Fiona Phillips, guest editor of our Cybersecurity special issue and chair of the SCL Cybersecurity Group, stresses the importance of cyber for lawyers and for wider society
As Chair of the Cybersecurity and Law Committee for the Society for Computers and Law, I am honoured to introduce this special edition devoted to one of the most pressing issues of our time: cybersecurity.
Once considered a specialist domain, cybersecurity has moved squarely into the mainstream. The NCSC reported this year that the UK is experiencing an average of four “nationally significant” cyberattacks every week. Recent headlines underscore the scale of the threat: major retailers have fallen victim to breaches and the Bank of England cited the Jaguar Land Rover incident as so severe it dented the GDP of the country. Arrests of UK nationals further confirm what experts have long warned; cybercrime is not just an external threat, it is domestic and it is targeting domestic entities.
The legal profession is hardly immune. With its troves of sensitive data and confidential information, law firms have become prime targets. Cybersecurity is no longer the exclusive province of a handful of specialist lawyers. Today, every practitioner (whether in-house or in private practice) must understand these risks and integrate them into both professional and personal spheres.
This edition offers a range of insights designed to help lawyers prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents. Among the highlights: how court orders can serve as powerful tools in your cyber response strategy; the role of AI governance in strengthening security programs; and a cautionary look at how AI itself can introduce vulnerabilities. We also examine the impact of data centres and digital infrastructure on your risk exposure, provide updates on the proposed Cybersecurity and Resilience Bill, and explore the latest threat trends. You’ll find analysis of a $380 million claim against a vendor following a breach and a review of Joe Tidy’s compelling new book on the inner workings of teenage hackers, a sobering reminder of the human dimension behind these attacks.
Cybersecurity is no longer optional. It is a legal, operational, and societal imperative. We hope this special edition equips you with the knowledge and tools to meet that challenge head-on.
Fiona Phillips is a senior lawyer and AI governance expert with over 19 years’ experience leading legal teams in global banks and technology-driven organisations. Having held senior roles at UBS, HSBC, and Freshfields, she now advises on the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, data, and digital assets – helping businesses navigate emerging regulation and ethical use of technology.
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