Stéphanie De Smedt
Partner - Attorney at Law
Stéphanie De Smedt heads the firm's practice in technology and commercial law, with particular expertise in data protection & cybersecurity. She also advises on life sciences and healthcare matters.
Brussels, Amsterdam
Dutch, English, French
Stéphanie focuses on technology and commercial law in the broad sense. She guides clients through complex contract drafting and negotiation, and advises on pre-litigious and regulatory matters. Her broad experience encompasses commercial contracting, including distribution law, unfair market practices, consumer regulations, as well as IP/ICT matters such as technology transfers, counterfeit disputes, e-commerce regulations, and software/IT contracting. She is the go-to person for clients active in the technology and digital economy industry.
Throughout her career, Stéphanie has developed a recognised expertise in regulatory compliance, more specifically in relation to data protection and cybersecurity. As a CIPP/E-certified expert, Stéphanie advises on GDPR compliance frameworks, data breach management, and cybersecurity matters, including NIS2 and DORA. She has managed large-scale GDPR audits and privacy-by-design projects, represented clients in high-profile data protection litigation and regularly assists with the implementation of compliant contracts and compliance frameworks.
Stéphanie also advises clients on compliance with new EU regulatory frameworks such as the AI Act, the Data Act, DSA/DMA, etc. Topics such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and new technologies in general are part of her core focus areas.
In her areas of expertise, Stéphanie represents clients before the courts and the Belgian Data Protection Authority, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She has also been appointed by CEPANI, the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, as a third-party decider in alternative dispute resolution proceedings concerning .be domain names.
Work highlights
Contributions
Memberships
Brussels Bar (Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten), 2012
iTechLaw (International Association of Technology Lawyers)
IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals)
Professional Union of DPOs in Belgium (DPO-Pro)
Qualifications
LL.M. in European Competition and Intellectual Property law, Université de Liège (Belgium), 2012
Master in law, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), 2011
Summer school in international business, Haas Business School, University of California (Berkeley, United States), 2010
CIPP/E Certification (IAPP)
Publications
• De Smedt, S., Surinx, D. (2022). Gebruik biometrische gegevens: ondernemingen hopen op wetgevend initiatief. De Juristenkrant
• De Smedt, S., Caproni M. (2019). Praktische gids privacy in de onderneming. Belgium: Wolters Kluwer
• De Smedt, S., Verstraeten V. (2018). GDPR Implementation Series - Belgium: Substantial Reform of Supervisory Authority and Framework Implementing Act Finally Adopted. European Data Protection Law Review, Lexxion, (Volume 4, issue 3), 353 - 359
• De Smedt, S., van Waesberge, C. (2016). Cybersecurity and Data Breach Notification Obligations Under the Current and Future Legislative Framework. European Data Protection Law Review, Lexxion (Volume 2, issue 3), 391 - 398
• De Smedt, S. (2016). Data Protection May Have to Yield in IP Infringement Cases. European Data Protection Law Review, Lexxion, (2015/4), 316 - 320
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Stéphanie De Smedt
Partner - Attorney at Law
stephanie.de.smedt@loyensloeff.com
Brussels, Amsterdam
Dutch, English, French
<p>Stéphanie De Smedt heads the firm's practice in technology and commercial law, with particular expertise in data protection & cybersecurity. She also advises on life sciences and healthcare matters.</p>
Stéphanie focuses on technology and commercial law in the broad sense. She guides clients through complex contract drafting and negotiation, and advises on pre-litigious and regulatory matters. Her broad experience encompasses commercial contracting, including distribution law, unfair market practices, consumer regulations, as well as IP/ICT matters such as technology transfers, counterfeit disputes, e-commerce regulations, and software/IT contracting. She is the go-to person for clients active in the technology and digital economy industry.
Throughout her career, Stéphanie has developed a recognised expertise in regulatory compliance, more specifically in relation to data protection and cybersecurity. As a CIPP/E-certified expert, Stéphanie advises on GDPR compliance frameworks, data breach management, and cybersecurity matters, including NIS2 and DORA. She has managed large-scale GDPR audits and privacy-by-design projects, represented clients in high-profile data protection litigation and regularly assists with the implementation of compliant contracts and compliance frameworks.
Stéphanie also advises clients on compliance with new EU regulatory frameworks such as the AI Act, the Data Act, DSA/DMA, etc. Topics such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and new technologies in general are part of her core focus areas.
In her areas of expertise, Stéphanie represents clients before the courts and the Belgian Data Protection Authority, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. She has also been appointed by CEPANI, the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation, as a third-party decider in alternative dispute resolution proceedings concerning .be domain names.