Denuo Scales Global Data Protection Practice with Strategic Acquisition of Specialized Team

Denuo Scales Global Data Protection Practice with Strategic Acquisition of Specialized Team

The legal landscape for data governance is undergoing a paradigm shift, necessitating a more sophisticated approach to cross-border compliance and the intersection of privacy and artificial intelligence. In a strategic move to meet this demand, Denuo has announced the appointment of Daria Zagranichnova as the Head of the International Data Protection Practice.

Ms. Zagranichnova joins Denuo from the Data Privacy Office, bringing with her a specialized team of experts. This integration is not merely a headcount increase but a targeted expansion of Denuo's capabilities in high-stakes digital law. Zagranichnova’s expertise focuses on the comprehensive legal support of projects involving personal data protection and the operational deployment of AI—two of the most volatile regulatory areas in the current tech ecosystem.

Expanding the Tech & IP Ecosystem

The incoming team brings a rigorous level of professional certification, holding credentials from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and the RPPA. This ensures that the practice operates according to global gold standards of data privacy management.

Zagranichnova’s core competencies include:

  • Cross-jurisdictional Audits: Conducting systemic reviews of data processing activities across multiple legal frameworks.

  • Regulatory Risk Mitigation: Designing robust documentation and risk assessment matrices to navigate supervisory authority inspections.

  • Data Architecture Structuring: Optimizing data flows to ensure compliance with varying regional privacy laws.

  • AI Governance: Providing strategic legal opinions on the deployment of algorithmic systems and generative AI.

    • This new unit will be integrated into Denuo’s existing Intellectual Property and Technology practice, which currently comprises thirteen lawyers and two partners across Moscow and St. Petersburg. The synergy between IP commercialization, trademark protection, and specialized data privacy will allow the firm to offer a holistic "Tech Law" suite to its clients.

    > image

    Strategic Outlook

    Roman Golovatsky, Partner of the IP and Technology practice, emphasizes that this move is a critical step toward establishing a global center of excellence for data protection. In an era of rapid regulatory volatility, clients are no longer seeking traditional legal advice but strategic partnerships capable of managing risk across diverse jurisdictions.

    For Daria Zagranichnova, the transition to Denuo represents a scaling opportunity. By leveraging Denuo's platform—which spans offices in Russia, Georgia, the UAE, and Uzbekistan—her team can apply their expertise to complex cross-border projects that require a high degree of legal synchronization.

    As Denuo continues to grow its footprint (with a core of professionals many of whom hail from DLA Piper), the integration of a dedicated international data privacy wing positions the firm to lead in the increasingly complex field of global data sovereignty and digital rights management.