Ahmed Baladi is a partner in the Paris office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and the co-Chair of the firm’s Privacy, Cybersecurity and Data Innovation Practice Group. He specializes in information technology & digital transactions, outsourcing, data privacy and cybersecurity.

Mr. Baladi has developed renowned experience in a wide range of technology and digital matters. His practice covers complex technology transactions and outsourcing projects, particularly in the financial institutions sector; strategic digital transformation, such as acquisition or development of innovative solutions (Non-Fungible Tokens [NFTs], Metaverse Projetcs, lnternet of Things [IoT], Artificial Intelligence [AI], Fintech, big data and cloud based solutions); data privacy and cybersecurity, including compliance and governance projects in light of the GDPR, cross-border litigation requiring data transfer and Binding Corporate Rules and complex commercial transactions, particularly in the technology, energy, aerospace and pharmaceutical industries.

Chambers Europe 2022 consistently recommends Mr. Baladi in the Spotlight Table for TMT: Data Protection. The directory also ranks him Band 2 in its TMT: Information Technology category, where clients assess he is “on top of his game and a pleasure to work with.” Previous editions described him as “a super business partner who finds excellent solutions” ; “efficient and reactive” and with “an excellent grasp of the sector”; “very smart and bright.” Other sources praise his negotiation skills, saying: “He is patient and always tries to find intelligent compromises” underlining his “reactivity and availability”, his “great judgement […] source of clear, calm advice under pressure” and the fact that he is “very patient, reactive, calm and balanced, especially in negotiations.” Sources consistently highlight this “adept negotiator, pragmatic and practical”’s “strong commercial and technical skills”, as well as his ability to “understand complex and innovative projects very quickly, and to build a proposal that explores different legal areas but remains simple and clear.”

The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 has named him a Leading Individual for both Data Protection (Tier 1) and IT and internet (Tier 2) categories. Previous editions noticed “Ahmed Baladi gives you great comfort when dealing with complex legal topics (whether at national level or on cross-border issues) or difficult business situations, and when having to navigate in grey areas. These are situations where you need to challenge yourself, share views and take decisions taking into account the regulations, but also, and equally importantly for a business, matching with the business interests. Ahmed’s legal expertise, deep business experience, hard-working capacity and humility at work make him a highly valued asset for our legal team.” Other sources referred to him as “the senior name to note at Gibson Dunn.”

Best Lawyers in France named Gibson Dunn Paris its single top 2022 Privacy and Data Security Law Firm of the Year and has consistently recommended Ahmed Baladi for Technology Law, Information Technology Law, Privacy, Data Security Law as well as Telecommunications Law. This directory also named him its 2019 Information Technology Lawyer of the Year. Who’s Who Legal: Data 2021-2022 has also selected Mr. Baladi as being a leading figure in Data.

Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2001, Mr. Baladi graduated in 1998 from University of Lyon III Jean Moulin, where he received a DJCE (Legal counsel diploma) in Commercial Law and a post graduate degree in Business and Tax Laws. Through an exchange program, he spent two years in the US, at the University of Georgia in 1999, and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1997.

He speaks English fluently.