About Lionheart

The People Behind Your Compliance

Meet the team behind Lionheart and the operating philosophy that supports companies entering and expanding across Europe.

About Lionheart

Founded on regulatory depth & commercial experience

Lionheart was founded by two industry veterans, combining deep regulatory expertise with global commercial and operational leadership. Together, they bring decades of experience helping organisations navigate complex technology, data, and market challenges across Europe, the United States, and Asia-Pacific.

Blending privacy leadership with real-world business execution, they position Lionheart as a trusted partner for companies entering and scaling within Europe, delivering clarity, confidence, and compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Leadership

The founders behind Lionheart

Karima Saini

Karima SainiCo-founder

IAPP Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) · LLM, University of Edinburgh · IAPP Member since 2007

Karima Saini is Co-founder and CEO of Lionheart. A veteran of data protection and privacy, she has advised global organisations across financial services, media, technology, and gaming on navigating complex regulatory frameworks and implementing robust privacy programmes.

At Lionheart, Karima leads on privacy governance, regulatory strategy, and operational implementation. Known for her pragmatic, business-focused approach, she enables clients to embed privacy- and security-by-design into their operations, delivering compliant, scalable, and commercially viable outcomes.

Hari Saini

Hari SainiCo-founder

BSc Combined Science (Physics and Computer Science), University of London · IAPP Member

Hari Saini is Co-founder and COO of Lionheart. A veteran of the technology and digital sectors, he has built an international career spanning sales, product, partnerships, and customer success across the UK, Europe, the United States, and Asia-Pacific.

At Lionheart, Hari helps organisations navigate Europe's complex regulatory landscape, from GDPR Article 27 representation to broader privacy and compliance strategy. Known for bridging commercial, technical, and regulatory worlds, he enables clients to enter and scale in European markets with clarity and confidence.

How We Work

Small by design. Expert by conviction.

Lionheart is a boutique firm and deliberately so. We focus on quality of service over volume of clients, which means every engagement receives our full attention from day one. Our team brings hands-on experience across many sectors, including: Big-four accounting and consultancy; Digital marketing and privacy-enhancing technologies; IPTV streaming, satellite and cable entertainment; Broadcast radio, newsprint and digital media; Retail, banking & trust, large consumer credit reporting agencies; Information Security software and hosting.

Credentials & contributions

Depth you can assess, not just trust.

Sector Experience

Hands-on operating and advisory exposure across regulated, technical and media environments.

  • Big-four accounting and consultancy
  • Digital marketing and privacy-enhancing technologies
  • IPTV streaming, satellite and cable entertainment
  • Broadcast radio, newsprint and digital media
  • Retail, banking & trust, large consumer credit reporting agencies
  • Information Security software and hosting

Professional Certifications & Qualifications

Our team members hold and maintain a wide variety of credentials, including:

  • FIP — IAPP Fellow of Information Privacy
  • CIPT — IAPP Certified Information Privacy Technologist
  • CIPM — IAPP Certified Information Privacy Manager
  • CIPP/E — IAPP Certified International Privacy Professional (EU)
  • CIPP/US — IAPP Certified International Privacy Professional (USA)

Academic Programmes

Ongoing study across AI, privacy, cyber risk, digital systems and public-interest governance.

  • Cal State University, Executive Law — Generative AI for Lawyers (2024 & 2026)
  • University of Groningen — Understanding the GDPR
  • University of Pennsylvania Engineering — Networked Life: Market and Social Systems
  • University of Washington — Cybersecurity Risk Management
  • Hague Institute for Global Justice — Rule of Law Programme: Cyber Security and Human Rights
  • Oxford University — Freedom of Expression in Journalism

Professional Contributions & Advocacy

External standards, policy and technical contribution that supports the work behind client mandates.

  • British Standards Institute, Big Data Technical Committee
  • IEEC/JC1 Artificial Intelligence Technical Committee
  • European Commission Digital Omnibus I & II — 'Have Your Say' Contributor, March 2026
  • EU Transparency Register: REG 3190771102741-15

Always Evolving.

The regulatory landscape does not stand still and neither do we. Since 2017, Lionheart has grown its service offering in step with Europe's expanding digital rulebook, from GDPR at the outset to the AI Act, DSA, NIS2, e-Evidence and beyond. As new obligations emerge and existing frameworks evolve, we assess, prepare and publish new services so that our clients are never caught off-guard by a mandate they did not see coming.

We invite you to check back regularly and if you are wondering whether a new development affects your obligations, just ask.

Talk to Lionheart