Client Case Study: Harrison Clarke

Firas Sozan, CEO of Harrison Clarke

Firas Sozan shares his experience of working with Charlotte Gerrish, the founding lawyer of Gerrish Legal, and data protection and commercial law specialist.

Harrison Clarke’s Services:

Finding top talent to build a culture of collaboration can be time-consuming and difficult for businesses. With many years’ experience in the recruitment industry in the UK and in the US, Firas dedicated his expertise to the niche area of DevOps/SRE recruitment. Since founding Harrison Clarke, he has created a highly committed team of market experts in the UK and the US who are able to provide clients and candidates exceptional services by helping the most cutting-edge companies to achieve their hiring needs in this niche area and by identifying unique and life-changing opportunities for candidates.

Case Study:

It was the start of 2018, and many companies were anxious to prepare their data protection compliance before the GDPR came into force, not least in the staffing industry where issues surrounding privacy and candidate data have always been at the forefront. Firas first got in touch with Charlotte having read a couple of articles she had written regarding privacy and data protection and thought that she could be the right lawyer for Harrison Clarke.

It quickly became apparent that Gerrish Legal was the perfect legal business partner for Harrison Clarke – both with start-up backgrounds combined with experience from multinational listed staffing companies, Gerrish Legal was able to respond to Harrison Clarke’s needs by providing legal advice in a practical and approachable manner.

Initially, Charlotte assisted Firas with Harrison Clarke’s GDPR compliance with the deadline of 25th May 2018 very much insight. Whilst the majority of Harrison Clarke’s business is operated in the US, and deals primarily with the personal data of US candidates, compliance is extremely important to Firas in order to further Harrison Clarke’s sustainable business. As such, Charlotte and Firas both agreed that it made sense to roll out GDPR-compliant practices across the board – for both UK, EU and US-based candidates. The project involved close collaboration including a data protection audit, drafting of various privacy documents and contracts, with a focus on the EU-US data transfers as well as procuring privacy shield certification for Harrison Clarke’s US entity.

As the collaboration continued, Charlotte was appointed as Harrison Clarke’s external data protection counsel, providing DPO-style services to Harrison Clarke’s business in the US and in the UK to ensure the company’s ongoing compliance with privacy issues and to provide excellent service to data subject queries as well as ongoing training to Harrison Clarke’s teams.

Thanks to Charlotte’s understanding of the staffing industry, and as a commercial law expert, Charlotte has also been able to assist Firas with day-to-day legal queries, as well as on other strategic projects in addition to that initial GDPR advice, such as by drafting terms and conditions for a new business stream and advising on website compliance and intellectual property issues with the aim of growing Harrison Clarke’s business and using legal and compliance tools to drive the company forwards.

What does Harrison Clarke think about Gerrish Legal?

Gerrish Legal is a huge asset to Harrison Clarke! Having Charlotte and her team at our corner has been a huge stress reliever and has reinforced my sincere belief that every company’s success is hugely dependent on the company putting legal and compliance first. As a Law graduate myself, and is the Founder & CEO of Harrison Clarke, I know for certain that Legal compliance is at the forefront of everything we do at HC. Charlotte has been a breath of fresh air, a true partner and without a doubt an extension of our business. She knows Harrison Clarke very well and has been involved in the on-boarding of new HC staff, training them on Privacy laws. Moreover, she knows our vision and plans to grow, which makes our partnership essential!

What does Gerrish Legal think about Harrison Clarke?

I love working with Firas and the team at Harrison Clarke. From a lawyer’s perspective, it is great to work with a client which takes compliance and legal issues so seriously. Furthermore, the cross-border element from a GDPR perspective always keeps things interesting! As a CEO, Firas has the perfect understanding of business and identifying opportunities for success, but always balances that with making sure that his company is operating in the most secure environment. The energy at Harrison Clarke is great – it is a pleasure to work with like-minded individuals who are ambitious and think outside of the box. I think that what Firas has managed to achieve is really impressive – setting up a successful company on both sides of the Atlantic is not an easy task and is really evidence of his hard work and commitment. I am really excited for the future strategic projects which are currently in development at Harrison Clarke, and actually, feel really privileged to share in the adventure and assist the company as it continues to grow!

Harrison Clarke’s Closing Comments:

Charlotte is an expert in her field and truly cares about her clients, working with her has been exciting and it’s amazing to see someone who is passionate not only about her business but her client’s business also! I look forward to working with Charlotte for years to come and I know every member of Harrison Clarke feels safe having Charlotte and Gerrish Legal at our side! Thank you, Charlotte!

Client Case Study: Minnity AB

Katarzyna, CEO and Co-Founder of Minnity, shares her thoughts about working with Charlotte Gerrish, founder of Gerrish Legal.

Minnity’s Ethos

Minnity believes that people in need of care should live a dignified and meaningful life and aims to help long-term care professionals develop their care skills, increase their efficiency, and improve the quality of care they can provide. 

About Minnity

Minnity has developed a solution to facilitate an individualised approach to home care clients to better use time and provide a better quality of care. Minnity’s app ensures better use of time, better quality of care and higher customer and employee satisfaction. The solution is a tool for both everyday use and training and it allows homecare professionals to develop their care skills and increase their efficiency and quality of care. 

Case Study

Katarzyna, CEO and Co-Founder of Minnity and Sophie, Partnership Development Manager, first started working with Charlotte, founder of Gerrish Legal when they met through the +Impact platform, a space for skilled experts to assist Nordic start-up companies. Charlotte had been a member of this platform for a couple of years since studying at Uppsala University and working in the Stockholm start-up community. Gerrish Legal first assisted Minnity with its data privacy considerations related to the app. After this, Charlotte helped Minnity with IP, contract and data processing advice to support the growth of the business from Sweden to France, helping to bridge the gap between the two jurisdictions from a legal and compliance perspective. As a result, Minnity has now become a long-standing client at Gerrish Legal, and the two regularly collaborate on drafting and negotiating Minnity’s commercial contracts.

What does Minnity think about working with Gerrish Legal?

Advice from Gerrish Legal is always to the point and comprehensive. Charlotte understands what legal challenges startups face and not only answered our questions, but provided guidance in relevant areas which Minnity hadn’t realized were important. Be it by email or on the phone, communication with Charlotte was swift, clear and understandable at all times.

Katarzyna was impressed by Gerrish Legal’s thorough work and proactiveness during the collaboration:

Charlotte indeed goes above and beyond in her work. I had a feeling she is on our side and, with my company’s best interest in mind, suggests solutions that exactly fit our needs, Gerrish Legal’s experience in French, Swedish and European law, as well as engagement in the current developments in data protection and intellectual property regulations, make them a trusted partner that Minnity hopes to collaborate with long-term.    

What does Gerrish Legal like about working with Minnity?

From the outset, Charlotte was struck by the fundamental ethics behind the app and how this is founded on Katarzyna’s experience as a Dr of Psychology specialising in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. This expertise underlies the app, which sets Minnity apart from other tech companies, as often founders do not have such a fundamental understanding of the issues their technology seeks to solve. 

Charlotte states that:

It has been gratifying for us to assist on the legal issues and considerations surrounding this app and to contribute in some way towards the success of Minnity’s business. It has been great to help the team to extend their services outside of Sweden, since the app is so important for society and for our vulnerable and aging communities - wherever they are based!

During the working relationship it has been very clear that Minnity takes its legal and privacy obligations very seriously, which always makes things easier from a lawyer’s perspective and is also reassuring for Minnity’s clients and users. This attention to detail from Minnity on matters that can sometimes feel prohibitive for start-up companies is a sign of real quality and a testament to the solution that Minnity has developed. 

Gerrish Legal’s closing comments

It has been a pleasure to assist Minnity in bridging the gap between Sweden and France and it has been exciting and rewarding to work with a company providing a tech-solution that is so useful for society! 

Minnity’ closing comments

Charlotte provided us with exactly the guidance and legal advice that we needed to understand French regulations impacting our launch in the new market. Having such a reliable and trustworthy partner is a great asset for startups and I sincerely recommend Gerrish Legal’s services to other innovators!

Client Case Study: Panion

Malmö-based tech start-up, Panion, provides a community-building platform for organizations  to promote  long-lasting friendships and shared activities within their network. 

Panion’s Concept:

Panion was founded with the desire to use technology to bring people closer together. Whether just having moved to a new city, traveling solo, having discovered a new hobby, or just wanting to make a new friend, this keyword-searchable social app, connects people based on common interests, values and experiences across the globe.

Background:

Panion is the first social platform that helps people build and expand their social circle by connecting them with like-minded individuals. Panion connects people based on location but also brings together members of already established networks like companies, universities, and organizations. Through keyword tags, people can search for others who share their interests or find people based on a particular type of interest or platonic relationship (e.g., a language exchange partner, gym buddy or co-founder).

Panion encourages its users to put down their phones and connect in person with those who appreciate what makes them who they are. By promoting inclusion and diversity, combating loneliness, and giving people a way to feel valued based on their creativity, skills and knowledge, Panion is helping to better integrate newcomers, combat discrimination and improve the overall mental health and well-being of our students, employees, organization members, and society as a whole.

Case Study:

Johanna, COO of Panion, and Charlotte, Founding Lawyer of Gerrish Legal first got in touch via +Impact, a platform founded by Danske Bank where skilled experts assist Nordic impact startups. Charlotte was accepted onto the +Impact platform back in 2018 whilst studying at Uppsala University and working within the tech and legal community in Stockholm, Sweden with Gerrish Legal. Panion joined +Impact in March 2019.

It quickly became apparent that Gerrish Legal and Panion would be great sparring partners, with similar approaches to finding workable human-focused solutions.

Panion takes legal, compliance and privacy matters very seriously, having already undertaken privacy work for its US activities. Panion wished to collaborate with Charlotte to gain insight and advice on Panion’s approach to privacy and data protection in the EU. As a result, Charlotte updated Panion’s privacy documentation to ensure that Panion would be protected, but also so that Panion could ensure that its users could use the app knowing that their personal data was protected.

How does Panion like working with Gerrish Legal?

As a young, impact driven start-up, it is crucial for us to find the right partners who understand our vision of creating a world where no one feels lonely. In Charlotte, we not only found a great legal expert, but also an advisor and partner that fully understands our mission and shares our values. Charlotte was also willing and able to provide us with quick and objective advice on other legal matters that occurred on an occasional basis. Her ability to take on an external "in-house counsel" role is not only valuable for large multi-national companies, but also for small start-ups. Having a legal advisor on our side that understands the circumstances of a startup was and can clearly be attributed to our ongoing success.

What does Gerrish Legal think about working with Panion?

It is really a privilege to work with such a human centred tech-company such as Panion. They have a really open and refreshing approach to their business and also to legal matters. What makes Panion so great is the fundamental ethos behind their app – in today’s technology-driven world, it is so easy for people to be isolated, so bringing like-minded individuals together for friendship and common activities via our smartphones is a great move. Who hasn’t moved to a new city for work or study and wished to create a friendship circle so that they can settle into their new home? I can also greatly see the value in their B2B model.

It’s so important for large companies to maintain a sense of community amongst their employees and to promote positive social interactions that contribute to the overall wellness of their workforce. Panion provides that solution – and I can admit that I am also a user of the app – initially checking it out for professional purposes in order to understand the services from a compliance and privacy perspective, and now just as an ordinary user!

Panion’s Closing Comments:

Charlotte has not only proven her great legal expertise in the work she has provided us but has always shown great passion to work with us to find the best solution for Panion. Charlotte has become both a trusted advisor and a friend!

Client Case Study: Obsequio Software

Obsequio’s Concept:

Back in 2016, in light of the then-incoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Obsequio Software identified the issues that companies processing personal data face when it comes to evidencing compliance, particularly in terms of evidencing consent in accordance with the new strict requirements.

Obsequio’s Solution:

Obsequio decided to develop a Consent as a Service solution which enables data processors to collect, track, record, save and delete customer consent, when required under the GDPR though SaaS technology. Obsequio’s aim was to simplify and automate the consent process, meaning that companies can evidence compliance and spend time doing what they do best – running their business – rather than losing precious hours manually tracking customer opt-ins.

Case Study:

Phil and Charlotte first got in touch over LinkedIn thanks to their common background in the recruitment and staffing industry (where seeking candidate consent and evidencing it has long been a headache, even pre-GDPR).  

It quickly became apparent that Gerrish Legal and Obsequio were a perfect fit – both hailing from a start-up background, Gerrish Legal was able to respond to Obsequio’s needs by providing legal advice in a practical and flexible manner.

Initially, Charlotte drafted Obsequio’s T&Cs and SaaS Agreement, meaning that Obsequio could start selling their product to their clients and earn a return on their investment, safe in the knowledge that their rights and interests, and those of their clients, were protected. Charlotte was also able to provided further added value to Obsequio on other legal issues, for example, by advising on Obsequio’s defensible intellectual property as part of its investor-strategy and by collaborating on GDPR articles related to Obsequio’s business – for example, by analysing different legal bases for processing in the staffing sector based on ICO guidance on consent v. legitimate interests, and by providing a general overview of the GDPR and associated requirements in order to raise data protection awareness for Obsequio’s clients and prospects.

What does Obsequio think about Gerrish Legal?

Choosing which law firm to partner with can make the difference between customer success and customer friction. From our first meeting with Charlotte, it was clear she understood how important having low-friction contracts is to us and that the customer experience is everything. Months on from that first meeting, nothing has changed for us.

Additionally, we need partners that flow with our business, which Charlotte does flawlessly. At no time has our relationship felt like work. There is effort from both sides to get the outcome we need, however, Charlotte’s approach makes it easy for us so we can focus on our customers.

What does Gerrish Legal think about Obsequio?

I find it really refreshing to work with Phil and the other members of the Obsequio team! In addition to their fun and efficient way of working, the way that Obsequio has managed to combine legal regulation and technology is really impressive. As a lawyer with a strong interest in innovation and LegalTech, it was a pleasure to get to know Obsequio’s business model which is at the forefront of how all businesses will be running their compliance programs in the future. Even more exciting is the opportunity to accompany Obsequio as its offerings develop – the updates it will soon be adding to its product list are great, and it is fantastic to help Obsequio put their solutions on the market, especially as I am convinced that these solutions will also bring a lot of efficiency to my clients in the area of GDPR compliance – which is notoriously complex to navigate without the proper tools.

Obsequio Closing Comments:

Charlotte has the undefinable rare qualities that make working together easy. That’s important. What has been equally important is the revisions to our contracts with customers. There have been none. The work she does expertly balances protecting our business with protecting our business.

A chance meeting over LinkedIn has grown into a key partnership for our business.

If you’re reading this, it could be your chance meeting with Charlotte too.