Danielle van der Merwe
Counsel
London
danielle.vandermerwe@lw.com
+44.20.7710.4666
PRACTICES
- Africa Practice
- Privacy & Cyber
- Technology Transactions
INDUSTRIES
- Hospitality, Gaming & Leisure
- Technology
EDUCATION
- LL.B. (First Class Honors), University of Aberdeen, 2008
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
- Afrikaans
- English
PROFILE
Danielle van der Merwe advises multinational and UK clients on a range of data privacy and cybersecurity matters, including in connection with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Drawing on nearly a decade of experience, Danielle counsels a variety of global companies, leading financial institutions, and major funds on their most complex and sensitive data privacy issues. Her industry experience spans a number of cutting-edge sectors, including technology, social media, and gaming.
Danielle regularly advises clients throughout the corporate lifecycle, serving as an extension of their in-house legal team. She brings particular experience handling cross-border matters arising from product developments, transactions, and investments, including large-scale GDPR compliance reviews. Danielle also delivers sophisticated insight on privacy issues in connection with white collar investigations, both in the UK and internationally.
Her practice includes advising on:
- Complex data transfer solutions (including transfers in light of the Schrems II ruling)
- Sensitive internal and external investigations
- Strategic management of data breach incidents and regulatory inquiries
- Product counselling
- Data subject rights requests
- Online advertising, profiling, and marketing strategies
- Data sharing arrangements
- Training programs
- M&A transactions
A business-minded problem solver, Danielle offers a unique perspective on clients’ needs garnered from her secondment experience at several retail, health, insurance, and sports companies.
Danielle is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
In addition to her commercial work, Danielle provides privacy-related counsel to nonprofit clients on a pro bono basis.
EXPERIENCE
Danielle’s experience includes advising:
- A significant social media company in matters before the Irish Data Protection Commission and other international regulatory bodies on issues related to data privacy
- Several issuers and underwriters in connection with privacy issues arising from initial public offerings
- A global healthcare and pharmaceutical company on its data privacy obligations arising out of a FCPA investigation*
- Various companies in relation to data privacy aspects of white collar investigations
- A global investment firm on privacy and security aspects related to the sale of WebMD, a health information web portal operating in the US, the EU, and the Asia-Pacific region
- A large music industry company on privacy advice relating to vendor procurement and processing agreements
- Various global airlines and airlines manufacturers on their compliance with global data privacy laws (including the GDPR)
- Various organizations in the financial sector, including hedge funds, private equity firms, and securitization providers, about their obligations under the GDPR
- A large pension fund and administrator on its obligations under the GDPR, including contentious data subject rights requests
- A prominent international gaming and retail company in relation to its compliance with the GDPR
- A global electronic manufacturing company on securing binding corporate rules*
- A large online design platform on a multi-jurisdictional data breach incident
- A large technology company on its use of profiling and analytics technologies
*Matter handled prior to joining Latham