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Claire Halle-Smith

Legal Director

Claire’s experience in-house coupled with many years advising on data privacy matters enables her to identify key issues facing an organisation and to provide practical, solutions-based advice.

"Claire Halle-Smith gave me superb advice and assistance as to the process, drafting of all correspondence and the final response and applying relevant exemptions. Claire's support was invaluable and I went on to recommend Wright Hassall to several other societies"

Steve Richardson, Chairman of a national society

Experience

  • Managing data breaches and avoiding financial penalties and other potential adverse action by supervisory authorities when liaising on clients’ behalf following serious breaches of personal data.
  • Multiple high-profile access request support both in response to individuals and supporting clients undergoing investigation by the Information Commissioner.
  • The creation of an industry-specific network of organisations that provides webinars and multiple face-to-face training workshops on aspects of data protection such as consent for marketing, lawful processing of children’s data and special category data, individuals rights, data mapping, DPIA and audits, breach management, sub-processor contracts, transfers to third countries and accountability obligations.
  • Creating compliance programmes for a wide variety of clients, from SMEs to group companies operating across multiple jurisdictions. To include, for example, data asset analysis, policies, procedures, privacy notices, data sharing/processing agreements, cross-border transfers, marketing consents, advice on DPIAs and accountability requirements.
  • Created and managed a team in-house to manage risk across a group of companies and has worked closely with data protection officers within a variety of sectors to assist them with their compliance programmes. 
  • Supporting global organisations in the development and implementation of contractual documents.

Career

Claire joined a multi-national organisation shortly after qualification where she was later appointed Group Commercial Counsel. She subsequently moved to private practice and has worked at Wright Hassall since 2017.

Interests

Claire is a keen walker and spends a lot of her time in the Oxfordshire countryside accompanied by as many dogs and/or people as she can muster... she enjoys skiing and running and spends a lot of her remaining time fundraising for local charities. 

Meet the team

Meet the team
Grace Beesley Trainee Solicitor
Mali Smith - Employment Lawyer
Mali Smith Legal Director & Mediator
Kevin Hall Partner – VAT