Deputy Data Protection Officer joins law firm Bird & Bird as a partner in Dublin

International law firm Bird & Bird have appointed Anna Morgan, former General Counsel at the Data Commission, as one of two partners in their new Dublin office, alongside Deirdre Kilroy, who joins from Matheson.

The appointment of specialized and experienced privacy, intellectual property and technology lawyers by a new entrant is likely to be closely watched in the legal industry here.

Bird & Bird partner Stuart Cairns, co-head of the international Projects & Procurement group, as well as Francine Cunningham, head of the Regulatory and Public Affairs practice group in Brussels, will also spend an extended period of time in the new Irish office in George’s Dock on 13 June is officially opened.

Anna Morgan joins from the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) where she was Deputy Commissioner and Head of Legal for the last five years. Prior to that, she was in private practice for 10 years, specializing in privacy, commercial and regulatory litigation.

At Matheson, Deirdre Kilroy was a partner on the technology and innovation team with experience in technology, privacy and intellectual property, particularly for clients in the data and technology, life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors.

Anna Morgan’s move from her role as lead supervisor to private practice has been approved by the DPC subject to certain conditions, Bird & Bird said.

Bird & Bird said the Dublin office’s offering will be in line with its overarching vision of advising clients who are being transformed by technology or the digital world, and those who are leading that transformation. The Dublin partners will work closely with the company’s international leadership, including Roger Bickerstaff (Technology & Communications) and Sally Shorthose (Life Sciences & Healthcare), it said.

Bird & Bird CEO Christian Bartsch said the companies’ customers are up to date with the latest technology and the digital world.

“Deirdre and Anna’s deep expertise in privacy, intellectual property and technology will be a key strength that will distinguish Bird & Bird’s Irish office from the start and shape our future in Ireland. Her unique skills combined with our renowned legal expertise will ensure we will be better able to provide our clients in Ireland with practical advice to navigate the complex landscape of data protection and the implications of intellectual property and new technologies.”