Guillaume Couneson

Guillaume’s practice focuses on information technology (IT), data protection, cyber security EU digital regulation and electronic communication-related matters.

With over 15 years of experience as a lawyer, Guillaume has extensive experience assisting both Belgian and international clients in the context of complex cross-border and cross-practice transactional and regulatory matters in sectors such as banking, healthcare, technology, logistics and energy, with a special focus on digital regulation and data protection compliance (including in-depth knowledge of the GDPR). He combines this with a wide-ranging expertise advising clients regarding technology contracts, including (IT) outsourcing, cloud computing and software-as-a-service related agreements. He also has experience with litigation in his area of expertise and has worked on numerous matters subject to data protection and telecommunication regulatory authorities.

As a member of our wider global tech group, Guillaume has been closely involved in advising clients from the outset on the implementation of the EU’s digital regulation framework (including the Digital Services Act as well as the Data Governance Act, Data Act, NIS2 Directive, Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and AI Act).

He is also particularly active in the FinTech sector, assisting established businesses and new market entrants to harness the opportunities that the related technologies present, while helping them to manage challenges of disruption in highly regulated markets and the need for legal certainty.

Guillaume has been recognised as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in the area of data protection as well as in IT and telecoms in Belgium (Legal 500, Belgium, 2022) and as 'Up and Coming' by Chambers Europe in the field of TMT: Data Protection (Chambers Europe, Belgium, 2022). He is praised for being "great, always available and responds very quickly” (Chambers Europe, 2022) and “very responsive and with a great ability to provide quick feedback to complex problems” (Chambers Europe, 2023).

Work highlights

Guillaume has advised on a wide range of major transactions. His recent transactions include advising:

• an international manufacturer of robotic products on the overall impact of the EU Digital Regulation framework (including the AI Act, DSA, DMA, Data Governance Act and Data Act) on its ecosystem of products and services, enabling this manufacturer to carry out a SWOT-analysis of the regulatory impact and start a proactive reflection on its digital business operations, among others in the way it collects and uses data
• a very large online platform (VLOP) designated by the European Commission (EC) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) in responding to requests for information from the EC regarding the compliance of their online platform with the requirements of the DSA
• a multinational logistics company in the notification to and communication with competent data protection authorities following a data loss due to a cyber attack
• a Belgian asset management company in the drafting and negotiation of a strategic IT / cloud and asset management outsourcing agreement with a prominent Belgian insurance company
• a leading multinational company that leases transport equipment with the drafting and negotiation of a telematics agreement enabling it to equip its assets with a fleet management system using telematics technology

• a Japanese international technology giant on various ‘Internet of Things’-related matters as well as in relation to CCTV and facial recognition
• a large international bank on the updating of its online banking terms to incorporate the provision of services based on a “robo-advice” tool
• an international pharmaceutical company in the development of a GDPR-compliant online patient support program
• one of the world leaders in mineral extraction for the implementation throughout the group of all data protection regulatory aspects of a cloud solution related to HR data
• an energy company in its dealings with the Belgian Data Protection Authority due to alleged infringements of the GDPR
• a multinational insurance company in relation to alleged hacking practices directed towards some of its competitors

Guillaume joined Linklaters in 2007 and became Managing Associate in 2013. He was subsequently appointed Counsel in 2017 and elected Partner in 2020.

Guillaume is an active member of the Digital Economy Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU.

He lectured on data protection at the Solvay Brussels Business School and frequently presents and publishes on matters in that area.

Guillaume holds a Master’s in Law from the University of Leuven and an LL.M in Computer and Communication Law from the University of London.

He speaks French, Dutch and English.