People

Chris Pounder

Dr. Chris Pounder joined Pinsent Masons Solicitors in July 1999 as part of its growing Data Protection and Privacy Team. Since then he has designed and delivered courses in Data Protection and Freedom of Information, some of which will lead to a formal qualification in data protection and FOI administered by the ISEB (the examining body associated with the British Computer Society). In Pinsent Masons, he is an active member of the Information Law Training Business lead by Rosemary Jay and Course Director for the Data Protection Course. He is also a qualified tutor for Pinsent Masons' FOI course.

As well as being involved in consultancy and training work, Chris also writes and edits the magazine Data Protection and Privacy Practice, which covers privacy related subjects. In addition, he administers and runs a data protection/FOI helpline.

For ten years prior to joining Pinsent Masons, Chris headed an Information Privacy Consultants (IPC) team whilst working for Cap Gemini, a leading IT supplier in Europe. There, he developed courses in a number of security and data protection issues and produced and edited the specialist quarterly magazine Data Protection News. Prior to that, Chris was in charge of the Data Protection Team at the Greater London Council and London Residuary Body.

Chris's interest in data protection dates back to 1978. He has spoken at numerous conferences on data protection and related matters and also writes the occasional freelance article for the IT-related Press and the academic journals in the field of security and data protection. He has also given oral and written evidence before various Parliamentary Select Committees where issues of privacy, data protection and security have arisen (e.g. ID Cards, Computer Misuse Act, data retention policies, supervision of the national security agencies).

Chris's Ph. D. is in computational quantum chemistry. This required Chris to programme computers in a number of languages as well as dealing with complex issues at the supervisor/assembler level.