Catch up

Drew Bagley, Esq. is CrowdStrike’s Chief Privacy Officer, responsible for leading CrowdStrike’s global data protection initiatives, privacy strategy and policy engagement. Mr. Bagley joined CrowdStrike more than a decade ago after working in the FBI’s Office of General Counsel. He is part of CISA’s JCDC, Europol’s Advisory Group on Internet Security, the U.S. Department of State’s International Digital Economy and Telecommunication Advisory Committee, and the DNS Abuse Institute’s Advisory Council. He served on the ICANN CCT Review Team and the President’s NSTAC Abuse of Domestic Infrastructure Subcommittee. Mr. Bagley, a former German Chancellor Fellow, teaches at American University and co-hosts the Start Here: Cyber Fundamentals for Policymakers podcast.

Kristy Balsanek has more than 20 years of legal experience, practicing in both global law firms and in-house roles. Kristy's practice focuses on core sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas including regulatory assessments, reporting and disclosures, climate transition, environmental policy, net-zero initiatives, greenwashing, sustainable linked loans, mergers and acquisitions, post-acquisition integration, global supply chain, business and human rights, business ethics, director/officer duties and corporate governance.

Daphne Bens, head of the Dutch Corporate group, has over 20 years’ experience in advising (multi)national corporations as well as listed companies in complex cross- border M&A transactions. Daphne's practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures and general corporate law.

Daphne has a specific focus on the Technology sector and the Hospitality and Leisure sector and is member of the DLA Piper core teams in these sectors. She has also been a member of the jury of the Philips Innovation Awards in recent years.

In 2002 Daphne was seconded at DLA Piper Hong Kong and Singapore.

Kristof De Vulder has over 20 years’ experience of helping global clients with technology and telecommunications contracts, cyber security, outsourcing, license contracts, cloud contracts, hybrid cloud/on premise environments legal challenges, systems integration and complex technology transactions. He advises both users and suppliers.

Kristof leads the Brussels technology team and assists clients with business-critical strategic projects and incidents all over the world. He advises on EU technology regulations, all aspects of the sourcing process, the legal issues arising with the implementation of new technologies and responding to cyber incidents.

He also assists clients during all stages of major technology disputes, including pre-litigation strategies, mediation, arbitration and government courts.

He has worked with global technology suppliers, major IT-buyers, software companies, governments and public sector bodies on a broad range of technology and sourcing transactions, ranging from global application management outsourcing and multi-jurisdictional business process outsourcing to the creation of standard suites of agreements.

Kristof regularly speaks at conferences and seminars about IT law, particularly on the topics of outsourcing, technology contracts and tech disputes.

He has been a lawyer with DLA Piper since 2003 and a partner since 2005. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for an international law firm which became the Brussels office of DLA Piper in 2003.

Bringing prior experience in the media industry and U.S. Copyright Office to her practice, Rachel strategically advises clients on copyright transactions, litigation, and counseling. Rachel handles high-stakes copyright matters for clients in broad array of industries, including in art, music, fashion, technology, and media sectors. With her focus on copyright, Rachel routinely works as a subject matter specialist on high-stakes copyright litigation before trial and appellate courts throughout the country for copyright owners and content users, advising on protective and defensive arguments, including fair use. Rachel also routinely assists clients on copyright clearance, risk analysis, and protection related to product launches as well as licensing and pre-litigation dispute resolution. In addition to her work at DLA, Rachel is dedicated to giving back to the copyright community by working on pro bono matters for creators and serving as co-chair of the DC Chapter of the Copyright Society of the United States as well as co-chair of the ChIPs NextGen Mock Pitch Committee.

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).

ana Olariu is a Group Legal Director at Lumine Group, a global acquirer and operator of communications and media software companies. In this role, she oversees the legal operations of a portfolio of companies operating worldwide, with a focus on the telecommunication sector.
Oana began her legal career as a tax solicitor at Gowling WLG, an international law firm. She then transitioned to in-house legal roles at BT and Jaguar Land Rover, where she gained extensive experience in commercial and technology law.

Vincent Roobaert is Principal Legal Counsel at the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), where he provides strategic legal guidance on institutional law, procurement, compliance, ethics, and emerging technologies with a focus on cyber defence and digital transformation. With over 20 years of experience in international law and the defence sector, Vincent has advised on numerous high-impact, tech-driven initiatives, including the NATO Allied Persistent Surveillance System (APSS) and other mission-critical capability programmes. He is deeply involved in shaping legal frameworks around innovation, advanced data systems, and secure communications within NATO. Vincent has also led legal work on complex international litigation and arbitration, bringing deep expertise in managing legal risks in technologically advanced operational environments. He holds a degree in Compliance from Louvain Business School, a Master’s in International Criminal Justice and Armed Conflict Law from the University of Nottingham, and a Law Degree magna cum laude from Université Catholique de Louvain. Admitted to the Brussels Bar in 2003, he is fluent in French, English, and Dutch, and proficient in Russian.

Andrew Serwin is one of the pre-eminent privacy and security practitioners in the world. He has worked on some of the highest-profile privacy and security matters, and clients describe him as a "rock star lawyer," "a walking encyclopedia on anything data protection related," a "no-brainer hire," and "a tireless worker, holding onto the ever-shifting puzzle pieces of the law in this area in a way that other privacy lawyers cannot" (Chambers USA). For his work in data protection and privacy, Andrew is an inaugural inductee into the 2017 Legal 500 Hall of Fame, comprised of outstanding US lawyers who have been recommended as Legal 500 Leading Lawyers for the last six consecutive years. For his outstanding client service, he was named a BTI All-Star MVP and BTI Super All-Star in 2022, with clients describing Andrew as "a key asset in today's environment." He was recognized as one of the Daily Journal's Top 100 Lawyers in California for 2016 and a National Law Journal 2015 Cyber Security & Data Privacy Trailblazer, recognizing the 50 people "who have helped make a difference in the fight against criminal cyber activity.

Gareth Stokes focuses on information technology, outsourcing and intellectual property-driven contracts.

Gareth's experience spans numerous complex major procurement and sourcing projects within heavily regulated industries. Most such engagements involve elements of service delivery on-shore, with other elements delivered further afield, whether near shore within the newer EU Member States or offshore in India, China and emerging economies. These projects tend to involve innovative contractual structures, including joint venture arrangements, multi-level framework and call off structures, trust arrangements and other multi-contract arrangements.