Paula Williamson is a leading specialist solicitor in data protection and freedom of information law. With 26 years’ experience, Paula grasps complex issues rapidly and helps clients navigate this landscape to deliver business-focused solutions.
Paula’s practice is diverse and includes data breach response; complex Data Subject Access Requests; data sharing; data protection audits; direct marketing campaigns; drafting policies and privacy notices; Freedom of Information law (protecting commercial information from disclosure and responding to FOI requests); drafting data protection clauses in commercial agreements; and Data Transfer Impact Assessments and advising on privacy in the metaverse. If you use AI, cookies, or biometrics, she can help ensure compliance with data laws.
Paula was previously the head of Information law at a leading law firm and with her background as a regulatory prosecutor, she is regularly instructed by clients facing ICO intervention or enforcement action. She is an experienced speaker and popular data protection trainer bringing data protection “alive” for countless organisations.
Successfully defended a large Internet Service Provider facing ICO monetary penalty proceedings in the context of a cyber-attack on its systems
Successfully represented a winner of The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year in the context of a data breach
FOI training to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
SAR training to one of the UK’s biggest insurance companies
Advising a leading national public transport provider on employee privacy issues including repurposing of onsite security CCTV footage for staff disciplinary and monitoring purposes, privacy issues arising from body worn cameras; telematics (the incidental tracking of location and movement of staff relative to a vehicle in real time); vehicle dash cams and vehicle device tracking
Advised UK’s leading microeconomic research unit around the protection of its business information from disclosure under an FOIA request, when tendering for public sector contracts;
Advised on the privacy issues in connection with the Covid-19 testing programme. The pilot programme trialled saliva-based mass population testing in the community at a local level and involved working with the ICO, epidemiologists, local authority, and other Government agencies at the highest level.
Advised a UK school’s inspector on privacy issues around the “Everyone’s Invited” campaign
Paula is married with a daughter and lives in rural Worcestershire. She enjoys being with her family, wild swimming, walking her dog iorek and supporting her daughter’s blossoming rowing career. She is a keen advocate of animal welfare.
Paula is a Director of Tenjin an online digital data protection training platform. www.mytenjin.co.uk
Paula is co-author of Sweet and Maxwell’s “Freedom of Information Law in the UK” by Sue Cullen. Paula authored the chapter on Vexatious and Repeated FOI Requests.
July 8, 2024
The words “colourful” and “Subject Access Request” rarely, if ever, appear in the same sentence. However, the recent and very …
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January 26, 2024
Excello Data Protection Partner Paula Williamson is the Director of Tenjin Limited. Paula has joined forces with Amberhawk Training Limited …
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