Edward Machin

Edward Machin is counsel in the data, privacy and cybersecurity group, based in London. He provides clear and business-focused advice on a wide range of legal and regulatory issues in the rapidly evolving areas of privacy, data protection and cyber security, artificial intelligence and digital regulation. Secondments at data-rich businesses in the life sciences and market research sectors have given Edward a deep understanding of what clients want – and these experiences inform his approach to providing user-friendly legal and commercial solutions to organisations across Europe, the U.S. and Asia. In the Legal 500 UK 2024, Edward is described as “excellent” and “knowledgeable, responsive [and] practical”.

Edward’s practice encompasses regulatory compliance, advisory and transactional work for founders, start-ups, corporates, venture capitalists and asset managers across the technology, life sciences and healthcare, financial and professional services, food and beverage, consumer goods, entertainment and media sectors. He regularly advises on the development and operationalisation of global compliance programmes, new products and services, complex international data transfer issues, and emerging technologies and regulatory trends (such as the use of artificial intelligence, digital assets and alternative data).

In addition, Edward has particular experience with crisis and incident management. He helps clients respond to requests from law enforcement agencies and data protection authorities, and frequently advises on personal data breaches, security events and contentious subject rights requests. He also works closely with colleagues across the firm on the data protection aspects of internal investigations and litigation matters.

Edward writes widely on privacy, data protection and security issues, and has been quoted in the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Irish Times, Sky News and various industry publications. Before his legal career, Edward worked for six years as an award-winning financial journalist.