FRANCESCA BLYTHE advises international clients on a wide range of privacy, cybersecurity, data protection, artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technology issues. With in-depth experience across multiple industries, including technology, asset management and private equity, payments, retail, e-commerce, and manufacturing, Francesca helps organizations navigate complex regulatory frameworks, manage data breach incidents, and implement robust compliance strategies. Francesca has a particular focus on life sciences, where she advises on a broad range of issues in relation to clinical studies, secondary research, digital health, and use of novel technologies. Francesca co-leads Sidley’s benchmarking group for in-house data privacy professionals (dplegal) in the life sciences sector. Her ability to address the rapidly evolving landscape of data privacy, AI and cybersecurity law enables her to provide strategic, forward-thinking solutions tailored to each client’s needs.
Francesca was previously in-house counsel at the largest international health and beauty retailer in Asia and Europe. While there, she regularly gave advice on compliance and strategies relating to data protection laws and assisted in the planning and delivery of a global privacy compliance project.
Francesca has received acknowledgement from numerous industry ranking guides:
- Chambers UK 2025 – Ranked for Data Protection and Information Law where clients comment that “Francesca is a talented lawyer who can handle everything from your routine to your sophisticated data privacy matters. She is good at adapting to the needs of your company” and that she “…is a highly engaged, responsive and practically minded adviser.”
- Legal 500 UK 2025 – Recommended for Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity, where clients say that “Francesca Blythe is able to understand our business quickly, apply the relevant data privacy laws to our situation and provide legal advice on a risk-based approach. She is personable and professional. She is always managing my expectations and keeps me updated if working on a longer project.”
- Women in Business Law EMEA Awards 2024 – Won the “Privacy & Data Protection Lawyer of the Year” award.
- Chambers UK 2024 – Named as “Up and Coming” for Data Protection and Information Law, where sources note that “When it comes to privacy advice, Francesca stands out to me as a knowledgeable and practical counsel.”
- Legal 500 UK 2024 – Recognized for Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity, where clients comment that “Francesca Blythe is extremely commercially minded and pragmatic. Her advice is already “ready to use” and I don’t need to spend more time digesting what she says.”
- Who’s Who Legal 2024 – Ranked as a Thought Leader for Data Privacy and Protection and Data Security and as Global Leader for Data Privacy and Protection, Data Security, and Information Technology.
- Women in Business Law EMEA Awards 2022 – Won the “Rising Star – Corporate” award.
- Law.com International’s 2022 – Included on the “Rising Stars: The UK’s Best Up and Coming Female Lawyers” list. The annual feature highlights the “25 women aged under 40 paving ways in the UK legal industry as the next generation of female legal powerhouses.”
Francesca co-leads Women in Privacy (WIP), an international networking group for over 2,000 privacy professionals that provides a platform for high-level discussion of global privacy law developments. Francesca is an in-demand speaker and writer, regularly providing thought leadership to Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence and other publications. She also contributes to Data Matters, Sidley’s blog on cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, artificial intelligence, internet law, and policy.