On Thursday 9th February, LegalTech in Leeds and Cyber Security Partners (CSP) are joining forces to create an insightful free seminar discussing data and cyber security in the aim to bring together the legal and tech sectors to address key technology and innovation topics.
This morning session, hosted by Barclays Eagle Labs, will consist of several speakers from both the hosts, legal firms from large, medium and small, including DLA Piper, Blacks (SME Leeds based law firm) and The Oakland Group. Then there will be a panel with some other experts ready to take on your questions.
Barclays Eagle Labs representative, said:
“Barclays Eagle Labs LawTech supports the UK’s legal industry to remain world-class, by bringing together LawTech businesses and industry-leading law firms. This is to help solve the challenges that the industry is facing and facilitate collaborative solutions using new and emerging legal innovation.”
Speaker information
Cyber Security Partners
Firstly, Kevin Else, Consulting Director for Cyber Security Partners, will walk you through the NIS regulation and the potential effect on Legal businesses that utilise MSP services, in their moves to provide more digital based services. Attendees will be provided with a guide on how to assess the security of their digital supply chain, what additional benefits MSP complying with the regulations will provide to Legal practices, and what are the potential pitfalls.
The reason for this topic is that in November 2022, the UK government published the results of a consultation paper of its proposal to bring Managed Service Providers (MSPs) under the NIS regulations. This defines a list of mandatory controls that organisations must implement to reduce their Cyber Security risks. The intention of the NIS regulations is to protect all elements of the critical infrastructure such as energy, travel and digital service providers whatever industry they service. It does not currently cover managed service providers. Given the extensive use of these services across the Legal industry and the large attack surface that these companies provide to attackers, it was identified in DCMS’s ‘supply chain cyber security call for views’ (May 2021), that managed service providers are a vital link in maintaining services within the UK Economy.
Kevin has experience of helping power grid companies meet the requirements of NIS, as part of the critical national infrastructure cyber security reviews and over 30 years helping organisations pragmatically deal with ensuring cyber security across the supply chain.
Kevin Else, Consulting Director for CSP, said:
“Cyber security standards and regulations have to adapt to the ever-changing threats from cyber criminals. But as with all rules and regulations there maybe unintended consequences. The session will look at the proposed changes, there potential effects on MSP’s and the organisations which use them.”
DLA Piper
Then DLA Piper, a large global Law Firm, will have a representative at the event discussing their experience with the Cyber Essentials accreditation process that they have been through and what they needed to do to meet the requirements. This will help other law firms when considering to achieve the Cyber Essentials accreditation too.
About the speaker:
Neill Morley started at the international law firm DLA Piper over 21 years ago and has held a number of positions covering Service Management and Education. Neill has been a member of the IT Leadership team at DLA Piper for 5 years, supporting over 400 IT staff across the international firm.
Blacks, then the Oakland Group
Furthermore, Blacks will be talking mainly about data protection during their presentation. And finally, the Oakland Group will ask the question ‘How are organisations using data strategically within their organisations, and what lessons could the legal sector take from other sectors?’ to get you thinking.
Phil Parkinson, Solicitor Partner at Blacks Law Firm said:
“Blacks Solicitors is a 28-partner law firm with over 190 employees. The Firm provides a wide range of legal services to commercial and private clients across the UK. We take time to get to know and understand our clients, building long-term relationships to deliver the best results possible.
Blacks regularly provides advice to owner-managed businesses and high net worth individuals on many areas, including Corporate & Commercial Law, Intellectual Property and Data Protection. Phil Parkinson leads the commercial team and Aisha Akhtar is the go-to advisor for data protection law.”
Panel Discussions
Towards the end of the event, we will then have a panellist discussion including; Kevin Else, CSP, Andrew Dyson, Managing Partner for DLA Piper Leeds, who is a globally respected authority on data. Blacks will have a representative talking from the perspective of a medium sized regional law firm, and Clare Thornton, Managing Partner of Thornton Jones, as a panellist. Clare runs a regional consumer law firm with offices around West Yorkshire. They were voted small law firm of the year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards last year.
Clare Thornton, Managing Partner of Thornton Jones, said:
“Thornton Jones Solicitors were winners of the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2022, Small firm category. Thornton Jones is a High Street firm with 4 offices in Wakefield, Garforth, Ossett and Sherburn-In-Elmet and have 50 members of staff. I am passionate about using IT to enhance both the customer and the team’s experience. Cyber security is an important part of my role as MD of the firm. Working with external partners has been essential and staff training on risk management generally is vital.”
So, join us in Leeds for breakfast, networking and some insightful talks from leading experts in their industries, to help your organisation stay up to date, compliant and secure for 2023 and beyond. Sign up for free today.
