Ali Vaziri Partner

As well as advising clients on data protection & privacy matters, I specialise in disputes involving reputations, brands & intellectual property. Over the years I’ve also helped clients litigate on a wide range of commercial matters, from fraud and professional negligence to insurance and breach of contract.

I trained at a media firm in London’s West End and joined Lewis Silkin on qualification. I was a music producer and songwriter in a previous life. I still co-write the odd song, though I seem to spend most of my spare time these days cleaning up after my Leonberger.

Data, Privacy & Cyber 

I advise on a broad range of legal and regulatory issues arising out of data protection, privacy and freedom of information legislation. My data privacy advisory work has included assisting clients across different sectors and jurisdictions to: develop and implement privacy governance frameworks; navigate a broad range of compliance issues related to their use of personal data – from marketing practices and deployment of new technologies such as AI and DLT, to data-sharing and transfers to third countries – both domestically and coordinating advice internationally; handle data subject rights requests and compensation claims; interact with supervisory authorities taking regulatory action; prepare for and respond to cyber incidents, including breach notification. I hold the BCS’s Data Protection Practitioner Certificate as well as IAPP’s CIPP/E, CIPM and FIP certifications. I am also a lead trainer (data security) for PDP Ireland.

Brands & Intellectual Property

I advise brand owners on the creation, enforcement and exploitation of their intellectual property, with a focus on copyright and trade marks. I’ve brought and defended intellectual property claims for clients in the High Court as well as IPEC, and have acted in opposition, revocation and invalidity proceedings at both a domestic and European level. I’ve also successfully pursued complaints on behalf of clients in the Company Names Tribunal, and handled their domain name disputes (WIPO and Nominet).

Reputation Management

Much of my reputation management work is for household brands, personalities and high net worth individuals, and relates to matters in print, broadcast or online, both before and after publication. I commonly advise on defamation, malicious falsehood, misuse of private information, breach of confidence and harassment, as well as data protection issues (including subject access and the so-called right to be forgotten). I’ve both obtained and resisted interim injunctions for clients in publication proceedings, and secured statements in open court. I also help clients with regulatory complaints, including through IPSO, Ofcom and the BBC Trust, as well as the ASA and the ICO.