In the field of information technology law, a number of talented lawyers have emerged in recent years who not only address current challenges but also shape the future of this legal branch. Among them is attorney Barbora Vlachová, who in 2023 took over the leadership of a newly established legal team specializing in cybersecurity, digital transformation, IT law, and personal data protection at PORTOS, the second largest law firm in the Czech Republic. In this year’s Lawyer of the Year competition, Barbora Vlachová won in the IT Law category. The glass statuette of Saint Yves was presented to her at the gala evening in the Municipal House by Radim Neubauer, President of the Notary Chamber and a member of the expert jury of the competition, together with Karel Bláha, a board member of Generali Česká pojišťovna, a traditional partner of the event.
"At this moment, I feel it is appropriate to say thank you," said Barbora Vlachová immediately after receiving the award. "And I would like to especially thank the expert jury for deciding to grant me this award. I truly appreciate it and see it not only as recognition of my work so far but also as a great responsibility for the future."
In an interview with Advokátní deník (Lawyer’s Daily), JUDr. Mgr. Barbora Vlachová, Ph.D., LL.M., spoke about her relationship to advocacy and her (indirect) path to this area of law, why she chose cybersecurity and IT law specifically, and what receiving this exceptional award means to her.
When did you decide to study law, Doctor? And what would you have become if you weren’t a lawyer, or rather an attorney?
My decision to study law was largely influenced by family tradition—both my parents and many other relatives are lawyers. I tend to have a humanities focus, which narrows down my study options considerably. However, my path to advocacy was not always straightforward. Besides law, I also graduated from the Police Academy. These two paths connected nicely in the end, as I work with both. If I weren’t an attorney, I would probably have pursued another legal profession or academia. And if I hadn’t become a lawyer at all, I would have been drawn to work in internal or external security.
You specialize in cybersecurity, IT law, personal data protection, and digital transformation. Why did you choose this area?
I chose to specialize in IT law, cybersecurity, and data protection because of the growing importance of these fields in today’s digitally connected society. I was intrigued by the challenge digitalization poses to traditional legal systems. Technological development is always one step ahead of regulation, which must nevertheless adequately reflect these changes. Recently, the European Union has introduced numerous legislative acts that our clients must consider in their businesses. It is also interesting to observe how these regulations are subsequently applied by judicial and supervisory authorities. Additionally, my attraction to this field is again connected with family tradition.
Besides your legal practice, you also lecture at the Police Academy of the Czech Republic and the University of Economics and Management. Do you enjoy and find fulfillment in teaching and interacting with the younger generation?
Yes, I do enjoy and find it fulfilling. Besides teaching at those two universities, I also lead many different trainings and seminars. Contact with the younger generation is definitely important to me. Moreover, during lectures, one focuses solely on the topic being taught, without the usual distractions of phones or emails. Not only do I get to share my experience, but academic work also motivates me to continue learning and publishing. These skills and experiences benefit my clients as well, since they recognize your expertise in the field.
You are the author and co-author of several publications on cybersecurity, electronic communications, and GDPR. Which one is the most important to you?
I try to be very active in publishing. I am the author or co-author of about ten monographs, have written several textbooks, and dozens of professional articles. It’s hard to pick a favorite among the monographs. However, the greatest book challenge for me was the commentary on the Electronic Communications Act, which is my most extensive work as a sole author. I am very much looking forward to preparing a commentary on the Cybersecurity Act in the future.
What does receiving the Saint Yves Award mean to you?
Receiving the Saint Yves Award is not only a great honor for me but also confirmation that my work is appreciated not only by colleagues and our clients but also by the wider professional community and that it has meaning. I perceive this award as support for further professional and personal growth and motivation to continue both in advocacy and academia.
Thank you for the interview!
You can read the full article at advokatnidenik.cz (May 29, 2024)
Another article can be read at pravnikroku.cz
