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Fixed Fee Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) Services

Struggling with responding to a large volume of DSARs? Worried about the costs of responding to them all, or the legal risk of not responding in time? Our fixed-fee data subject access requests response services from qualified data compliance lawyers handle every request efficiently, and with no hidden costs.

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About Our Fixed Fee DSAR Services

Under GDPR, organisations must respond to a DSAR within one month; failure to comply can result in an ICO warning, reprimand, enforcement notice, or penalty.

Whether you’re dealing with a single request or a large influx, our qualified data compliance lawyers manage every aspect of the process. From validating requests and coordinating secure data collection to legal redaction and drafting a compliant response, we ensure even the most complex DSARs are handled accurately, securely, and on time.

With our fixed-fee service, you benefit from transparent pricing and expert legal oversight, removing the burden from your internal teams and protecting your organisation from regulatory and reputational risk.

Book a Free 30-min Discovery Call

Why do Organisations Struggle with DSARs?

Many organisations face significant challenges when responding to Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs), including:
  • High volume or frequent requests: Managing multiple DSARs can quickly overwhelm internal teams.
  • “Weaponised” DSARs: Requests from individuals involved in disputes or potential claims may be tactical, and more sensitive as they are likely to relate to internal relationships and practices.
  • Post-breach or regulatory scrutiny: Organisations that have experienced a data breach or are under investigation face extra pressure to respond correctly.
  • Tight statutory deadlines: GDPR requires responses within one month with the possibility to extend by an extra two months, leaving little margin for error.
  • Risk of fines and reputational damage: Failure to comply can result in ICO warnings, enforcement notices, penalties, or compensation claims.
  • Complex, multi-jurisdictional obligations: Organisations operating across borders must navigate differing data privacy laws and regulations.

Expert legal support can help organisations manage these challenges efficiently, securely, and compliantly, reducing risk and freeing up internal teams to do strategic work.

How our Fixed Fee DSAR Service Works

Our team have experience dealing with even the most complex, time-intensive DSARs. Our service includes:
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1. Initial Assessment & Fixed Fee Agreement

We begin with a detailed review of the DSAR to confirm its validity, scope, and any potential exemptions. At this stage, we can also assess whether additional clarification is required from the requester and assist in liaising with them.
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2. Data Collection & Review

Once the requester’s identity is verified, we work closely with your internal point of contact to coordinate the secure collection of all relevant personal data. Using structured workflows, we support you in ensuring that data is gathered efficiently from all applicable systems while maintaining full data security and confidentiality.
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3. Legal Redaction & Documentation

Our team conducts a thorough review to identify information that is legally privileged, confidential, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under data protection law. We handle all necessary redactions and maintain a clear audit trail, reducing the risk of accidental disclosure, over-disclosure or non-compliance.
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4. Draft Response Letter

We prepare a comprehensive DSAR response in line with GDPR and other applicable regulations, ensuring it meets all legal requirements. Our expertise helps you avoid the common pitfalls that can lead to regulatory scrutiny or complaints.
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5. Delivery to Data Subject & Regulatory Compliance

Once approved, the response is delivered to the data subject within the statutory timeframe. We can also provide advice on record-keeping, internal process improvements, and handling follow-up queries to support future compliance.
By outsourcing your DSAR management to us, you free up your legal and compliance teams to focus on higher-value strategic tasks, knowing that every aspect of the DSAR process is handled by experts.
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The Benefits of DSAR Outsourcing

Managing DSARs in-house can be resource-intensive and risky, especially with complex, high-volume, or dispute-related requests. The benefits of outsourcing DSAR response to data compliance lawyers include:
Legal expertise and risk mitigation
Gain expert guidance on GDPR and other data privacy laws, with advice on protecting privileged information and on what can be withheld from disclosure to the requestor.
Reduce burden on internal teams
Free your in-house legal, privacy and HR teams to focus on core business priorities while external specialists handle the operational heavy-lifting.
Faster, more efficient responses
Leverage established workflows and purpose-built processes for data search, review, redaction, and delivery to meet tight deadlines with confidence.
Secure and compliant data handling
Ensure confidential and sensitive data is processed and transferred securely, with legal oversight to safeguard your organisation.
Clear documentation and audit trails
Maintain clear, defensible records of every step, so you’re ready to respond to any query from the requestor or a regulator.
Scalable support for complex requests
Manage large requests without overwhelming internal teams.

Different DSAR Responses We Support

Our qualified data compliance lawyers provide DSAR support across all sectors, taking into account the unique nuances of each industry. We manage every request with legal rigour, ensuring compliance, privilege protection, and risk mitigation.

Weaponised requests

  • Typically submitted by disgruntled employees or individuals involved in disputes.
  • High-volume or tactical requests designed to pressure an employer.
  • Our lawyers identify documents relevant to grievances or claims, protect legal privilege, and, where information can be lawfully withheld, to reduce risk.

Standard/broad requests

  • Routine requests from customers or individuals seeking access to their personal data.
  • We carefully scope the request, work to narrow down the request where appropriate, and produce a compliant, defensible disclosure that avoids over-sharing.

Multi-format, high-volume requests

  • Includes CCTV, booking records, call logs, emails, chat exports, or large system extracts.
  • Common in sectors like travel, transport, and hospitality.
  • Handled by our team with secure data collection, format management, batch redaction, and thorough audit trails.

Cross-sector employment & dispute-related requests

  • DSARs tied to litigation, HR disputes, or investigations, applicable across industries.
  • Our lawyers apply a consistent, legally rigorous process to protect privileged material and safeguard your organisation’s position.
With our lawyer-led DSAR support, you get compliance, security, and legal assurance at every step, no matter the complexity or sector.
Get a Quote for Fixed Fee DSAR Service

What our clients say about us

“Crisis24 has been using Data Driven Legal to support our privacy compliance for a few years. Having Kate and the team available is like having an extension of our in-house legal team with expert knowledge in their subject areas. They really understand our business and provide practical, commercially driven legal advice, which is often requested by us at short notice.”

Crisis24, A global risk management services provider

“I have had the great pleasure of working with Kate at Data Driven Legal since 2022, primarily on an audit of our GDPR compliance, ensuring our data policies, cookie policies and contractual frameworks were robust and up to date. Kate was a delight to work with—organised, responsive and able to communicate complex data privacy concepts in a clear and concise way. She worked seamlessly with my team, transforming what can be a daunting area into something far more manageable and easier to understand. I highly recommend her services.”

Joshua Kaye, Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs, AE Networks, Broadcaster, media and entertainment brand

“I contacted Data Driven Legal for advice and help with improving our charity’s GDPR processes and policies. They gave us excellent guidance, providing training sessions for the organisation as a whole, and a session tailored for our Data Champions and myself, the Data Protection Officer. Data Driven Legal are now supporting our Data Cleanse & Retention Project. Our CEO is extremely impressed with their approach.”

“I would not hesitate to recommend Data Driven Legal for all data protection and GDPR compliance matters.”

Miriam Norgate, Data Protection Officer, Malaria No More

    Why Choose Data Driven Legal?

    Choosing Data Driven Legal for your DSAR response support allows you to focus on growing your business without having to waste time on gathering all the data needed for a DSAR.

    • Fixed Fee Pricing – Our fixed fee pricing structure means you know exactly what you’re going to pay, with no hidden costs or surprises.
    • Qualified Lawyers – As qualified lawyers and specialists in GDPR & UK Data Protection, we can provide a legal service and level of expertise that a data protection consultancy can’t.
    • Regulatory Insight – Data protection is an increasingly complicated and constantly developing. We ensure we are up to date with new regulations, like the Data (Use & Access) Act 2025.
    • Scalable Support – Whether you need support with a single DSAR or ongoing support with a high volume of DSARs, our services are completely scalable to suit your needs.
    • Legally Confidential & Secure – Our services are completely confidential and all of our work is highly secure.
    • Easy to Work With – Clients regularly tell us that they feel confident in our ability to complete all work, without constant monitoring or oversight.
    • Process and Project Management – Our experience working with international organisations means we are confident in working with senior stakeholders, progressing projects, and ensuring larger pieces of work are delivered well and on time.

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    FAQs

    What is a Data Subject Access Request, and who can submit one?
    A DSAR, or Data Subject Access Request, is a request made to an organisation by an individual for any and all data that the organisation or company holds about on the individual. Anyone can submit a DSAR, and the organisation must respond within one month, although there are a few extenuating circumstances which can impact this timeline, and it can be extended for two additional months.
    What are the risks of mishandling a DSAR?

    Whether through mishandling, ignoring, or not complying with the timeframes of a DSAR, failing to handle a DSAR correctly can have significant legal, financial, and reputational risks for your organisation, such as:

    • Regulatory enforcement & fines
    • Reputational damage
    • Operational inefficiencies
    What is the timeframe to respond to a DSAR?

    Within one month of receipt, organisations must respond to a DSAR under GDPR. However, the UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 introduced updates to this process:

    • “Stop-the-clock” provision: The one-month period can be paused while you await clarification from the requester, providing more flexibility for complex or unclear DSARs.
    • “Reasonable and proportionate searches”: Controllers are no longer required to conduct exhaustive searches in every case, provided your approach is documented, proportionate, and defensible.

    These changes make DSAR handling more practical, but strict compliance remains essential, particularly around deadlines, exemptions, and documentation.

    Can we refuse a DSAR?

    Yes, if an exemption applies, you can refuse to comply with either a part of or the whole of a DSAR. You can refuse to comply with a DSAR when:

    • The request is unfounded or excessive.
    • The data requested is legally privileged.
    • The identity of the requestor cannot be verified.
    • Disclosure would infringe the rights of third parties.

    However, when a DSAR is refused, you must respond to the requester explaining the lawful basis for the refusal and advising them of their right to complain to their country’s data protection and information authority, which in the UK is the ICO.

    What information do we need to include in the DSAR response?

    A comprehensive DSAR response should contain the following information:

    • Confirmation of the processing of the data subject's personal data.
    • A copy of the data subject’s personal data.
    • An explanation of the purpose of the data processing.
    • Details of the source of the data, especially if it wasn't collected directly from the requestor.
    • A list of the third parties with whom the data has been shared.
    • Details of the length of time the data will be stored or the criteria used to determine this period.

    The response must also inform the data subject about their data protection rights, including their right to lodge a complaint about the manner in which the request has been completed.

    The response must be provided in transparent, plain language, in an easily accessible format.

    How does the Data Use & Access Act 2025 affect DSAR handling?

    The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 introduced targeted reforms to make DSARs more practical to manage, while maintaining strong rights for individuals. Two of the key changes include:

    1. “Stop-the-Clock” mechanism has been introduced
    2. The requirement only to conduct “Reasonable and proportionate searches” is now enshrined in legislation

    The updates provided by the Data (Use and Access) Act offer practical guidance and clarity for organisation and legal teams, but also increase the need for structured process and oversight. Legal guidance of the kind we provide here at Data Driven Legal can help you build these processes and ensure any DSARs you receive are dealt with effectively and efficiently.