Deirdre O’Donovan was appointed Deputy Commissioner and Director of Legal Affairs with the Data Protection Commission in September 2025.

Prior to joining the DPC, Deirdre was a Partner in the Litigation and Investigations department of a leading Irish law firm. There, her practice focussed on complex commercial litigation, often with a cross-border element, and more recently, large-scale regulatory investigations and white-collar crime. She provided strategic advice and support to clients across a range of sectors including state bodies, telecoms and healthcare. Deirdre has extensive experience before the Superior Courts in Ireland, including the Supreme Court.

In her current role, Deirdre leads the Legal Affairs unit, which is responsible for advising the DPC in relation to the discharge of its statutory functions and exercise of its statutory powers, as well as advising and directing on litigation strategy in proceedings involving the DPC.