Technology Law · European Union
Make Your Website’s Cookie Compliance Stand Up to Scrutiny
Consent banners that bundle choices, pre-ticked boxes, trackers firing before consent — these are the small details that draw complaints and regulator attention. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who reviews cookie and tracking practices for websites and apps across Europe.
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- GDPR and ePrivacy compliance specialists
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Who this is for
Every website or app that drops cookies or trackers on EU visitors carries a legal obligation to do it properly
Cookie compliance sits at the meeting point of the GDPR and the ePrivacy rules that govern storing information on a user’s device. In practice it means your cookie banner must give users a genuine, informed choice, obtain consent before non-essential trackers fire, and let them withdraw that consent as easily as they gave it — while the exact expectations and enforcement approach vary from one European country to another. This applies to e-commerce stores, publishers, SaaS platforms, analytics-heavy marketing sites and mobile apps alike. Whether you are launching a new site or already have a banner in place, we connect you with a lawyer who audits cookie and tracking practices in your markets and tells you what actually needs to change.
Why sites fall short
Cookie banners look compliant from the outside
while failing the details that matter
A banner that looks polished can still breach the rules if the underlying consent, timing or disclosures are wrong.
Trackers fire before consent
Many sites load analytics, advertising or social pixels as soon as the page opens, before the user has made any choice. Under the rules, non-essential trackers generally must not fire until valid consent has been given.
No genuine ‘reject’ option
A banner that offers only ‘Accept’ and a buried settings link, or that makes rejecting far harder than accepting, often fails the requirement that refusing be just as easy as consenting.
Pre-ticked boxes and bundled consent
Pre-selected consent boxes and a single ‘accept all’ that bundles analytics, ads and personalisation into one click typically do not constitute valid, specific and freely given consent under the GDPR.
What you get
A cookie setup that is lawful, clear and worth keeping
We only match you with lawyers who audit and advise on cookie and tracking compliance for sites and apps in your markets.
Full consent audit
Your lawyer reviews how and when cookies and trackers are set, whether consent is genuinely free and specific, and whether your banner reflects the tools actually running on your site.
Banner and wording review
You get guidance on how your consent banner, cookie policy and settings panel should be worded and structured so users can make a real, informed choice in plain language.
Consent-management configuration
Your lawyer advises on configuring your consent-management platform so non-essential trackers stay blocked until consent is given, and so that every consent is stored, retrievable and usable as evidence if it is ever questioned.
Cross-border alignment
Because enforcement style and regulator guidance differ from one country to another, you get advice tuned to the specific authorities and expectations of the markets where your visitors are actually based.
Coverage
Cookie compliance lawyers across Europe
The ePrivacy rules are applied and enforced differently across the EU and EEA, and national authorities issue their own guidance on consent banners, so the right lawyer is one familiar with your specific markets. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Cookie compliance — common questions
Do I need a cookie banner on my website?
If your site stores information on EU or EEA users’ devices through cookies or similar technologies beyond what is strictly necessary, you typically need to inform users and, where required, obtain consent. What counts as strictly necessary varies by context, so a lawyer should confirm your specific position.
What is the difference between the GDPR and the ePrivacy rules?
The GDPR governs personal data generally, while the ePrivacy rules specifically cover storing information on, or accessing, a user’s device. Cookie consent sits at their overlap, and both sets of rules can apply to a single tracker, so they must be read together.
Can I rely on ‘legitimate interest’ for cookies?
Generally not for consent-based trackers — the rules usually require consent for non-essential cookies such as analytics and advertising. Whether an interest-based justification applies depends on the tracker and the guidance in your jurisdiction, which a lawyer can assess.
Is a cookie wall legal on my site?
A cookie wall, where access to content is conditional on accepting cookies, is treated cautiously by several European authorities and may not constitute freely given consent. Whether it is acceptable can depend on the alternatives offered and the country, so seek specific advice.
How long is cookie consent valid?
There is no single fixed validity period, and regulators expect consent to be re-obtained periodically and whenever practices change. The appropriate interval depends on the country and the nature of the trackers, so a lawyer can advise on a defensible approach.
What happens if my cookie banner is non-compliant?
Consequences vary by country and can include complaints to the supervisory authority, investigations, corrective orders and, in some cases, fines. The authority typically looks at whether consent was genuinely obtained before non-essential trackers fired.
Free case review
Get your consent banner and trackers right
Tell us about your website or app and the markets you serve, and we’ll connect you with a lawyer who audits cookie and tracking compliance for businesses like yours — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.