Monday, May 9, 2013

BAKER & MCKENZIE DATA PRIVACY SURVEY
Baker & McKenzie has released a survey of data privacy professionals related to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, and the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield.

The 2016 EU GDPR and EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Survey is based on information from more than 100 privacy professionals at the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ 2016 Global Privacy Summit, according to a Baker & McKenzie news release. 

“I think the survey responses clearly demonstrate that the majority of professionals in the privacy industry feel that the GDPR and Privacy Shield represent a call-to-action for organizations generally,” said Theo Ling, chairman of Baker & McKenzie’s Global Privacy and Information Management Steering Committee.

The release says the survey indicates about 60 to 70 per cent of people who responded “believe that organizations will need to spend at least some, if not significantly, more budget and effort to comply with GDPR.” 

AWARD NOMINATIONS WELCOMED
The Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators welcomes nominations for its top honour, the SOAR Medal.

“It honours individuals that have made a significant contribution and demonstrated commitment to the field of administrative justice, who have been dedicated members or supporters of SOAR, and/or who have made a significant contribution to the administrative justice field and to the well-being of the community at large,” said Sherry Darvish, chairwoman of the SOAR Medal committee.

The recipient will be honoured at the SOAR annual general meeting in December.

More information is available at soar.on.ca/2016/03/soar-medal-2016-nominations-are-open.

The Advocate’s Society has also opened up a call for nominations for the Catzman Award for Professionalism and Civility.

The award recognizes the late Justice Marvin A. Catzman. It is to honour people “who have demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and civility in the practice of law,” said the Society.

“Throughout his distinguished career both as an advocate and a judge, Justice Marvin Catzman earned an exemplary reputation for his knowledge of the law, his integrity, his fairness, his civility, and his dedication to the highest ideals of the legal profession,” said the Society.

“He inspired younger lawyers by example and contributed to legal education by writing and lecturing with great humour.”

The deadline to submit nominations is May 27. More information is available here. The award will be presented in September.

LAW TIMES POLL
This week, readers were asked about their opinions about publication bans. Law Times had reported there was a dispute over whether a publication ban should be granted in a case concerning three police officers accused of sexual assault. Readers were asked if they believed publication bans are usually granted fairly.

About 25 per cent said they believed publication bans are usually carefully considered and exist to protect both victims and offenders from unfair prejudice. However, 75 per cent said publication bans are granted far too easily, which means the public does not get the timely information it deserves.