Technology Law · European Union
Move Data Across Borders Lawfully With the Right Safeguards
Sending customer or employee data outside the EEA — to a US cloud provider, a shared CRM, a non-EU subsidiary — triggers specific rules that changed significantly in recent years. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles international data transfers for organisations across Europe.
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Who this is for
Any data leaving the EEA needs a lawful transfer mechanism — and the rules keep moving
Under the GDPR, personal data may only be transferred outside the European Economic Area where a valid safeguard is in place, such as an adequacy decision for the destination country, standard contractual clauses, binding corporate rules or a specific derogation. In recent years the legal landscape has shifted repeatedly — most notably through rulings that reshaped how transfers to the United States and other third countries must be assessed, including the need for transfer impact assessments. This affects any organisation that uses a foreign cloud provider, sends data to a non-EU parent or subsidiary, or relies on vendors with servers abroad. We connect you with a lawyer who identifies the right mechanism for your transfers and helps you document it correctly.
Why transfers go wrong
Businesses rely on transfer mechanisms that are
out of date or no longer adequate
What was valid a few years ago may not be today, and the paperwork is only part of the obligation.
Outdated transfer mechanisms
A legal basis that was accepted in the past — for example an invalidated adequacy arrangement — may no longer be lawful, yet many organisations keep relying on it because nothing prompted a review.
No transfer impact assessment
Even with standard contractual clauses in place, organisations are generally expected to assess whether the destination country offers adequate protection and to add supplementary measures where it does not.
Transfers hidden in the supply chain
Data often leaves the EEA indirectly — through a sub-processor, a support team abroad or a back-up location — without anyone in the organisation having mapped those flows, let alone documented a safeguard.
What you get
A lawful, documented path for every transfer
We only match you with lawyers who handle international data transfers and the surrounding documentation for organisations in your sector.
Transfer mapping
Your lawyer identifies every route by which personal data leaves the EEA, including the indirect flows that run through sub-processors and third-party vendors, so nothing is left undocumented or simply assumed away.
Right mechanism selected
You get clear advice on whether an adequacy decision, standard contractual clauses, binding corporate rules or another safeguard fits each destination, together with the reasoning behind the choice.
Transfer impact assessment
Your lawyer helps you assess the destination country’s legal environment and, where needed, add supplementary technical or contractual measures so that any protection gaps are properly closed and documented.
Compliant documentation
Clauses, annexes and records are prepared and kept in good order, so you can evidence your transfers and the safeguards behind them if a regulator or a counterparty ever asks.
Coverage
International data transfer lawyers across Europe
Transfer rules are set at EU level, but supervisory authorities in each country interpret and enforce them with their own guidance, and your destinations may raise different questions, so the right lawyer works with your specific markets and counterparties. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
International data transfers — common questions
When is a data transfer considered ‘international’?
A transfer occurs when personal data is sent to a recipient in a country outside the EEA, or when a processor there can access it. This includes cloud storage, remote support and access by a foreign parent company, not just a deliberate export of files.
What are standard contractual clauses (SCCs)?
Standard contractual clauses are pre-approved contract terms issued by the European Commission that parties can use to provide safeguards for transfers to third countries. They must be completed correctly and, since recent rulings, often need supporting measures.
What is an adequacy decision?
An adequacy decision is a finding by the European Commission that a third country offers a level of protection essentially equivalent to the EU, allowing transfers without additional safeguards. These decisions can change, so you should confirm the current status of your destination.
Can I still transfer data to the United States?
Transfers to the United States are possible where a valid mechanism is in place, such as an applicable adequacy framework or standard contractual clauses with any required supplementary measures. Because the landscape has changed repeatedly, you should obtain current advice for your specific scenario.
What is a transfer impact assessment?
It is an assessment of whether the destination country’s laws and practices undermine the protection provided by your chosen safeguard, and whether supplementary measures are needed. It is generally expected for transfers to countries without an adequacy decision.
What happens if I transfer data without a valid mechanism?
Depending on the circumstances, the supervisory authority may investigate, order you to suspend the transfer and, in serious cases, impose fines. The authority typically looks at whether you had a valid safeguard and documented your assessment.
Free case review
Know exactly where your data goes — and that it is lawful
Tell us about your organisation and where your data is stored or sent, and we’ll connect you with a lawyer who handles international data transfers for businesses like yours — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.