Partner

Tom De Cordier

Talen

Nederlands
Frans
Engels

Social media

Voor hij CMS vervoegde, was Tom werkzaam bij Allen & Overy waar hij zijn carrière begon in 2000. Hij werd gepromoveerd tot senior associate in mei 2007 en tot counsel in 2011.

Tom is een ervaren advocaat met een sterke focus op data-privacywetgeving, technologie, media- en communicatierecht, technologiegerelateerde IP en life sciences.

Hij wordt door cliënten geprezen om zijn commerciële inzicht en zijn pragmatische en down-to-earth aanpak.

Zijn praktijk omvat een brede waaier van zowel nationale als internationale adviesverlening, transacties en geschillen met betrekking tot de gegevensbescherming, TMC en life sciences.

Tom staat vermeld in de meest recente Legal 500-rangschikking van de toonaangevende specialisten inzake EU-gegevensbescherming. Chambers Europe vermeldt Tom als “Up and Coming” in de categorie Technology, Media & Telecommunications in België. Corporate International Magazine prees Tom onlangs als “rijzende ster van het jaar in België” op het gebied van telecommunicatie.

Awards & Recognitions

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"Tom de Cordier does a fantastic job. His responsiveness is really good, and he possesses excellent competencies in his field. He is the perfect mix of knowing the legal nitty gritty whilst also being pragmatic."

"Feedback from a client, Chambers Europe, 2026"
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"It is a pleasant and proactive cooperation with Tom de Cordier. He is interested in the business aspects and thinks about compliant, feasible and practical solutions."

Feedback from a client, Chambers Europe, 2026
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"Tom de Cordier has excellent privacy knowledge and expertise."

Feedback from a client, Chambers Europe, 2026
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"Tom de Cordier is very strong in data protection and cyber matters."

Feedback from a client, Chambers Europe, 2026
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"Tom de Cordier is very knowledgeable and advises on the best solutions."

Feedback from a client, Chambers Europe, 2026
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"Tom De Cordier stands out as a true thought leader in EU data protection and AI regulation. His ability to break down complex regulatory issues into clear, actionable insights is exceptional, and he is highly persuasive when briefing senior management."

Feedback from a client, Legal 500, 2026
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"Tom De Cordier is always able to articulate at the right level, and with a pragmatic viewpoint."

Feedback from a client, Legal 500, 2026
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"Tom De Cordier distinguishes himself through a combination of legal depth, commercial pragmatism, and cross-border perspective. While many practitioners focus narrowly on compliance, Tom has built a practice that not only navigates complex regulations like the GDPR and e-privacy laws but also anticipates how they intersect with technology, litigation, and business strategy. He is also very approachable and very responsive, and a strategic partner in cyber-incident crisis."

Feedback from a client, Legal 500, 2026
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"Tom De Cordier is exceptionally knowledgeable and articulate. He’s an ideal partner for brainstorming and sparring on risk scenarios, pragmatic responses to bureaucracy, and overly prescriptive legislation. Tom is consistently available, responsive, and serves as an outstanding trainer on data protection, e privacy, and cybersecurity."

Feedback from a client, Legal 500, 2026
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"Tom De Cordier ‘fosters a strong culture of professionalism and teamwork"

Legal 500, 2025
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"Tom de Cordier is an excellent lawyer. Tom is a pleasure to work with, an expert in privacy matters, and always available. He is impressive in his capacity to suggest innovative solutions adapted to clients' needs."

Feedback from a client - Legal 500, 2025
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"I did one cybersecurity / GDPR file with Tom [De Cordier]. He has a very good knowledge of the matter and could connect us very easily with the right experts in Spain."

Feedback from a client - Legal 500, 2025
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"He [Tom de Cordier] knows our risk appetite and really makes an effort to customise his way of working to our style."

TMT: Data Protection client - Chambers Europe, 2024
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"He [Tom de Cordier] is a fantastic all-rounder who provides a good sense of pragmatism."

TMT: Data Protection client - Chambers Europe, 2024
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"He [Tom de Cordier] is a fantastic all-rounder who provides a good sense of pragmatism."

Telecommunications client - Chambers Europe, 2024

Publicaties

T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "CMS GDPR Enforcement Tracker Report", 23/05/2025, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Avec moins de 50 amendes en sept ans, le raz-de-marée de sanctions en lien avec le RGPD n'a pas eu lieu", interview in L’Echo, 22/05/2025, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, et al., "The comeback is on: how the EU plans to reclaim digital sovereignty", 29/04/2025, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, et al., "Is the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework in danger", 28/01/2025, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "EU Cyber Resilience Act comes into effect on 10 December", 03/12/2024, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "EU’s NIS 2 enters into force: compliance is now mandatory", 22/10/2024, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "The Belgian Data Protection Authority publishes an informative brochure on artificial intelligence systems and the GDPR", 25/09/2024, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, et al., "News from the CJEU on GDPR compensation", 02/02/2024, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, D. DOBBELAERE, V. DE PAUW, "With EU Cyber Resilience Act, EU gets tough on IoT supply chain cybersecurity", 13/12/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. HEREMANS, D. VAN LIEDEKERKE, "International Digital Regulation Hub : Expert advice on navigating the Digital Regulation Tsunami", 07/12/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Règlement sur les données (Data Act) : Un pas décisif vers une société fondée sur les données", Revue Expertises des systèmes d'information – Droit, technologies et prospectives, nr. 494, oktober 2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Adequacy decision on EU-US Data Privacy Framework adopted", 10/07/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "The GDPR turns 5 | Europe-wide analysis reveals data protection fines totaling EUR 2.7 billion in over 1,500 cases", 23/05/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, "Juridische dimensie van cyberaanvallen: wat u als jurist moet weten", Jubel, 06/07/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "The Belgian Whistleblowing Act enters into force. What do you need to know regarding data protection?", 15/02/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Happy Data Protection Day! What’s on the horizon for 2023?", 27/01/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Les cybercriminels vont-ils profiter du succès de ChatGPT pour tromper votre entreprise?", L’Echo, 23/01/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Quelle stratégie adopter face aux attaques par rançongiciel?", L’Echo, 11/01/2023, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "EU Cybersecurity Month: mobile devices can pose a risk to your business", 20/10/2022, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Another cookie enforcement case: Belgian privacy watchdog reconfirms cookie consent rules", 31/01/2022, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Éradiquer le fléau des ransomware en interdisant le paiement des rançons?", L’Echo, 23/11/2021, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "EU Cybersecurity Month: Hybrid working makes phishing attacks harder to spot", 13/10/2021, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Summer legal recap of data protection law", 03/09/2021, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "EU finally adopts new data transfer clauses", 09/06/2021, hier leesbaar.
T. DE CORDIER, "Losgeld betalen verbieden is geen gouden oplossing in de strijd tegen ransomware-aanvallen", Data News, 02/12/2021.
T. DE CORDIER, "Eradiquer le fléau des ransomware en interdisant le paiement des rançons ?", L'Echo, 23/11/2021.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, J. VAN DAELE, "EU Advocate-General opinion hints Europe’s top court is unlikely to disrupt international data flows in pending decision", 17/07/2020.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Deadline approaching for notifying CCTV cameras to Belgian police", 14/05/2020.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "EU Cybersecurity Month: When a simple phishing click can severely harm your company", 11/10/2019.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Time to update your cookie consent and policy! CJEU says pre-ticked checkboxes are not valid", 02/10/2019.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "Using social plug-ins on your website? You and the social network will be jointly liable for the data processing", 31/07/2019.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "First Belgian GDPR sanction: DPA fines mayor EUR 2,000", 31/05/2019.
T. DE CORDIER, T. DUBUISSON, "EU Advocate General gives Internet cookie opinion that could impact data privacy regs", 02/04/2019.
T. DE CORDIER, A.-M. GORIS, T. DUBUISSON, "Belgium's privacy watchdog publishes guidance on the notions of controller and processor", 17/01/2019.

Conferenties

26/05/2020: “Smart Contracts: From Clauses to Code”, webinar, met D. Dobbelaere, F. Dubois
11/06/2020: “Digitalisation of the in-house legal team…and what it means for you”, CMS webinar, met J. Challoner
09/09/2020: “Law and Beyond - Digital Transformation: seizing the opportunity whilst avoiding the pitfalls”, webinar, met S. Viaene, P. Coffyn
27/10/2020: “Joint CMS-Marsh webinar : “The Changing Face of Cyber Claims “", webinar, met A.-S. Coppens
25/11/2020: “Data, Data, Data“, webinar

Onderwijs

2000 – Toegelaten tot de Brusselse Nederlandstalige Balie
2000 – Universiteit van Londen (Verenigd Koninkrijk) – LL.M. in Computers and Communications Law
1999 – Universiteit Gent (UGent) – Master in de rechten

Practice Areas

Intellectueel Eigendom Handelsrecht

sectors

TMC - Technologie, Media & Communicatie

Insights door Tom

Bekijk alle Insights

Evenement België

Digital Governance Refined - navigating the simplifications of the EU Digital Omnibus

10 jun. 2026

Legal Update Bosnië-Herzegovina

Building on shaky foundations: a legal critique of the supply-chain regime in the proposed Cybersecurity Act 2

06 mei 2026 17 min lezen

Legal Update België

White Paper Demystifying the debate on the US CLOUD Act vs European/UK Data Sovereignty in the context of cloud services

03 feb. 2026 18 min lezen

Publicaties Internationaal

The EU Digital Omnibus

22 dec. 2025 9 min lezen