Eleanor Hobson

Eleanor Hobson is a Partner at Kemp IT Law, specialising in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Protection, Privacy & Cyber, and emerging technologies. She advises global and UK organisations on AI governance, GDPR compliance, and the regulation of new technologies, helping clients navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Experience and Expertise

Eleanor has significant experience advising on complex AI, data and cloud development, deployment and governance. Her work regularly involves assisting clients to implement robust AI governance frameworks, negotiating high-value technology and data contracts and aligning innovative strategies with evolving UK, EU and global regulatory frameworks. This includes UK/EU GDPR, direct marketing, cookies and privacy laws, the EU AI Act, cyber regulations such as NIS1, NIS2 and DORA, the DMA and the Data Act.

Her client portfolio ranges from global enterprises to high growth start-ups and scale-ups across key industries such as technology and data, health and life sciences, insurance, financial services, retail, air travel, law firms and professional services.

Recognition and Thought Leadership

A recognised thought leader, Eleanor has contributed to third party guides and papers on AI, privacy and cybersecurity topics. Her contributions to Thomson Reuters Practical Law, include:

• A guide to Cybersecurity in the technology sector,
• Expert Q&A on data privacy and ethical issues raised by generative AI,
• Template app privacy notices and international data transfer agreements
• Case law and regulatory updates.

Eleanor’s insight was sought by The Ada Lovelace Institute in December 2025 when she provided expert comment for a report on the current challenges and opportunities for AI liability in the UK.

Eleanor’s expertise is widely recognised: she is recommended in Legal 500 for her “encyclopaedic” knowledge of privacy law, has been named UK Data Protection Lawyer of the Year (2024-2026) by Global Legal Experts, received the Mondaq Spring 2024 Thought Leader award and was shortlisted for the PICCASO Rising Star award 2024.

Eleanor is ranked in Lexology Index 2026 as Highly Recommended for AI and Recommended for Data Protection and Data Security.

Qualifications and Certifications

She holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Cambridge and a Computer Science for Lawyers certificate from Harvard, and is a dual-certified Privacy Professional (CIPP/E and CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Key Areas of Expertise

• AI & Machine Learning Governance, Regulation and Contracts
• Data Protection, GDPR & Privacy Compliance (UK/EU)
• Cloud, SaaS & XaaS Contracts
• Software Licensing & Intellectual Property Strategy
• Cyber Security, Data Breach and Incident Response
• Medical Confidentiality & Interceptions of Communications Law

Clients value Eleanor’s ability to simplify complex legal and technical challenges into clear, strategic advice that supports innovation while effectively managing risk.