INPLP reaches 60 countries: a warm welcome to Maddocks, our first member in Australia
With Maddocks from Sydney, the International Network of Privacy Law Professionals welcomes its first member firm from Australia — and is now represented in 60 countries on six continents.
INPLP is proud to announce a new member — and a milestone: Maddocks, an Australian law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, has joined the network. With Australia, the International Network of Privacy Law Professionals is now represented in 60 countries on six continents.
This accession means a great deal to us. Australia is one of the most active privacy jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region: the Privacy Act reform, the strengthened powers of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and a steady stream of enforcement and data-breach cases make Australian privacy counsel a sought-after partner for international clients. Until now, INPLP could not offer that from within the network. From today, it can.
Maddocks is an independent Australian law firm that has been helping clients since 1885. From its offices in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, the full-service firm advises corporations, businesses and governments across Australia and internationally. Its nationally recognised privacy, data and information law practice advises on privacy compliance and impact assessments, data governance, cyber risk, AI and emerging technologies, and data breach response.
The firm is represented in INPLP by Sonia Sharma, Partner. Sonia is a leading Australian privacy, data, cyber and emerging technology lawyer who advises organisations across the full privacy and cyber lifecycle — on their “good days”, building privacy into new technologies, products and business models, and on their “bad days”, navigating cyber incidents, data breaches and regulatory investigations. She is recognised by Best Lawyers for Information Technology Law and Privacy and Data Security Law, is a Legal 500 Asia Pacific Next Generation Partner for Data Protection, and was named Cyber Partner of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards 2024.
For clients, INPLP members and the wider privacy community, this means direct access to experienced Australian privacy counsel within a trusted international network — one more jurisdiction in which a single call to an INPLP member opens the door to a colleague who knows the local practice.
Sixty countries is also a moment to say thank you. INPLP has grown by 20% over the past twelve months, and every one of these accessions was recommended, vetted and welcomed by existing members. The network is what its members make of it.
Welcome to INPLP, Sonia and the whole Maddocks team. We look forward to working together.