampe est recommandée pour ses compétences en conseil et contentieux concernant la mise en œuvre de grands projets informatiques ou la gestion de dossiers d’internet, de responsabilité des plateformes, d’e-réputation et de cyberattaques. Enfin, Willy Mikalef traite des problématiques réglementaires et contractuelles, et Cen Zhang conseille ses clients dans la négociation de contrats complexes.
Paris > Secteurs et industries > Télécoms
(Les grands avocats de demain)Bird & Bird assiste ses clients sur la réalisation de leurs projets en France et dans les pays émergents, en traitant les aspects de droit de la concurrence, de conformité réglementaire, de droit commercial et de droit public, en conseil et en contentieux. Des gouvernements, des entreprises privées, des conglomérats technologiques ou encore des fabricants d’équipements téléphoniques sont clients. La pratique est codirigée par Stéphane Leriche, qui intervient fortement en matière transactionnelle ; et Willy Mikalef, un expert des télécoms et du droit spatial. L’équipe comprend aussi Jean-Claude Vecchiatto et Frédérique Dupuis-Toubol.
Paris > Protection des données personnelles
(Les grands avocats de demain)Bird & Bird gère des dossiers de conformité réglementaire et RGPD, de traitement et de transfert de données, et intervient lors de cyberattaques (ransomwares), en France et en Europe. De grands cabinets d’audit, des organisations sportives, des banques et de grands groupes du secteur de la santé et des sciences de la vie sont clients. La pratique est dirigée par Ariane Mole , une experte de la conformité numérique qui assiste ses clients dans la gestion de leurs problématiques de cybersécurité et d’ e-santé, lors de perquisitions et dans le traitement de litiges sur les données. Willy Mikalef conseille ses clients sur leurs sujets de protection des données et de cybersécurité. L’équipe comprend aussi Oriane Zubcevic qui mène des audits de conformité RGPD et Julie Verdure .
Lawyer Rankings
- Data privacy and data protection France
- Industry focus: IT and internet France
- Industry focus: Telecoms France
- Next Generation Partners France > Data privacy and data protection
- Next Generation Partners France > Industry focus: Telecoms
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Data privacy and data protection
- Industry focus: IT and internet
- Industry focus: Telecoms
- Intellectual property: Copyright
- Intellectual property: Patents
- Intellectual property: Trade marks and designs
- The regions
Firm Rankings
- Aviation finance
- Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences
- Private equity: venture/growth capital
- Industry focus: Energy
- Insolvency
- Banking and finance: transactional work
- Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation
- Employment
- Administrative and public law
- EU, competition and distribution
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Tax
- Banking and finance: Bank regulatory
- Dispute resolution: White-collar crime