Author: Sanjar Ubaydullaev – 17/01/2026
DATA PROTECTION IN LEGAL PRACTICE: REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS, COMPLIANCE OBLIGATIONS, AND EMERGING CHALLENGES
Sanjar Ubaydullaev
PhD Researcher, Department of Cyber Law
Tashkent State University of Law, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Abstract – The regulatory framework governing data protection in legal practice has become increasingly complex and central to professional responsibility in the digital age. Law firms and legal departments act as custodians of highly sensitive personal and confidential information, placing them under heightened regulatory, ethical, and compliance obligations. This article examines the core data protection regimes affecting legal practice, with particular emphasis on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and sector-specific regulatory instruments. The analysis addresses key principles of lawful data processing, cross-border data transfers, accountability mechanisms, documentation duties, enforcement risks, and emerging regulatory trends. The article argues that data protection compliance in legal practice must be understood not merely as a regulatory obligation, but as a foundational element of legal ethics, professional integrity, and client trust.
Keywords: data protection, legal profession, GDPR, CCPA, regulatory compliance, legal ethics
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Sanjar Ubaydullaev is a Contracts Manager at ACWA Power Uzbekistan and a legal and contracts professional with over 10 years of experience in EPC, energy, infrastructure, and oil & gas projects. He specializes in FIDIC-based contract management, procurement, commercial negotiations, and claims administration across the full contract lifecycle. He has managed major renewable energy, hydrogen, mining, and gas projects, including PV plants with BESS and large-scale EPC facilities. Mr. Ubaydullaev holds an LL.M., an MBA in International Oil and Gas Business, and extensive experience in multinational project environments.