Member Voices: Rachael Byrne

Published on Oct 31, 2025

Rachael Byrne

Practice Areas: Privacy & Data Protection, Data Security, Technology
Mason Hayes & Curran (Ireland) → Interned at Payet Rey Cauvi Perez (Peru)
Connect on LinkedIn

It was great to connect with my privacy and data protection colleagues in PRCP and learn more about the latest developments in Peruvian data protection law, including a significant new law from earlier this year. I had the opportunity to join the data protection team’s weekly meeting, where we discussed some of the points of convergence between Peruvian and EU data protection law, which was super interesting. I have spoken about my experiences to date in a little more detail here on LinkedIn.

Tell us about a stand-out moment from your WLG | exchange so far?

It’s really difficult to choose just one, as there were so many amazing moments! One that stands out was attending a lunch with some members of the privacy, competition, and consumer protection teams here at PRCP. It was an incredible experience to discuss the latest developments in Peruvian data protection law, and how these compare and contrast with the GDPR, against the backdrop of Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca pyramid in the centre of Lima. The contrast between the ancient site and the tech-focused conversation was surreal and made the experience even more memorable!

What’s one striking similarity or difference you’ve noticed between your home and host jurisdiction? 

One striking similarity was the collegiate atmosphere. The team at PRCP are super welcoming, and despite dealing with the familiar pressures of legal practice, they always find time to connect throughout the day for a friendly chat, whether over lunch, coffee or at a fruit break. This is familiar to the supportive environment in my home firm, MHC, where people will connect on a personal as well as a professional level and work together as a team. Legal practice is often portrayed in the media as being competitive and ruthless, so it was wonderful to see this stereotype being definitively disproven in both jurisdictions!