Osborne Clarke expands its commercial practice with new partner Jonathan McDonald

International law firm Osborne Clarke has strengthened its London commercial team with the appointment of data protection partner Jonathan McDonald.

Jonathan is a commercial lawyer who joins the firm from Charles Russell Speechlys where he has been a partner and head of data protection and privacy for five years.

Jonathan specialises in data, technology and commercial law across a broad range of sectors, including technology, financial services, healthcare and retail. He advises clients on all issues relating to data protection and privacy. This includes complex commercial transactions with a data or technology element, managing compliance projects in the UK and internationally, cross-border and domestic data transfers, preparing for and dealing with data security breaches and data subjects exercising their rights.

Jonathan commented: “It is a privilege to be joining Osborne Clarke. I’m looking forward to bringing my own skillset to a data practice with an already wide ranging expertise and true international reach, but with a commercial approach mirroring my own.”

"Jonathan will add strength and depth to Osborne Clarke’s data protection team with his expertise, self-assured manner and strong client connections and practice."

Mark Taylor, partner at Osborne Clarke, said: “Jonathan will add strength and depth to Osborne Clarke’s data protection team with his expertise, self-assured manner and strong client connections and practice. We’re confident Jonathan will hit the ground running and are excited to see his influence in shaping the data practice going forwards.”

Jonathan's arrival follows two new hires earlier this year, private wealth partner Patrick Woodisse and corporate partner Louise Grzasko.

Osborne Clarke has long been synonymous with IT and data, and has a range of services designed to keep pace with innovation and change. Its international data practice operates across the UK, EU and from China and Singapore but advises clients on matters in almost every global jurisdiction.

The team provides comprehensive capability in both contentious and non-contentious data protection and information law issues, including security, cyber and privacy related issues, from the implications of EU legislation to international data transfers to day-to-day compliance issues The firm was recently named as a partner law firm by Europe’s first Data Protection Seal - Europrivacy.