August 21, 2025
By Matt Bruce, Managing Director at Bruce & Butler
A Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) arriving in the middle of an employment dispute can feel like a ticking time bomb. The deadline clock starts the moment it arrives. The dataset is often huge, messy and packed with sensitive details. The margin for error is almost non-existent.
In most cases, the DSAR does not come to the law firm. It goes to the client, the employer and the data controller. The client then calls their solicitor, often in a state of panic. They want answers fast. They want to know what is involved, what is at stake and how to get it done without making a serious mistake.
The solicitor’s role is to advise on exemptions, privilege and legal risk. The practical job of sifting through thousands of documents, applying consistent redactions and structuring a defensible response is a different skill set entirely. This is highly specialist, operational work.
When a DSAR is tied to an employment dispute, good redaction is about far more than black boxes on apage. It is about:
“Redaction is not just a mechanical process,” says Matt Bruce, Managing Director at Bruce & Butler.“It is about precision under pressure and doing it in a way that protects both the client and the solicitor advising them.”
A rushed or sloppy redaction can cause real damage. The most common pitfalls include:
This is where our work at Bruce & Butler makes the difference. We are not a law firm and we do not advise on the legal position. We work alongside solicitors to take on the operational challenge of DSAR delivery.
That means:
“Our role is to free solicitors to do what they do best,” Matt explains. “We manage the volume, the process and the pressure. The solicitor keeps control of the advice and we make sure that advice is delivered exactly as intended.”
In contentious employment cases, a DSAR is rarely neutral. It is often a tactical move. How it is handled sends a strong message, either that the client is in control or that they are struggling.
A well-executed DSAR response shows competence, organisation and fairness. A poorly executed one invites questions, challenges and potential reputational harm.
“We see the difference it makes,” says Matt. “When the solicitor can stay focused on strategy and the client sees that their response is watertight, it builds trust. That is what we are here to enable.”
Our work is quiet, precise and discreet. The solicitor remains the client’s trusted adviser. We simply provide the operational capability to get the job done right, on time and without cutting corners.
“At the end of the day,”Matt adds, “this is about helping solicitors protect their clients and their own reputation. We are the partner they can trust when the clock is ticking and the margin for error is zero.”
Redaction under pressure is a specialist task. In employment disputes, the safest approach is a partnership that combines legal expertise from the law firm with operational excellence from Bruce & Butler.
If your firm advises clients on DSARs and wants to deliver responses that are precise, consistent and defensible, get in touch with Bruce & Butler today.