In-House Essentials session to explore challenges of new Data Act with ICO guest speaker

Laura Cairns, Principal Lawyer in the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Regulatory Enforcement Team will be guest speaker at an In-House Essentials event being staged by law firm CMS.

Held at the firm’s Edinburgh office on Thursday, 24 September, the session will focus on how companies and organisations can best prepare for the changes introduced to UK data protection law by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. The two-hour, free-to-attend session is open to in-house legal teams, data protection and privacy professionals, and specialists operating within compliance, governance, risk, and information management.

Laura will deliver a presentation and take part in a question-and-answer session looking at the practical implications of the Act, which brings into effect strict new duties for handling privacy complaints, and amends existing data protection laws such as the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Launched across Scotland last year, the In-House Essentials programme supports in-house legal teams to expand their networks, stay ahead of legislative and industry changes, and develop essential leadership skills.

Led by a team of specialist lawyers at CMS, the programme includes regular sessions featuring expert-led discussions and practical demonstrations with an opportunity for professionals to network with peers facing similar business management challenges.

Duncan Turner, a partner in CMS Scotland’s Technology & Media team, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Laura Cairns of the ICO to our next event, where her insights on the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 will be invaluable.

The Act presents important practical considerations for organisations that may need to review their existing data protection practices and policies. We look forward to exploring these issues in more detail during the session.”

More details about the event can be found here.