Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor
PartnerValerie specialises in the areas of information technology, cybersecurity, data protection and other compliance matters, intellectual property and brand management & protection, and commercial contracts.
Val is listed in the 'WWL Thought Leaders: Data' 2023 report for Data Privacy & Protection and Data Information Technology. She is also listed in Who’s Who Legal 2023 as an expert in the areas of Data Privacy & Protection and Information Technology.
Ranked as a Leader in the Field for Charities, Data Protection & Information Law and Information Technology in the 2024 edition of Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession, Val is described by clients as “brilliant, approachable and able to reduce the concepts down into words and phrases I can understand".
Val leads the firm’s Charities & Third Sector team where she has a particular interest in governance and trustee matters. Having previously been the Chair of the Independent Fundraising Standards and Adjudication Panel for Scotland, the independent body in Scotland which oversees complaints made about the fundraising practices of Scottish registered charities, she also has a focus on how governance relates to charity fundraising.
Val is also an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University in Chicago USA, where she teaches in the area of privacy law at the prestigious Beazley Institute for Health Law & policy.
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Scottish charity fined by ICO in response to poor data management practices
The Scottish charity, Birthlink, received an £18,000 fine from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK regulator for data protection. Due to the serious nature of the breach, the ICO initially considered fining the charity £45,000 but reduced this after considering representations from the charity.
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Balancing innovation and compliance in FemTech regulation
FemTech is one of the fastest-growing industries, bringing groundbreaking innovations to women's health. However, with such rapid expansion comes the challenge of ensuring effective regulation keeps pace. In the UK, a potential regulatory gap has emerged, with many FemTech apps operating outside the boundaries of formal healthcare oversight.
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Weight Loss Injections: Navigating the legal risks behind the "cosmetic trend"
The boom in weight loss injections has fuelled a surge in patients turning to online pharmacies for fast access. Originally intended to treat type 2 diabetes, these drugs are now widely used off-label for weight loss. However, as demand skyrockets, so do safety concerns - from counterfeit products to misuse. In response, the General Pharmaceutical Council introduced stricter regulations for online pharmacies in February 2025.