Technology Law · European Union
Respond to a Data Breach Correctly, Under Pressure and On Time
When personal data is lost, leaked or accessed without authorisation, the clock starts on strict assessment and notification duties. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who guides organisations through data breach response across Europe.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Breach notification specialists
- No fee to get matched
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Who this is for
A breach is not just an IT problem — it carries legal duties with short, unforgiving deadlines
A personal data breach happens when data is lost, destroyed, altered, or disclosed or accessed without authorisation — whether through a cyber attack, a lost device, a misdirected email or a human error. Under the GDPR, organisations must assess the risk to individuals and, where it is likely to result in a risk to their rights and freedoms, notify the supervisory authority, and in serious cases the affected individuals themselves, within tight time limits that vary in their practical application by country. Getting the assessment, the timing and the content of those notifications wrong can compound an already damaging incident. We connect you with a lawyer who coordinates breach response, notification and follow-up with the relevant authorities across Europe.
Why breaches escalate
Companies lose time deciding what counts as a breach
and what they are obliged to do
In the confusion after an incident, the legal duties — and their deadlines — are often the last thing anyone addresses.
Unclear whether it must be reported
Not every incident is notifiable, but deciding whether the risk threshold is met requires a proper legal assessment. Guessing wrong in either direction can create exposure or draw regulator criticism.
Missed notification deadlines
Notification must generally be made without undue delay and, where feasible, within a fixed period of becoming aware. The pressure and confusion of an incident make this window easy to miss.
Incomplete or inaccurate notifications
A notification that omits required details, misstates the affected categories of data, or fails to update the regulator as facts emerge can undermine your position and trigger follow-up enquiries.
What you get
A calm, correct breach response when every hour counts
We only match you with lawyers who handle data breach response and regulator notification for organisations in your sector.
Rapid risk assessment
Your lawyer works out quickly whether the incident meets the threshold for notification, which parties must be told, and what the priority actions are — so you act, rather than hesitate.
Notification prepared correctly
You get the notification to the supervisory authority drafted with the required content, filed within the deadline, and kept updated as the picture becomes clearer.
Communication with individuals
Where affected people must be informed, your lawyer advises on what to say, how to say it and how to manage the response without creating further exposure.
Regulator follow-up handled
If the authority opens enquiries or requests further information, your lawyer manages the correspondence and any subsequent investigation or corrective action on your behalf, keeping you informed throughout.
Coverage
Data breach lawyers across Europe
Breach notification duties come from the GDPR but are applied and enforced by each member state’s own authority, which may require notification in its own language and form, so the right lawyer is one who works with your specific regulator. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Data breaches — common questions
What counts as a personal data breach?
A breach covers the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, or unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data. It is not limited to hacking — a lost laptop, a misdirected email or an exposed database can all qualify.
How quickly must I report a data breach?
Notification to the supervisory authority must be made without undue delay and, where feasible, within 72 hours of becoming aware. If you miss that window, you typically need to explain the delay, so you should act immediately and seek advice.
Do I have to notify the people affected?
Only where the breach is likely to result in a high risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms. Where that threshold is met, they must be told without undue delay, in clear and plain language, with the information the GDPR requires.
What should a breach notification contain?
The GDPR sets out required content, including the nature of the breach, the categories and approximate number of people and records affected, the likely consequences, the measures taken and a contact point. A lawyer can help you complete it accurately.
Can a lawyer help after we have already reported?
Yes. If you have already notified, a lawyer can review what was submitted, correct or supplement it, manage the regulator’s follow-up questions and advise on the mitigation and remediation steps that may reduce your exposure.
What are the possible consequences of a data breach?
Consequences vary by country and severity, and can include investigation by the supervisory authority, corrective orders and, in serious cases, administrative fines, as well as claims from affected individuals. A proper response can materially improve the outcome.
Free case review
Act now — a breach will not wait for you to be ready
Tell us what happened and where your organisation operates, and we’ll connect you with a lawyer who handles data breach response and notification for businesses like yours — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.