On 15 October 2025, The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) imposed a combined monetary penalty of £14 million on Capita plc and Capita Pension Solutions Limited (CPSL). This fine followed a significant cyber-attack in March 2023 that compromised the personal data of over 6.6 million individuals. In our seventh episode of Privacy Unpacked, Matthew Buckwell (Senior Associate, UK) and Laura Goold (Associate, UK) examine what went wrong, the key lessons for organisations, and what this tells us about the ICO's approach to cybersecurity enforcement. Tune in now for key insights to stay ahead of the curve!

In this episode, Renee Towles (independent safeguarding advisor and, at the time of recording, VP, Safeguarding Prevention & Education at US soccer) and Desirée Moore (Partner, Venable LLP, Chicago) speak to Bird & Bird’s Richard Bush (Partner, Head of Bird & Bird’s Safeguarding in Sport practice) and Victoria Boylett (Associate, International Sports Group), looking at safeguarding and safe sport in the USA. Among other things, this episode looks at the terminology of ‘safeguarding’ and ‘safe sport’, the USA Gymnastics/Larry Nassar case and its consequences, the role and operation of the US Center for SafeSport, how US soccer has developed its safeguarding practices, and information sharing in respect of the USA. Whatever your role in sport, if you are concerned about safeguarding in sport, this series offers the insights you need to stay informed, proactive and at the forefront of matters relating to safeguarding and safeguarding regulation in sport.

In episode 11, we are joined by Lina Al Hashmi, Project Manager – Intellectual Property Acquisition at Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ARTC), and Ruxandra Cojocaru, Lead Researcher at the AI Digital Research Center within the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) - also in Abu Dhabi. ARTC is the organisation behind Falcon AI, one of the leading open-source large language models, whilst TII is Abu Dhabi's pioneering applied research centre dedicated to advancing science and technology to address global challenges. Interviewed by Melissa Murray, IP Partner in our Dubai office & Head of Country for the UAE - Lina and Ruxandra share their remarkable career journeys and insights into the UAE's rapidly evolving AI landscape. The conversation explores Lina's transition from Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development to ARTC and her mission within advanced research, including the critical considerations in technology procurement and IP acquisition. Ruxandra discusses her work on TII's AI research and Falcon models, outlining her ambitious goals and the opportunities and challenges within the large language models space. Both guests provide candid perspectives on the opportunities and challenges for women and other under-represented groups in AI and advanced research, the realities of business leadership in tech, and the impact of geopolitical events on their work. They also share valuable advice for others aspiring to follow similar trajectories in this cutting-edge field.

When Diana Kuprych originially left her home country Ukraine, she continued her legal studies in Sweden, which led her to join our Stockholm team. As a legal trainee in the corporate team, Diana was able to learn a lot about law, but most importantly about Bird & Bird and Sweden and its beautiful traditions. In this podcast episode of 'Alumni Conversations', UK-based trainee solicitor Aimee Guzinska-Bowley talks to Diana about her time at Bird & Bird in Stockholm, the connections she now builds with our London team, her experience moving abroad, and much more!

In our second episode, Vivien Rimmer, Head of Safeguarding at the RFU, Sara Niblock, Director, Anti-Discrimination Unit & Safeguarding at the Cricket Regulator, and Dave Humphrey, Head of Safeguarding and Integrity at LTA sit down with Bird & Bird partner Richard Bush to discuss their safeguarding work and the approach of domestic governing bodies to safeguarding in sport. The discussion touches upon a number of interesting and important topics, providing direct insight into the work of major domestic governing bodies, including the development of safeguarding in their sports, their approach to case management, information sharing, investigations/risk assessment, and their safeguarding initiatives.

In this episode, Tenisha Cramer (associate, UK), Tialda Beetstra (senior associate, Netherlands) and Tamy Tietze (associate, Germany) explore the topic of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and cross-border internal reorganisations. They discuss: • Fundamentals of FDI and how it works across jurisdictions • The Dutch Vifo Act and UK National Security and Investment Act frameworks, including their notification thresholds and review timelines • Practical insights gained from recent experience advising on multi-jurisdictional transactions involving technology sector clients. The conversation covers essential strategies for early assessment and due diligence, and highlights how internal reorganisations can trigger FDI requirements just like external acquisitions, making regulatory compliance crucial for all corporate restructuring activities. The interview is conducted by our solicitor apprentice in London, Flora McCarthy. In Competitive Edge – The Podcast we dissect topical competition law issues to help you understand how they may affect your business. If you have any questions or need clarifications, we would be happy to hear from you. You can contact us at tenisha.cramer@twobirds.com, tialda.beetstra@twobirds.com or tamy.tietze@twobirds.com. Check out our Foreign Direct Investment page: https://www.twobirds.com/en/capabilities/practices/corporate/merger-control,-fdi,-eu-fsr/foreign-direct-investment Stay up to date on Competition & EU Law developments in Europe and beyond – sign up here bit.ly/CompetitionMailingList to receive our monthly newsletter Competitive Edge. Read all the previous editions of the newsletter here: bit.ly/CompetitiveEdgeBB Visit our Competition & EU law insights page (https://competitionlawinsights.twobirds.com/) for our latest articles.

In our latest podcast episode from Bird & Bird, Will Bryson (Partner UK, Bird & Bird), Emma Ren (Associate China, Lawjay Partners), Clemens Molle (Associate Netherlands, Bird & Bird) and Omar Sharief (Associate UAE, Bird & Bird) share their insights on the most common challenges, and hidden pitfalls when contracting for AI systems. Tune in now to discover the key oversights and misconceptions that both buyers and sellers face, learn which contract clauses most often lead to disputes (and how to handle them), and hear practical advice on whether your organisation should prepare its own AI contract templates or checklists. To continue supporting organisations in addressing the evolving challenges of contracting for AI, we’ll also be hosting a webinar this autumn for a deeper dive into the topic. In addition, the second edition of our Contracting for AI Toolkit will soon be available to further support your organisation.

In episode 10, we are joined by Louise Lachmann, General Partner at Ugly Duckling Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm helping Nordic startups scale rapidly in today's challenging investment landscape. Interviewed by Martin von Haller Grønbæk, Commercial Of Counsel in our Copenhagen office, Louise shares her remarkable journey from the dotcom era to the current AI revolution, offering unique insights into the evolution of technology investment and entrepreneurship across the Nordic region. Louise provides candid insights into the current state of tech investing, and addresses the critical importance of supporting female entrepreneurs and improving their access to funding - part of her broader mission to create greater diversity not only in the tech industry but across business sectors generally.

In episode two, Adoption, ethics and opportunity: AI in the Middle East, Charlie Christie speaks to Ben Hughes (Core 42, part of G42 and Bird & Bird alum) about the region’s fast-moving AI landscape. They discuss how the UAE and Saudi Arabia are positioning themselves as global AI hubs, the balance between fostering innovation and ensuring ethical adoption, and what this means for lawyers, tech companies and investors shaping the future of legal services. This is the second in our series of conversations with leading voices from across the industry - offering fresh perspectives on the opportunities and challenges redefining the legal sector.

In the next episode of our podcast series, join Richard Dissmann (partner, Munich) and William Wortley (associate, London/Munich) as they discuss one of the most contentious copyright questions of recent years: what copyright protection should be given to works of applied art? Richard gives an overview of the legal landscape following a series of decisions from the CJEU in recent years, and he and William compare the German and British approaches following the recent Birkenstock and Waterrower decisions. Hot on the heels of the AG Opinion in Mio/Konektra, this timely discussion is not something you will want to miss.

In the first episode of Rewiring Legal, Thomas Davies, associate, is joined by Christine Kim from Greylock Partners and alum Henry Goodwin from Leo Capital, to discuss investment into AI in the legal space, and how the industry is balancing trust, risk and regulation.

Partnering for Protection: Kyniska Advocacy and UK Athletics on governing body case management procedures In this first episode, Mhairi Maclennan, CEO at Kyniska Advocacy, and Tom Solesbury, COO and General Counsel at UK Athletics, sit down with Bird & Bird partner Richard Bush to discuss matters including UK Athletics' approach to safeguarding, the groundbreaking collaboration between Kyniska Advocacy and UK Athletics to support athletes and improve safeguarding practices, what the aims of safeguarding cases should be, and what outcomes they might hope to achieve. The conversation also highlights areas for improvement, such as communication with athletes and minimising re-traumatisation during investigations, as well as future directions and the concept of an independent safe sport agency.

In this podcast episode, join Head of Bird & Bird's Hotels, Hospitality & Leisure group, Karen Friebe, in conversation with Employment Partner, Alison Dixon. Karen and Alison discuss the latest developments in employment law which aim to increase protection for employees, including recent changes to the laws on sexual harassment. These developments will have a significant impact on employers in the hospitality sector - tune in now to find out more.

We're gearing up to celebrate World IP Day, and this year we’re focusing on the creators and innovators who enhance our morning commute and get us moving! This year’s theme "IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP," lets us celebrate the vital role intellectual property plays in nurturing creativity and innovation within the music industry. Ever wondered, 'Where have I heard this before?' while enjoying a new song? Tune in to our latest episode, where we explore the delicate balance between copyright and originality in music creation. Richard Dissmann (Partner, Germany) and Ramani Young (IP BD Manager, UK), both members of the infamous IP band, explore the factors influencing originality in music, from cultural references to chord progressions, and discover how AI is reshaping the landscape of the music industry. We very much hope you enjoy listening to our podcast.

We head down under where Shehana (Partner, Syndey) and Katrina (Associate, Sydney) offered their thoughts on some interesting IP related news items!

Our French team discuss some crucial IP topics and more. Register now for the IP360 event in Paris on March 27th!

In episode 9, we are joined by Dana Ghosn, AI Program Senior Lead at Doctolib - the fastest growing e-health service in Europe, which acquired Dana’s startup Typeless, a cutting-edge software company focused on improving medical care through Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Please note this podcast was recorded in 2024, prior to the acquisition. Dana, an engineer by training, has dedicated her career to utilising the power of AI to make a meaningful impact on healthcare. She co-founded Typeless with the mission to revolutionise patient care and healthcare communication using advanced NLP technology. Her innovative approach is helping to bridge gaps in healthcare, making it more efficient and accessible. Interviewed by Cecilia Lahaye, International Employment Counsel in our Brussels office, Dana shares her insights on the evolution of the tech space in Switzerland and how it’s shaping the future of medical tech, the broader role of AI in healthcare, and the changing landscape for women in tech.

Understanding the distinction between pseudonymised and anonymised data is vital for compliance with GDPR, especially when sharing data with third parties, conducting research, or training AI models. In our sixth episode of Privacy Unpacked, Simon Assion (Partner, Germany) and Ruth Boardman (Partner, UK) unpack the European Data Protection Board's (EDPB) recently published Guidelines on pseudonymisation exploring the implications for data protection compliance. They also tackle the Advocate General's recent opinion in the EDPS vs. SRB case (Case C-413/23 P).

Join Nicola Conway and Deeba Moqani in this special year-end episode of the Retail Therapy podcast, as they revisit and review their 2024 predictions for the retail industry. From the rise of AI in retail, to the revival of the beauty superstore, to regulatory crackdowns - they discuss which predicted trends came to fruition versus which took unexpected turns. Tune in for an insightful wrap-up of the year's biggest retail developments and what they could mean for 2025.

In a special collaboration between the Muslim Faith Group and the Embrace network, we are excited to share the latest Embracing the Conversation podcast hosted by Business Development Manager Najat Jebari and featuring Privacy Legal Counsel Adilah Ilyas at Santander to commemorate Islamophobia Awareness Month. Adilah sheds light on her experiences and perspectives around Muslim inclusion in the workplace and what her Pakistani heritage means to her. Listen here now!