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John Magee

Partner
Global Co-Chair Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity Group
John is easy and straightforward to deal with, even when under pressure. He is definitely a person I would go to in a crisis.
— Chambers Europe
Dublin
About

John is a highly experienced data protection lawyer, leading the firm’s data protection, privacy and cybersecurity practice in Ireland.

One of Ireland’s best known and respected privacy lawyers, John has a varied client base of both Irish and international organisations and he is recognised by clients for his strategic advice on global data governance and compliance, data transfers, information security and breach response matters.

John also advises on contentious data protection and privacy matters, including information access requests and regulatory investigations.

Having represented BSA – The Software Alliance in the Schrems II case while at his previous firm, John was part of the global DLA Piper team that created a pioneering data transfer assessment methodology implemented through a legal tech tool, known as Transfer, which was launched to the market in July 2020, following the landmark judgment in that case.

John writes and speaks regularly on data protection and cyber security matters and has lectured and created course modules for the Law Society of Ireland, the Kings Inns and Trinity College Dublin as well as speaking at international conferences such as the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Areas of FocusConsumer Goods, Food and RetailFinancial ServicesIntellectual PropertyTechnologyTechnology and Commercial Transactions
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and WalesSolicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland

EXPERIENCE

Relevant experience includes advising:

  • A range of international and domestic food, financial services, technology and life sciences companies on the creation and subsequent implementation of compliance and remediation strategies following the landmark CJEU ruling in Schrems II on the non-EEA transfers of personal data.
  • On cybersecurity and data breach response matters, acting as lead legal adviser. Cases of note include:
    • Legal advice to a major web services provider in connection with a data breach considered the largest in history;
    • Advising a regulated financial service entity following a significant hack; and
    • Strategic counsel to ensure the retrieval of a six-figure sum stolen in the course of a spear-phishing attack on a pharmaceutical firm.
  • Several multi-national companies, providing strategic advice on their ability to rely on the GDPR’s lead supervisory authority mechanism – more popularly known as the “one-stop shop”.
  • A US-headquartered insurer on a key global privacy compliance initiative, working with the client team to create a bespoke Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) template and process for use on a global basis.
Languages
  • English
Education

  • IBAT College, Diploma in Cyber and Digital Security, Dublin, 2018

  • The Law Society of Ireland, Professional Practice Course, Dublin, 2004 - 2006

  • Queen's University Belfast and Università Degli Studi di Bologna, LLM, Computers and Law, 2001 - 2002

     

    University College Dublin, BCL, 1998 - 2001

Awards

John is recognised in Best Lawyers 2019 under ‘The Best Lawyers in Ireland’ for work in Technology law.

John is “commercial, client-focused and collaborative in terms of getting good results for clients.” He is described by clients as “easy and straightforward to deal with, even when under pressure. He is definitely a person I would go to in a crisis.” (Chambers Europe)

Publications

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Solicitor registered with the Law Society of England & Wales
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
  • Association of Compliance Officers in Ireland (ACOI) Data Protection & Information Security Working Group
  • Registered Irish and Community Trade Mark and Design Attorney

My latest insights

Event

DLA Piper GDPR Fines and Data Breach Survey 2025 – webinar

22 January 2025 .1 minute read

Publication

DLA Piper GDPR Fines and Data Breach Survey: January 2025

21 January 2025 .5 minute read

Event

Payments Forum - Cyber Legal Assurance

14 November 2024 .2 minute read

View All

Connect

Phone

+353 1 487 6656
(Work, Dublin)
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