Saarinen, Myria

Myria Saarinen

Partner

myria.saarinen@lw.com
    Saarinen, Myria

    Myria Saarinen

    Partner

    myria.saarinen@lw.com
    “A great expert with a very pragmatic approach. For particularly complex cases, it is a pleasure to work with Saarinen and her team.”

    The Legal 500 EMEA 2022

    “Myria Saarinen is also incredibly efficient and does not waste the clients’ time. Myria is on the ball and business-orientated while having great technical skills and therefore understanding the products of her clients.”

    The Legal 500 EMEA 2021

    Profile

    Myria Saarinen, former Global Co-Chair of the Technology Industry Group, represents domestic and international clients in all types of civil and commercial complex litigation matters. She also leads the data protection practice in Paris.

    Ms. Saarinen draws on two decades’ experience as a litigator and her comprehensive understanding of her clients’ business and commercial needs to efficiently resolve a broad range of complex, cross-border disputes across industries. She advises on:

    • French litigation disputes, including corporate litigation
    • Alternative dispute resolution, in mediation or arbitration
    • Cross-border issues, such as conflicts of laws and US discovery requests
    • GDPR compliance programs, particularly for adtech companies
    • Regulatory GDPR inquiries
    • Multijurisdictional cybersecurity event response
    • GDPR claims brought by individuals and class actions

    She crafts pragmatic, commercially oriented solutions to clients’ business challenges, approaching each matter with the strength of the firm’s global platform.

    A recognized firm leader, Ms. Saarinen serves on the Ethics and Privacy Committees of the firm. She previously served as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (AML) for the Paris office and on the Pro Bono and IT Committees.

    Experience

    Ms. Saarinen’s recent experience includes advising:

    Complex Litigation Matters

    • A listed US biotech company in the context of a dispute against a former top manager who misappropriated highly confidential information before joining one of the company’s main competitors
    • A listed British private investment company in relation to a sophisticated fraudulent website offering fake loans under the company’s and the CEO’s name
    • A leader in the temporary labour market in Europe within the context of several non-compete claims, both as claimant and plaintiff, and in its dispute against former shareholders for a breach of trust and fraud within the framework of a transfer of shares
    • A major international player in the health sector in the context of a suit in front of the French courts brought against one of its subsidiaries by a group of medical biology laboratories for alleged breaches of contract and defective products
    • A private equity firm on litigation arising from paying an earn-out
    • An investment bank in connection with liquidating its multibillion-dollar securities portfolio after the Lehman bankruptcy
    • A global insurance company in a mass action (more than 30 actions) brought by policy holders
    • A French fashion retail company on a litigation arising from the exercise of call options
    • A global spirits manufacturer on internal investigations into fraud and bribery allegations
    • A luggage company on a post-M&A dispute involving arbitration and judicial proceedings

    Data Privacy and GDPR

    • A social media company in its defense before the Sanction Committee of the CNIL
    • French multinational insurance company in its response to a detailed and complex GDPR Article 15 data subject access request
    • A multi-energy company in connection with the collection and processing of data (including personal data) for the purpose of answering a request for information received from an administrative authority
    • A Chinese multinational internet technology company within the context of multiple regulatory and technology transactional matters
    • An international medical device and health care company in the context of a data breach suffered by one if its French affiliates
    • A B2B sales and intelligence company within the context of its data protection compliance, especially concerning the processing of personal data indirectly
    • A global spirits group and its subsidiaries on GDPR compliance at both the European and international level

    Qualifications

    Bar Qualification

    • Avocat (Paris)

    Education

    • Postgraduate Degree in Copyright and IP Law (DEA), University of Paris II, 1998
    • Graduate Degree English and French Law, University of Paris I (Pantheon-Sorbonne), 1997
    • LLB, King's College London, 1997

    Practices

    Industries

    News & Insights

    Eiffel Tower and d'Iena Bridge at Dawn, Paris, France
    February 9, 2024 Publication

    Lexology In-Depth: Artificial Intelligence Law — France

    Partners Jean-Luc Juhan and Myria Saarinen, with associates Daniel Martel and Alex Park, offer an overview of the fast-evolving state of law and practice surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) systems and applications in France. Published by Lexology.
    Read More