Charleston, S.C. - Womble Carlyle continues to keep the business community updated on the ever-changing cyber landscape. This time, at a panel discussion hosted by Charleston Women in International Trade(CWIT), the focus was on the complex ins and outs of the EU’s Privacy Shield and General Data Protection Regulation, as well as Brexit’s potential impact on both policies.

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The discussion, moderated by Ashley Kelley, a partner in Womble Carlyle’s Charleston office and Vice-Chair of CWIT, featured Belton Zeigler, a leading partner on Womble Carlyle’s Data Management and Cyber Security team, and Cameron Stoll, formerly with the firm and currently in-house counsel with Blackbaud, the world’s foremost provider of software and data intelligence customized for non-profits. Zeigler and Stoll explained just how far reaching the Privacy Shield and GDPR are, the importance of complying, the process of certifying compliance, and the impact of noncompliance.

“A great number of businesses receive personally-identifiable data from EU based customers or employees but don’t understand their legal obligation to comply with these standards. That is not good risk management,” Zeigler said. “But on the positive side, compliance does not have to be onerous. The EU standards are emerging as global standards, so beginning to align with them now can save costs and headaches later.” Timing and uncertainties around Brexit will complicate the compliance decision for some companies, Zeigler said.

Ashley Kelley has received tremendous feedback about the success of panel from CWIT and business community members alike.

“International trade, and related ancillary industries, permeate business here in Charleston,” she said. “Issues like the EU Privacy Shield and Brexit are real, tangible concerns for our business community. International components, such as investors, purchasers, vendors, and workers, are often day-to-day aspects to our dynamic business operations throughout the Lowcountry. That’s why Womble Carlyle makes staying on top of these issues – and educating others about the potential impacts –a priority.”