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The data protection team of the yearVJT & Partners wins Wolters Kluwer Award in the category
"Best data protection team of 2018"
VJT & Partners' Information, Communications & Technology (ICT) practice group advises clients in relation to data protection compliance matters, which are increasingly attracting the attention of businesses from numerous commercial sectors.
Due to the unique and rigorous requirements of the Hungarian Data Protection Act, global companies regularly face unexpected challenges in cases where technical data processors are involved, personal data is transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or employees are monitored by employers. The pressure on businesses to boost their client base often necessitates the use of advanced sales and direct marketing methods which can only be executed in compliance with complex advertising and data protection rules.
EU data protection faces huge challenges. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will enter into force in May of 2018 which will be directly applicable in each Member State including Hungary. This will be the toughest regulation ever made in privacy circles. Companies will face fines up to EUR 20 million or 4% of the total worldwide annual turnover. GDPR with these unbelievably high fines imposes a bunch of new administrative burdens from the detailed regulation of data processor contract through handling data breaches and data protection impact assessment up to regulating the status of the data protection officer. GDPR requires new way of thinking, so companies must work out a new data protection strategy. Switching to GDPR will not be easy. Companies will definitely have a long ‘to do’ list. They must start preparing for GDPR as the clock with the new fines is rapidly counting down.
Our highly-qualified team regularly assists clients in meeting data protection challenges including meeting GDPR as well as providing practical solutions to support our clients in achieving their commercial objectives in Hungary.
Our practice covers a wide range of data protection, advertising and marketing matters ranging from advising a major IT company on the launch of a computerised employee monitoring system, a global financial services provider on the launch of an advanced direct marketing tool, to advising a global media and entertainment company in relation to local Hungarian data protection policy.
János Tamás Varga
managing partner
János Tamás has been leading legal teams advising on complex data protection and privacy projects for more than 20 years. Currently his data protection practice focuses on GDPR compliance projects.
Endre Várady
counsel
Endre gained international experience in data protection, outsourcing, IT commercial law and other information technology matters. His experience includes drafting contracts for Fortune 1000-listed IT companies as well as advising on the regulatory aspects of global cloud computing.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2017
The ‘approachable, fast and efficient’ team at VJT & Partners is noted for its ‘tailor-made solutions’. It is ‘especially strong in data protection, privacy issues and internet-related matters’, and has been advising Google on right-to-be-forgotten matters. Gábor Hacsi and János Tamás Varga are well regarded.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2016
The team at VJT & Partners is "on top of recent developments" and is led by managing partner János Tamás Varga, who has been active in this space since the late 1990s. The "highly competent" Gábor Hacsi and "very responsive" associate Endre Várady are advising [..] on the Hungarian aspects of establishing cloud computing services.
Chambers Europe, 2017
"They have truly experienced specialists for all types of IT, internet and data protection matters. They are the best technology team in the market with wide international reach."
"They are always ready to work out truly tailor-made solutions for every single matter. They are especially strong at data protection, privacy issues and all types of internet-related matters."
Chambers Europe, 2016
"This firm was always very careful to design terms and conditions to protect its client's interests and, at the same time, not to create unacceptable conditions. The methods used to prepare for results-oriented negotiations were very effective."
"The team is able to understand our business goals and interests, which is a very valuable and rare attribute."