June 2022
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WELCOME TO SYNCHZIPPED
 
2021 was a record year for Synch. We increased our sales by approx. 55% and climbed ten places to rank 35 in Affärsvärlden's ranking of Sweden's largest law firms. This is a result of our customers' success and thanks to our fantastic employees. Just like our customers, we continue to aim forward and upwards.

I recently returned from a trip to Silicon Valley. Even if one could sense a certain slowdown, there was no major concern about the future. We share this feeling about the future and despite some concern about the world around us and the economy, optimism is sprouting at Synch. In this edition of Zipped, you’ll meet some of our new employees, and soon we’ll launch a brand new website that I hope you will like.

I want to take the opportunity to wish you all a lovely summer.


Until next time,

Jim
 
HIGHLIGHTS
 

Managing IP has published the EMEA shortlists for the annual Managing IP Awards 2022, where Synch has been shortlisted for “Firm of the Year – Copyright & Design”. Fantastic news for our brilliant IP team - great job everyone!
 
Our IP experts, My Byström and Sara Sparring, have contributed to the International Comparative Legal Guide to; Trademarks 2022, writing the Swedish Chapter. The guide will give IP newcomers and experts alike an overview of the Swedish trademark landscape. Fantastic work, My and Sara! Read the Chapter here.

In addition to this, Synch's Jim Runsten and Norea Normelli have contributed to the chapter 
International Comparative Legal Guide - Digital Business 2022. Great job! Read the chapter here.

 
 
NEW COLLEAGUES
 
 
We’re so proud and happy to keep growing as a team! In this edition of SynchZipped, we welcome four new colleagues:
NOREA NORMELLI

Norea has a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Uppsala University and has previously been working at Nacka District Court. Prior to her graduation, she was a summer intern at the Stockholm Administrative Court of Appeal and a summer associate at Linklaters.
 
Norea has a keen interest in the equestrian sport and enjoys spending her spare time in the stable. When not busy riding horses, she likes to explore museums in Stockholm and try new restaurants.
 
“At Synch, we work as a team to offer the best experience for our clients. From day one, I have been warmly welcomed by all highly skilled and passionate colleagues. I appreciate getting to work with many interesting companies at a law firm where everyone is open-minded, solution-oriented, and where new ideas are encouraged.”
EMMA LINDBERG

Emma has a Master of Laws from Stockholm University and a background in finance. Most recently, Emma worked at a small law firm in Stockholm.
 
“From day one, I have really appreciated the flexibility, my colleagues’ dedication, and the learning experience. Synch is a very modern and innovative law firm that sets high standards for both the work and the team, which I think is a very good combination for our clients.”
 
Outside of work, Emma likes to play padel, cook and travel.
MIRA TÖRNQVIST

Mira has a Master of Laws (L.LM) from Uppsala University and a background experience from working within the United Nations in Geneva. Most recently, Mira worked as a Legal Counsel at a tech company in Stockholm.

”To be part of a team of lawyers with deep technical and business understanding is one of my favorite parts of Synch.”

Outside of work, Mira plays tennis and does yoga. She loves to travel and her favorite city after Stockholm is Madrid, where she has previously lived.
LOUISE BERLIN

Louise is a member of the Swedish Bar Association and has a Master of Laws (L.LM) from Stockholm University. Most recently, Louise worked as a senior associate at another law firm in Stockholm.

“From my first day at Synch, I felt welcome and appreciated. Synch offers a high level of flexibility, innovation, and responsibility, as well as a great team of dedicated co-workers – the perfect combination for a sustainable work environment.“

 
Louise loves working out, especially running and skiing (both cross-country and downhill), and enjoys active travels as well as relaxing on a beach somewhere warm.
 
WESYNCH

Synch wants to make business easier and has developed WeSynch – a suite of quick, affordable and high quality digital legal tools, available through a web-based private cloud solution accessible from any device 24/7. WeSynch is for any company, regardless of size, that requires easy access to legal services, expert knowledge and smart digital support for the management of legal matters.

WeSynch is a subscription-based, fixed-fee service, allowing you to focus on your core business without having to worry about high one-time costs or being tied up in license agreements for long periods of time.

The new WeSynch team, composed by Aida and Martina, works in close contact with potential and existing clients, administrating and providing support when it comes to Synch’s digital services, making sure to follow all our clients through their journey with us.

Contact us to request a demo at wesynch@synch.law
 
MEET THE TEAM
 

The world is constantly evolving, and so are we. We hope you’ll engage with us at the next opportunity, so here is some info on where to meet with us next.
→ June 15 to June 18, Copenhagen, Denmark: ECTA
Synch’s IP expert My Byström serves as a member of the European Communities Trademark Association (ECTA) Anti-counterfeiting Committee, and will participate in the ECTA conference in June.

ECTA promotes knowledge exchange of the intellectual property law community in the fields of trademarks, designs, copyright and other intellectual property rights, within the European Union.

Read more
 
BLOG
 

We are about halfway into 2022, and what a year it has been so far in the data protection world!
 
The Google Analytics decisions are definitely in the limelight. We have summarised the most common questions we receive from our clients in this article.
 
A little bit of background, please?
 
Right after the landmark Schrems II ruling, noyb (the brainchild of Max Schrems, a privacy non-profit organisation) filed 101 complaints in 30 EU and EEA Member States. The complaints focused on website providers which, use Google Analytics and Facebook analytic tools, as, according to noyb, Google and Facebook collect and transfer the web visitors’ personal data from the EU to the USA by breaching the Schrems II ruling. As a result, each Data Protection Authority (DPA) has to examine the legality of such transfers.
 
Do we have any news so far?
 
Absolutely yes, and news that will have a great impact. The starting gun was fired by the Austrian DPA this January, which marked the beginning of the Schrems II enforcement. According to this decision, the use of Google Analytics was declared to violate the GDPR requirements for transfers of personal data outside the /EUEEA and the Schrems II ruling. In February it was the French DPA’s turn to decide upon its part of the 101 complaints; The French DPA was in line with the Austrian DPA’s decision; as a result, 3 controllers were ordered to stop using Google Analytics. On top of that, the Austrian DPA shot again, by rejecting a risk-based approach when it comes to data transfers, by declaring Google’s IP anonymisation feature as a noneffective remedy. In the same line, the Luxemburgian and Spanish DPA closed the cases, before publishing any decision though, as the website providers removed Google Analytics or the Facebook analytic tools from their websites.
 
Wait, does that mean that I can’t use any analytics tools on my website?
 
No this is not the case! Note that the question at hand here is not the GDPR compliance of analytics as a processing activity. As long as you obtain a web visitor’s valid consent (well, you need a compliant cookie banner for that), you are allowed to carry out this processing operation, meaning analytics per se.
 
The focus of attention in regard to these 101 complaints is about the transfers of personal data to the USA. When the personal data is collected by the Google Analytics cookies, the personal data is transferred to the Google Analytics servers which are hosted in the USA. As Google is subject to US surveillance laws, upon a governmental request, Google has to disclose personal data. According to these US surveillance laws, EU data subjects have no available remedies against this disclosure, and this makes the transfer non-compliant with the GDPR.
 
Long story short, there is no problem with analytics in general, only with Google Analytics or similar US service providers, in regard to the transfers of personal data involved to the US.
 
What does that mean for Sweden?
 
Well, this is a fair question. The Austrian and French decisions are not enforceable in Sweden. Despite that, a similar case (as part of the 101 noyb complaints) is pending with the Swedish DPA. It should be noted that before the French DPA published its decisions, the rest of the EU DPAs were asked to bring any objections. Neither the Swedish nor any other DPA expressed any objections. Therefore, it is highly likely that the Swedish DPA will endorse the French decisions. As of today, the Swedish DPA is silent.
 
Is this the end of Google?
 
Well, this is not up to us to say. On the 25th of March US President Joe Biden and the EU Commission, President Ursula von der Leyen committed that they are working on a new framework agreement to enable transfers of personal data between the EU/EEA and the USA. Of course, this was only a political statement, but we are so looking forward to seeing what will happen. Will this new agreement stand or will it follow the same destiny of its predecessors (Safe Harbour and Privacy Shield) leading to a Schrems III ruling?
 
As with most of the GDPR questions, they can be obscure and complex, but interesting to explore at the same time! Feel free to reach out at Elisavet.dravalou@synch.law in case you want to discuss GDPR and data protection questions together.
 
 
GET SYNCHED
 
AFTER WORK

Thank you all for attending our latest after work! We loved seeing your faces again and look forward to next time!