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Mark Young

Partner

London +44 20 7067 2101

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Mark Young is an experienced tech regulatory lawyer and a vice-chair of Covington’s Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. He advises major global companies on their most challenging data privacy compliance matters and investigations. Mark also leads on EMEA cybersecurity matters at the firm. In these contexts, he has worked closely with some of the world’s leading technology and life sciences companies and other multinationals.

    Mark has been recognized for several years in Chambers UK as "a trusted adviser - practical, results-oriented and an expert in the field;" "fast, thorough and responsive;" "extremely pragmatic in advice on risk;" “provides thoughtful, strategic guidance and is a pleasure to work with;” and has "great insight into the regulators." According to the most recent edition (2024), "He's extremely technologically sophisticated and advises on true issues of first impression, particularly in the field of AI."

    Mark is the Training Principal and Graduate Recruitment Partner for Covington’s London office.

    Drawing on over 15 years of experience, Mark specializes in:

    • Advising on potential exposure under GDPR and international data privacy laws in relation to innovative products and services that involve cutting-edge technology, e.g., AI, biometric data, and connected devices.
    • Providing practical guidance on novel uses of personal data, responding to individuals exercising rights, and data transfers, including advising on Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) and compliance challenges following Brexit and Schrems II.
    • Helping clients respond to investigations by data protection regulators in the UK, EU and globally, and advising on potential follow-on litigation risks.
    • Counseling ad networks (demand and supply side), retailers, and other adtech companies on data privacy compliance relating to programmatic advertising, and providing strategic advice on complaints and claims in a range of jurisdictions.
    • Advising life sciences companies on industry-specific data privacy issues, including:
      • clinical trials and pharmacovigilance;
      • digital health products and services; and
      • engagement with healthcare professionals and marketing programs.
    • International conflict of law issues relating to white collar investigations and data privacy compliance (collecting data from employees and others, international transfers, etc.).
    • Advising various clients on the EU NIS2 Directive and UK NIS regulations and other cybersecurity-related regulations, particularly (i) cloud computing service providers, online marketplaces, social media networks, and other digital infrastructure and service providers, and (ii) medical device and pharma companies, and other manufacturers.
    • Helping a broad range of organizations prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents, including personal data breaches, IP and trade secret theft, ransomware, insider threats, supply chain incidents, and state-sponsored attacks. Mark’s incident response expertise includes:
      • supervising technical investigations and providing updates to company boards and leaders;
      • advising on PR and related legal risks following an incident;
      • engaging with law enforcement and government agencies; and
      • advising on notification obligations and other legal risks, and representing clients before regulators around the world.
    • Advising clients on risks and potential liabilities in relation to corporate transactions, especially involving companies that process significant volumes of personal data (e.g., in the adtech, digital identity/anti-fraud, and social network sectors.)
    • Providing strategic advice and advocacy on a range of UK and EU technology law reform issues including data privacy, cybersecurity, ecommerce, eID and trust services, and software-related proposals.
    • Representing clients in connection with references to the Court of Justice of the EU.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Providing strategic advice and coordinating responses of a global technology company in relation to major GDPR and ePrivacy investigations.
    • Advising AI providers on the privacy implications of collecting and using large datasets of consumer data to develop, train, and improve their AI solutions.
    • Counsel to a major adtech company on GDPR and ePrivacy compliance in relation to online behavioural advertising and related legal and market developments.
    • Represent a major pharmaceutical company on compliance issues relating to pan-EU clinical trials, transfers of value to healthcare professionals, eligibility for early access programs, intragroup processing, and international transfer issues.
    • Coordinated recent responses to supply chain cyberattacks and notifications to multiple regulators globally for clients in the pharmaceutical, heavy industry, and gaming sectors.
    • Counselled a pharmaceutical company on a cyber-attack that targeted documents relating to the regulatory submission of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
    • Advised an international sporting organization on a state-sponsored cybersecurity incident that resulted in a breach of confidential athlete data.
    • Coordinated an EU and ex-U.S. team as part of a 24/7 global incident response effort over several weeks in relation to a multifaceted systems and controls issue.

    • Counsel to a multinational chain of coffeehouses on consumer marketing and various data privacy compliance issues relating to licensees.
    • Advised a major airline on data privacy compliance in relation to various aspects of its loyalty program, arrangements with tech vendors, and international transfers of data.
    • Long-term adviser to one of the largest healthcare and insurance companies in the world on GDPR and international data privacy laws, including in Brazil.
    • Counsel to a leading radiation oncology treatment and software provider on the rollout of software-as-a-service to hospitals and other customers across Europe.
    • Advised a major software provider and BSA | The Software Alliance, the leading trade association for the global software industry, during the legislative process relating to the GDPR (2012-2016).
    • Advised a leading cloud computing and digital services provider on compliance with security and incident reporting obligations under the NIS and NIS2 Directives and national laws.
    • Advised a global risk solutions business on the acquisition of a digital identity platform to help combat fraud online.
    • Represented a multinational medical devices and health care company on data privacy issues relating to the spin-off of its pharmaceuticals business.
    • Represented a major software provider at the Court of Justice of the EU in a case relating to counterfeit software and the exhaustion of rights under the Software Directive.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Nottingham Law School, 2008
        • Postgraduate Diploma in Commercial Intellectual Property
    • College of Law, London, L.P.C., 2004
    • Glasgow Graduate School of Law, 2003
        • LL.M. in Technology Law
        • Distinction
    • University of Edinburgh, 1999
        • LL.B. (Joint Hons. French)
    • Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III, 1998
        • Erasmus Exchange
    Bar Admissions
    • Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
    Languages
    • French
    Pro Bono
    • Advising Privacy International, the privacy-rights NGO, with respect to emerging EU and other privacy and data retention laws (2007-2012).
    Accolades
    • Chambers UK, Data Protection and Information Law (2014-2024)
    • Who's Who Legal, Global Leader - Data Privacy and Protection (2021-2022)
    • Chambers UK, Parliamentary & Public Affairs (2013-2014), recognised as “an expert on data protection law and policy”
    • Legal 500 UK, Data Protection (2016) and Public Affairs (2011)
    • Sports, Media and Entertainment Team of the Year (Intellectual Property Magazine Awards, 2010)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • IAPP   
    • Society for Computers and Law
    Previous Experience
    • Trained with and qualified into the TMT department of a leading City of London law firm
    • First Data International, seconded to the in-house legal team
    • BBC, Vodafone, the Times newspaper, legal internships
    • PricewaterhouseCoopers, IT Management Consultant

    Areas of Expertise

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