Baker McKenzie offers considerable bench strength across tech, internet, social media, digital transformation and communications. Ben Allgrove co-heads the team and is well-versed in online content distribution and regulation. Other co-head Will Holder is experienced in the media and entertainment industry, acting on transactions including acquisitions and disposals. Steve Holmes chairs the tech team and advises on regulatory issues. Sue McLean works on outsourcing and blockchain matters, while John Groom focuses on copyright, digital media and new tech.
TMT in London
Baker & McKenzie
Practice head(s):
Ben Allgrove; Will Holder
Other key lawyers:
Steve Holmes; Sue McLean; John Groom; Rebecca Bland; Josh Boyden; Joanna de Fonseka
Testimonials
‘Strong leader, strong bench of well-trained associates, and efficient working means they are cost effective and deliver great outcomes under budget.’
‘Steve Holmes is an exceptional lawyer – as well as being outstanding technically, he has a unique ability in negotiations to gain the trust, confidence and respect of counterparties and their legal teams, which means he is looked to to resolve conflicts between the parties, even by opposing counsel!’
‘Our main contact with the TMT team has been in relation to data protection and cybersecurity and they have displayed an impressive depth of knowledge in these areas. The team also makes great effort to be available.’
Key clients
3 (Hutchison 3G)
ATP Media
BBC
Blockchain Group Holdings
Blockchain (GB) Limited
Blockchain Access UK
Colt
Digitalk
Egmont Publishing
Equinix Inc
Hitachi
Hutch Games
Index Features
MagicLab
Media and Games Invest plc
Novator Partners
Sinch
Take Two Interactive
Tik Tok
Trainline
Uniphore Inc.
YouTube
Work highlights
- Acted for Colt on the entry into an exclusive arrangement for the proposed acquisition of Lumen Technologies’ Europe, Middle East and Africa business for USD 1.8 billion.
- Advised Pinterest in providing evidence to the Coroner’s inquest in the UK into the death of Molly Russell.
- Advised Uniphore Inc. on its acquisition of Red Box, the leading open enterprise platform.
Bird & Bird LLP
Bird & Bird LLP covers a range of matters from telecoms and IT to media and entertainment. Ronald Hendrikx specialises in communication projects across the public and private sector and co-heads the team with Mark Leach who is well-versed in outsourcing. Other co-head Andy Danson advises on commercial contracts in the gambling sector. Phil Sherrell has expertise on the application of copyright to all aspects of the media sector while Kimberly Wells acts for start-ups and multi-national. Roger Bickerstaff handles all issues relating to the software industry including licensing, cloud and distribution.
Practice head(s):
Ronald Hendrikx; Mark Leach; Andy Danson
Other key lawyers:
Phil Sherrell; Kimberly Wells; Roger Bickerstaff; Matthew Buckwell; Raoul Grifoni Waterman; Frank Simons; Graeme Maguire
Testimonials
‘The Bird & Bird TMT team is critical to our telecoms related efforts throughout Europe and in many other jurisdictions outside of Europe. We are a relatively recent entrant into the core regulated telecoms space, and we’ve expanded our footprint rapidly. The B&B team has been incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and also practical in the guidance they continue to provide.’
‘Frank Simons leads the B&B team’s work for us (under the overall supervision of Graeme Maguire). Frank is simply incredible. Calm, thoughtful, level-headed . . . and a deep expert in a variety of areas. He has spoiled us with amazing responsiveness and an ability to find answer to obscure questions about regulatory dynamics around the globe. Matthew Buckwell and Raoul Grifoni Waterman have been (and continue to be) fantastic associates, working closely with Frank on the various matters we bring to the firm.’
‘Very good, market leading industry knowledge. By instructing Bird & Bird you know that you are getting the benefit of first hand, market leading experience.’
‘The team’s strengths lie in their original thought and the underlying wealth of knowledge. They have been very collaborative and always pro-actively helped us seek the best results for our organisation.’
‘Extremely resourceful and in-tune with the latest developments in the market. They have, therefore, been our first port of call for cutting-edge projects that we have required advice on.’
Key clients
Activision Blizzard
Allwyn
ARM
Docusign
Epic Games
Equinix, Inc
Guinness Six Nations Rugby
ICE Services
ICM Partners
Macquarie Bank
Nandos
Nokia
TuneIn, Inc.
Work highlights
- Acted for TuneIn in the litigation brought against them by Sony Music and Warner Music.
Bristows LLP
Bristows LLP assists clients on tech-related legal issues, advisory, contentious and transactional matters. The team is well-versed in IT law and outsourcing projects, acting for clients undertaking ITO and BPO transactions. Mark Watts heads the practice and advises companies on a range of data protection issues while Toby Crick has expertise in outsourcing transactions. Myles Jelf is involved in telecoms and tech litigation, and Adrian Sim has niche expertise in the area of major financial services implementation projects.
Practice head(s):
Mark Watts
Other key lawyers:
Toby Crick; Myles Jelf; Adrian Sim; Anna Cook
Testimonials
‘The team is very knowledgeable about various aspects of the law. They are able to provide different prospective as well as guidance. They work within the client’s constraints.’
‘Marc Dautlich and Jamie Drucker have been incredible in helping with addressing GDPR issues. They are very knowledgeable about UK and EU GDPR. Not only are they diligence in their work, they are also responsive and available considering that different time zones and short deadlines. They understand their clients’ concerns and limitation and work within the law to satisfy the clients needs. Its pure pleasure to work with them knowing that they will be supportive and understandable of the clients’ positions.’
‘I appreciate the team’s willingness to make themselves available on short notice to advise on complex matters over the phone. They have a breadth of experience in our sector, including at least on former in-house lawyer. They are always willing to estimate a budget, and they stick to their estimate. I particularly appreciate their willing to provide risk-based advice.’
Key clients
Capgemini
Thomson Reuter Foundation
Cisco Systems
Facebook/ Meta
United Technologies
Spotify
Scientia Limited
Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe
WPP plc
Amazon / Amazon Web Services
Canon
Schibsted Media
Oxis Energy
IP Group plc
The Guardian News and Media
Paramount Pictures
IBM
Dropbox
Cray Supercomputers
Samsung
ZTE
Eutelsat
OnePhone
Ofcom
CityFibre
Vorboss
Philips N.V
Endless Mobile
Work highlights
- Defended Philips in the first “FRAND case” brought by an implementer in the UK against a patent pool and a patent owner.
- Assisted WPP on several transactions, including acquisition of Satalia, Cloud Commerce Group and mobile commerce brand NN4M.
- Assisted a large tech company on multiple media disputes and a competition case in Europe.
Clifford Chance LLP
Clifford Chance LLP caters to a broad range of clients across the TMT sector including Spotify, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and Fujitsu. The practice incorporates expertise in M&A, tax, intellectual property and antitrust. André Duminy advises on compliance-related issues with experience in acting for start-ups. He co-heads the team with Jennifer Chimanga who specialises in M&A matters particularly in emerging markets. Simon Persoff works on issues such as outsourcing arrangements while Kate Scott and Samantha Ward handle litigation and contentious regulatory work. Zayed Al Jamil focuses on complex outsourcings, procurement agreements and data licensing.
Practice head(s):
André Duminy; Jennifer Chimanga
Other key lawyers:
Simon Persoff; Kate Scott; Samantha Ward; Zayed Al Jamil
Testimonials
‘While we have a more regular day to day point of contact, we do also engage with representatives across a number of different departments, be it commercial agreements, employment law, intellectual property etc. Whoever we need to engage with, the reassurance, peace of mind and level of client service we receive is exceptional.’
Key clients
Africell
Allegro
Anchorage Capital Partners
Booking.com
Cellnex Telecom
Delivery Hero
Codere Group
Delivery Hero
EE
Entain plc
Fujitsu
FIS
Gamesys Group
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
HQLAx
Informa
Inmarsat
Invictus Games Foundation
LZ Labs
MTN
NTT Communications
NBC Universal / Comcast
Nielsen Holdings plc
Octopus Energy / Kraken Technologies
Oracle Corporation
News Group
Sitecore
Spotify
Telefonica
Tencent
Work highlights
- Advised Cellnex Telecom on the disposal of a package of approximately 1,100 sites in the UK to Wireless Infrastructure Group.
- Acted for a global e-gaming business on strategic, policy and compliance rules on platform rules under the EU/UK platform to business regulation.
- Advised Oracle on the worldwide filing analysis and all of the competition law and foreign direct investment (FDI) filings outside of the US in connection with its acquisition of Cerner Corp.
CMS
CMS handles both transactional and disputes work, representing a range of clients from large corporates to start-ups. The team has a particular focus in several areas including tech antitrust litigation, streaming services issues, and telecoms financing. Clive Gringras heads the practice with experience in representing VLOPs and other large tech companies in regulatory investigations. Emma Burnett works on data protection and outsourcing matters while Sam De Silva handles cyber security issues. Victoria Gaskell acts for sports clients on rights-related issues with support from broadcasting expert Selina Potter. Paul Silver works on intellectual property matters while Ian Stevens and Chris Watson are recommended lawyers.
Practice head(s):
Clive Gringras
Other key lawyers:
Emma Burnett; Sam De Silva; Victoria Gaskell; Selina Potter; Paul Silver; Ian Stevens; Chris Watson; Stuart Helmer
Testimonials
‘The team has a great knowledge of my industry including the technical details behind our business and our products.’
‘Stuart Helmer- has great experience of working with advertisers and addressing our commercial needs.’
Key clients
BT Sport
Premier League
Jeremy Clarkson
Paramount
Microsoft
M&S
NewBalance
MS Amlin
IBM
CityFibre
Instadeep
Ooredoo
UEFA
Copper
Work highlights
- Advised and negotiated a +$2.8bn 10-year strategic cloud and data deal between Microsoft and the London Stock Exchange Group.
- Negotiated the 2022/23-2024/25 audio-visual media rights cycles for the Football Association Premier League Limited with a matter value in excess of £10 billion.
- Advised BT Plc on its BT Sport 50:50 JV with Warner Bros Discovery.
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is known for acting on high-profile TMT matters across M&A, joint ventures, IPOs, venture capital and foreign investment work. The practice is also well-versed in outsourcing transactions, IP litigation and data security. Veronica Roberts co-heads the team with extensive experience of working with the CMA, EU Commission and BEIS on competition law matters. Other co-head Nick Pantlin specialises in advising private and public sector clients on outsourcing and IT matters. Hayley Brady advises media and entertainment companies on content licensing, joint ventures and advertising issues. Jeremy Purton works on long-term technology-enabled transformation programmes.
Practice head(s):
Veronica Roberts; Nick Pantlin; Hayley Brady
Other key lawyers:
Jeremy Purton; David Coulling
Testimonials
‘A cross-practice team of appropriate partners and associates is formed according to the need for each brief and they work extremely well together, all contributing to open dialogue with us the client as together we define the problem and explore potential solutions.’
‘Genuine interest in our unique issues and commitment to finding practical solutions, via a collaborative approach. Usually well led and facilitated by David Coulling and Jeremy Purton.’
Key clients
Comcast Corporation
Pearson
Uber
Meta
Apple
Amazon UK Services
Oneweb
R2 Semiconductor Inc
Virgin Media O2 UK Limited
Inmarsat
Sky UK Limited
Tata Communications
Telefonica UK (O2), Telefonica S.A.
Orange
Vodafone
WiseTech Global
Bharti Group
Dentsu
Madison Square Garden Company
TimeWarner
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins delivers expertise across complex transactions involving contractual issues, regulatory matters, data protection, privacy and litigation support. Global chair Gail Crawford advises on compliance and regulatory matters. He co-heads the team with Andrew Moyle who is experienced in handling high-value contracts and transactions. Christian McDermott has particular expertise in matters relating to NFTs and digital assets while Fiona Maclean advises on the regulatory implications of specific data-centric tech.
Practice head(s):
Gail Crawford; Andrew Moyle
Other key lawyers:
Christian McDermott; Fiona Maclean
Key clients
Meta
Farfetch
DigitalBridge Group
Viasat, Inc.
Virtual1
Global Infrastructure Partners
KKR
NVIDIA Corporation
OEP Capital Investors
FACEIT
Savvy Gaming Group
MBC Group
Moonbug Entertainment Limited
DAZN
VEON
Vodafone
Work highlights
- Advised Viasat Inc. on its definitive agreement to acquire Inmarsat for US$7.3 billion.
- Advised Global Infrastructure Partners and KKR in their acquisition of a majority stake in Vantage Towers valued at US$16 billion.
- Advised Farfetch on its strategic acquisition of a 47.5% stake in YOOX Net-a-Porter.
Deloitte Legal
Deloitte Legal offers strong knowledge of tech law and handles TMT projects across the space. On the tech side, the team focuses on transformational areas such as big data, adtech, digital health, crypto, robotics and biometrics. Andrew Joint is well-versed in tech contracting and advisory matters and co-heads the team with Cavan Fabris who focuses on cybersecurity matters. Calum Murray covers the regulatory aspects of digital services. Paul Hinton regularly acts for financial services companies with support from Paul O’Hare. Andy Moseby left the firm in May 2023.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Joint; Cavan Fabris
Other key lawyers:
Calum Murray; Paul Hinton; Paul O’Hare
Key clients
iSiteTV Limited
Propellant
SmartPulse
Arrow Business Communications Limited
Credit Kudos
GoHenry
Elisa Polystar
LCT Software
DLA Piper
DLA Piper represents major international media companies, publishers and sports associations in contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm’s expertise covers both developed and emerging markets across the full range of tech including mobile towers, spectrum, fibre broadband and satellite. Mark O’Conor is well-versed in public procurement and outsourcing matters and co-heads the practice with Nicholas Fitzpatrick who negotiates complex contractual arrangements. Mike Conradi is experienced in providing regulatory advice to businesses while Kit Burden handles all aspects of the procurement process.
Practice head(s):
Mark O’Conor; Nicholas Fitzpatrick; Mike Conradi
Other key lawyers:
Kit Burden
Key clients
Ministry of Defence
NHS/Connecting for Health
DEFRA
HMRC
Standard Chartered Bank
UBS
Aviva
British Airways/IAG
Heineken
HCL Technologies
Amadeus
Santander
Ericsson
CDW
Willis Tower Watson
Philip Morris
Merlin Entertainment
National Basketball Association
Premier League
Unilever
Rakuten
LEGO
ESPN
Wickes
The British Council
National Grid
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP has a strong TMT offering and works on a range of complex matters such as advising blockchain platforms on both transactional and contentious issues. The practice is headed by Jeremy Hertzog , who specialises in protecting and enforcing IP rights in addition to being involved in numerous ad hoc arbitrations. Adam Rose acts for both suppliers and licensees of IT systems while Sally Britton focuses on strategic portfolio management. Ashley Winton advises extensively on digital transformation and use of cloud services.
Practice head(s):
Jeremy Hertzog
Other key lawyers:
Adam Rose; Sally Britton; Ashley Winton
Testimonials
‘Always very knowledgable, flexible, and able to bring in different members with specific knowledge to fill any info gaps.’
‘Simon Leaf is incredibly responsive, hands on and willing to put in the time to meet our demands.’
‘Simon Leaf and Tom Murray were are main points of contact, ably assisted by Reema Sharma. Individually and as a team they all showed a great passion for our work, were very amiable and professional and to a person, were incredibly hard working and diligent. They were prepared to listen very carefully to our instructions yet added value throughout with their knowledge and experience on the subject matter. When they went into bat for us in the negotiation phases it was a sight to behold as time and time again they represented our interests and delivered what we wanted.’
Key clients
Sky
Nintendo
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Comcast
Global
Schneider Electric
Splash Technology
Better Cloud
HC Entertainment t/a Socios
Work highlights
- Acted for Sky on its wide-ranging trade mark dispute with SkyKick, including proceedings before the Supreme Court and CJEU.
- Acted for Global Media & Entertainment on a broad range of IP, advertising, commercial and data issues.
- Acted for a number of luxury brands in relation to metaverse and web3.0 strategies, including commercial, regulatory and IP advice.
Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright advises on legal, regulatory and commercial issues across the tech, telecoms, media and entertainment sectors. The tech team, led by Sean Murphy, advises on IT projects, joint ventures and supply chain matters. Madeline Bailey focuses on digital transformation and strategic change with extensive knowledge of disruptive technologies. Oliver Stacey specialises in privatisation and restructurings while James Russell handles outsourcing matters. Caroline Thomas is well-versed in competition law issues including merger control and state aid.
Practice head(s):
Sean Murphy
Other key lawyers:
Madeline Bailey; Oliver Stacey; James Russell; Caroline Thomas; Clementine Hogarth; Thomas Widdows; Michael Stevens
Testimonials
‘Stand-out partners: Clementine Hogarth and Sean Murphy. Stand-out associates: Thomas Widdows and Michael Stevens.’
Key clients
Airband Community Internet Limited
AT&T
Cognizant
Community Fibre Limited
Coveo
Etisalat
Etrading Software
777 Partners LLC
Modern Times Group
National Digital Infrastructure Fund
Orange S.A
PayPal Inc.
Safaricom
TowerShare
Vodafone
Qualcomm
Work highlights
- Instructed by Qualcomm in defending an opt-out collective claim which has been brought against it in the Competition Appeal Tribunal on behalf of a class of consumers by the Consumer Association.
- Advised a consortium, led by Kenya’s Safaricom and including Vodafone, Vodacom, BII and Sumitomo, on its winning bid for Ethiopia’s first telecoms license for $850 million.
- Advised Cognizant on its agreement to acquire Mobica.
Pinsent Masons LLP
Pinsent Masons LLP is experienced across a range of areas including data, AI, infratech, connectivity and digital infrastructure. The team is headed by Andrew McMillan ,who advises trade players, financial investors and investment banks on transformative M&A. Simon Colvin is a transactional lawyer who acts for clients such as Fujitsu, FCA and the Post Office. Birmingham-based Andrew Hornigold regularly acts for private equity-backed businesses while Diane Mullenex works on telecommunication matters.
Practice head(s):
Andrew McMillan
Other key lawyers:
Simon Colvin; Andrew Hornigold; Diane Mullenex; Angus MacFayden; David Barker; Cerys Wyn Davies
Testimonials
‘The key strength of the firm is the collaboration and sharing of market intelligence. I always feel as if we receive the collective knowledge of the firm rather than just individuals in silos.’
‘Angus McFadyen has a wonderful intellectual capacity, which allows him to use his technical knowledge to deliver commercially astute advice. He can work with anyone in any area of our organisation and understand their needs. His personable approach means that he feels like one of the team. He in interested in good outcomes, not point scoring contests.’
‘The team stands for an excellent quality, with a profound knowledge of the law. Very responsive.’
Key clients
DeepMind Technologies Limited
YouTube
UBS
Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
Condeco
Eptura
Telent
Halma
TfL
Smart Data Foundry
Meta
The Body Shop
Work highlights
- Acted for DeepMind and Google in relation to a class action concerning around 1.6 million patient records at the Royal Free hospital.
- Acted for Condeco Group on its merger with iOffice + SpaceIQ, to create the worktech software solution, Eptura.
RPC
RPC acts for leading digital platforms, insurance providers and retail businesses on matters relating to media, tech and outsourcing. On the contentious side the team handles disputes while non-contentious work involves providing regulatory advice, commercial agreements and acquisitions. Jeremy Drew is experienced in representing large tech platforms and leads the team while Oliver Bray has market-leading expertise in digital, consumer and advertising. Disputes lawyer David Cran is experienced in arbitration with support from Keith Mathieson who is involved in media defence. Mark Crichard advises on complex tech and outsourcing contracts. SSSpecialist tech litigator Helen Armstrong has added strength on the contentious side since her arrival from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in 2022.
Practice head(s):
Jeremy Drew
Other key lawyers:
Oliver Bray; David Cran; Keith Mathieson; Mark Crichard
Key clients
Meta
Youtube
Wave Optics
Bloomberg
LINK Scheme
eClerx
Zensar Technologies UK Ltd
Travel Ledger
Royal & Sun Alliance
Ebury
Ceres Power
Work highlights
- Advised Google in respect of its defence of the highly publicised claim brought by Epic Games.
- Advised WaveOptics on a number of contracts relating to the development and licence for highly technical nano-technology.
Simmons & Simmons
Simmons & Simmons advises a range of sector players including global telcos, media companies, satellite providers, AI developers and payment providers. In addition to high-profile M&A, the practice is experienced in IP disputes, regulatory and competition issues, data protection and litigation. Alex Brown leads the team with particular specialism in data protection and privacy. James Cotter focuses on network infrastructure projects while Patrick Boylan handles commercial disputes.
Practice head(s):
Alex Brown
Other key lawyers:
James Cotter; Patrick Boylan
Key clients
Apple
Alipay
Binance
Booking.com
BT
Coinbase
DXC Technology
Future PLC
Honeywell
Huawei
Lebara
Lendinvest
LG
Meta
MTN
Nvidia
PCCW
Revolut
Roland
Samsung
Swisscom
VIRTUS Data Centres
Virgin Media Telefonica UK (VMO2)
Warner Bros
WeWork
Xiaomi
Work highlights
- Advised Huawei on various developing laws and regulations related to restrictions on the ability for Huawei to supply 5G equipment to mobile operators.
- Acted on the sale of Chelsea Football Club to a group led by American businessman Todd Boehly and investment firm Clearlake Capital.
- Defended Xiaomi in global SEP/FRAND litigation brought by Philips.
Addleshaw Goddard
Addleshaw Goddard advises corporates on emerging tech, telecoms transactions, IT outsourcings and intellectual property matters. The practice is also well-versed in issues pertaining to media and sports advising on sports sponsorship deals and licensing arrangements. Team head Damon Rosamond-Lanzetta regularly acts for clients on IT and outsourcing transactions. David Berry is recognised for his work in the telecoms space while Lauren Hamilton utilises ADR and litigation skills in tech disputes.
Practice head(s):
Damon Rosamond-Lanzetta
Other key lawyers:
David Berry; Lauren Hamilton
Testimonials
‘They have a strong payments team, meaning we spend the time collaborating on the legal support rather than explaining the solutions we have.’
‘Very commercial with strong in-house experience.’
‘I work well with Dave Berry who is personable and seems to know everyone across AG ready to connect me in very quickly.’
Key clients
HSBC UK Bank plc
Microsoft
Virgin Money
Deazy Limited
UCB Biopharma SRL
Wind River Systems Inc.
FNZ (UK) Limited
GHA (Global Hotel Alliance)
CIS General Insurance Limited
NatWest
Work highlights
- Supported Wind River Systems on its provision of software and related services to its broad range of clients.
Covington & Burling LLP
The tech team at Covington & Burling LLP covers a full spectrum of issues from corporate and commercial to regulatory, competition and policy work. The firm is particularly well-versed in data and advisory projects especially in emerging areas including digitalisation, AI, e-commerce and IoT. Daniel Pavin is experienced in the life sciences and healthcare sectors and co-heads the team with Lisa Peets who handles challenging regulatory issues. Transactional lawyer Joshua Gray focuses on acquisitions for large multi-jurisdictional tech companies.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Pavin; Lisa Peets
Other key lawyers:
Joshua Gray
Key clients
Microsoft
Meta
Etihad Airways
Reliance Jio Infocomm
MTN
Illumina
BenevolentAI Limited
Zoom
Salesforce Ventures
Tencent Holdings
Work highlights
- Advised MTN on a strategic project to assist MTN in contracting for mission-critical technology platform deal.
- Advised Reliance Jio Infocomm on a number of high-profile technology contracting projects over the last year.
Dentons
Dentons provides the full range of legal services with specialist expertise in IT & telecoms, commercial contracts, IP, data privacy and cybersecurity issues. The practice represents a variety of clients from tech vendors and data businesses to to telecoms and media providers. The team is headed by Henrietta Baker who is well-versed in advising tech start-ups while Martin Fanning is a transactional lawyer. Andy Lucas acts for private sector companies on tech projects with support from Dan Burge who represents media businesses and tech providers.
Practice head(s):
Henrietta Baker
Other key lawyers:
Martin Fanning; Andy Lucas; Dan Burge
Testimonials
‘Good understanding of the TMT sector as a whole – the interplay between firms and suppliers, the importance of data, etc. They apply this bigger picture understanding to the work that they do to produce a result which is appropriate for our business.’
‘Martin Fanning is particularly valued as an adviser to the business for his experience and commercial acumen.’
Key clients
Bytedance
Tiktok
Capita
FIFA
Octopus Ventures
Informa
Risilience
Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques (SITA)
TD SYNNEX
Viaplay
Vodafone Italia
Work highlights
- Advised Capita plc on the sale of its IT services and solutions business Trustmarque to One Equity Partners.
- Advised SITA in relation to a significant dispute with one of its major customers for the supply of airline IT services following a settlement reached in respect of issues arising under that agreement.
- Advised FIFA on the launch of FIFA’s global e-commerce solution.
Harbottle & Lewis LLP
A 'brilliant team' comprised of 'total experts', Harbottle & Lewis LLP is well regarded by clients for the breadth of its TMT capabilities, spanning digital, data, and AI matters, to name a few areas of focus. Key names to note include practice head Emma Wright, and Agatha Claridge - 'expert, thoughtful and totally calm no matter what comes up.'
Practice head(s):
Emma Wright
Other key lawyers:
Agatha Claridge
Testimonials
‘Brilliant team – total experts, consistently thoughtful about the commerical/risk issues our business faces. It’s not just legal niceties and abstract risks. Always willing to think about different ways to engage us, how to keep costs down and provide deep support.’
‘Agatha stands out; she gives clients great confidence, she’s expert, thoughtful and totally calm no matter what comes up, including endless changes and moves from EE and our customers. She’s responsive and helpful at all time and works hard!’
‘The team are collaborative, approachable and extremely supportive of our needs. We have a number of different telecoms deals running at any one time. Harbottle consistently give us fast, informative responses when we need them.’
‘We work with Emma Wright and Agatha Claridge. Both are really easy to engage with and focussed on what’s right for our business. We find both Emma and Agi work extremely well as a team and as individuals. They both understand our business and are direct, clear and good value to help shake out what we need to do from a contracting point of view. Quite often this clarity helps the business make decisions quicker, clearly demonstrating how they are adding value to our deals and why we like working with them.’
Work highlights
Osborne Clarke LLP
The team led by Ashley Hurst at Osborne Clarke LLP is well-versed in matters relating to digital transformation, transactional and regulatory issues. The practice acts for a range of clients including international broadcasters, streaming services, production and gaming companies. Other co-heads John Davidson and Jon Fell are experienced in digital media regulation and telecoms work respectively. Sara Valentine advises on M&A, management buy-outs and investment matters.
Practice head(s):
Ashley Hurst; Sara Valentine; John Davidson-Kelly; Jon Fell
Key clients
Veritas Technologies
Yahoo
Cornerstone OnDemand
Metricstream
Warner Bros. Discovery
Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd
Global leading data driven insights
LDC and Plimsoll production management team
Netflix
University of Bristol
British Telecommunications Plc and EE limited
Fibrus Networks Ltd
Vodafone UK
Work highlights
- Advised Cornerstone OnDemand on various phases of a large multi-jurisdictional legal rationalisation that involved sales and transfers of various business and companies.
- Advised Warner Bros. Discovery on various aspects of the BT Sport / Eurosport joint venture between BT and Warner Bros Discovery in the UK and Ireland.
- Advised BT plc and EE Limited on a 20-year agreement with BAI Communications to deliver mobile connectivity on the London Underground.
Shoosmiths LLP
Shoosmiths LLP is specialised in several areas including data analytics, blockchain, distributed ledger tech and cyber security. The team focuses on three main areas including large IT transactions, fintech and metaverse issues with Joe Stephenson leading the team. Craig Armstrong focuses on SMEs and start-ups with support from Prakash Kerai while Sam Tyfield handles work relating to financial services.
Practice head(s):
Joe Stephenson
Other key lawyers:
Craig Armstrong; Prakash Kerai; Sam Tyfield; Andy Brennan; Eloise di Pasqua; Sam Truckle
Testimonials
‘Its genuine sector expertise truly makes this practice unique. Team members have vast sector knowledge and insight, and are themselves passionate advocates for technology.’
‘The team combines a wealth of sector expertise with business sense and a practical approach, with many of the lawyers having previously occupied positions within the tech industry and as in-house lawyers.’
‘I had the pleasure of working with one of the Shoosmiths lawyers on a business critical transformation project that required contractual support for a 3 vendor agreement. Joe, who was leading the contract definition was excellent during many months of our collaboration.’
‘Andy Brennan and Eloise di Pasqua stands out to me as someone to watch. She is incredibly on the top of everything, and a delight to work with. She is astute to the legal issues, but does not lose sight of the ultimate commercial goals of clients. She has proven that she is good at managing difficult clients.’
‘Highly supportive team with diverse skillets. Challenges are addressed quickly and to a high standard with a transparent fee structure.’
‘Key individuals in the Shoosmiths team take time to understand the challenge at hand – testing assumptions and then create a programme of support that is appropriate.’
‘The firm has a personable and constructive approach to commercial instructions and the assistance provided always seems to provide valuable support to in-house legal teams.’
‘Sam Truckle is very pragmatic and delivers sound and efficient support on every instruction.’
Key clients
Estée Lauder Companies
Volkswagen Group
Molson Coors Beverage Company
Deliveroo
Three
Motorway.com
Morgan Advanced Materials plc
Dignity plc
CDW
Central Co-op
Next Retail Plc
Topps Tiles Plc
Checkatrade
LifeArc
Calor Gas Plc
University of Nottingham
Cranfield University
Helix Ltd
Lundbeck
Pharmacosmos
Ann Summers
White Company
Ideal Shopping
LK Bennett
Condé Nast International
Peloton
The Football Association
City Football Group (Manchester City FC)
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Association of Sporting Directors
Zip
Pixxles
Two B 2 B Ltd
ABN Amro
CDW
Dignity plc
Everbridge
Santander Consumer
Business Growth Fund
Downing LLP
Mercia Fund Management
YFM Private Equity Limited
Foresight
Karma Kitchen
Masabi Group Limited
XYZ Reality Limited
Hoxton Ventures
Clean Growth Fund
Pi Labs
City Football Group (Manchester City FC)
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal player)
Federation of Sports and Play
Simon Corney
The Football Pools
ORG Secondary Opportunity Fund
Ashleigh Plumptre
E 1 Series
TRZ Training
Brooks Sports
D-Fly Group Limited
easyGroup Limited
Marston’s PLC
Henkel Limited
H&M
Capita Plc
French Connection
B&M Bargains Plc
N Brown Group Plc
ABN Amro Bank NV
Zip Payments
Mercedes Benz
Nissan
Peugeot Citroen Vauxhall
The White Company
Close Brothers Plc
Honda
Travelodge
Moorfield Group
Nissan
Twenty7Tec Group
Portakabin Limited
Connexin Limited
Specialist Network Operations Limited
The Law Society
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
Work highlights
- Advised Estee Lauder on the UK aspects of its acquisition of TOM FORD.
- Advised M·A·C Cosmetics on its 1st major global NFT campaign – M·A·C Viva Glam NFT.
- Acted for Topps Tiles plc against Tiles Direct in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court for trade mark and registered design infringement.
Bates Wells
Bates Wells has a full-service TMT offering and advises on commercial contracts, data privacy, M&A, immigration issues and employment matters. The practice is particularly adept at matters relating to gig economy, outsourcing and media. Team head Richard Marke acts for IT clients in technology product acquisitions while Rupert Earle leads the media litigation work. Paul Jennings handles employment and partnership issues within the sector.
Practice head(s):
Richard Marke
Other key lawyers:
Rupert Earle; Paul Jennings
Testimonials
‘We regularly work with the TMT team in Bates Wells and I consider that the team is extremely helpful, always available to assist us and my clients. They are all engaged and very clear. It’s very pleasant to work together.’
‘I appreciate a lot working with Richard Marke who knows exactly what I am looking for: availabilty, straight to the point, focused on the question raised by my clients. I have the utmost confidence in his judgement because he always says when he has a doubt and always looks for a solid operational solution.’
Key clients
Advertising Standards Authority
Royal Albert Hall
118 Data Resource
Alight Solutions
Virtuoso IT
HiveMQ
Rockar Limited
Mark Robert Motion Control
Nikon
TBN UK
Work highlights
- Acted against Uber in a test case supported by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Brabners LLP
Brabners LLP‘s technology sector group works across a number of key areas, handling both contentious and non-contentious matters for a diverse roster of national clients. The IP and tech sector practice is headed up by Liverpol-based Colin Bell, an experienced partner whose capabilities span commercial contracts, data protection, and brand management issues. Also based in Liverpool, Paul Lunt heads up the firm's commercial litigation team in the region, where he specialises in media and sports sector disputes. Other key figures include Manchester-based Lydia Edgar, who leads the firm's national sports group; managing partner Nik White, noted for his commercial contracts practice; and Manchester-based Sam Mabon, who works with clients across the tech and media spheres.
Practice head(s):
Colin Bell
Other key lawyers:
Paul Lunt; Lydia Edgar; Nik White; Sam Mabon; Matt Brown
Testimonials
‘Colin Bell is smart and knows the IP side of technology inside out.’
‘Matt Brown loves data protection and knows how to make it compelling.’
‘The team cover all the bases in terms of areas of expertise with no drop in quality or support provided.’
Key clients
Aesthetic Technology
Airfinity
Ben Stokes
Booking.com
British Basketball Federation
British Swimming
Chris Eubank Jr. Limited
Colleen Rooney
Commonwealth Games Federation
Dark Horse Comics Inc
Gaimin.io
Leicester City Football Club
Liverpool Football Club
Lucid Games Limited
PB Manchester Limited
Regatta Limited / Craghoppers Limited / Hawkshead Outdoor Limited
Shareholders of Sentric Music Group Limited
Vascular Perspectives Limited
Yodel
Brown Rudnick LLP
Brown Rudnick LLP has particular expertise in tech and creative industries with experience acting for content media, blue chip investors and digital commerce businesses. Neil Foster heads the practice and has particular experience in the areas of technology and telecoms. Tim Davison handles cross-border commercial matters including manufacturing and licensing agreements.
Practice head(s):
Neil Foster
Other key lawyers:
Tim Davison
Testimonials
‘Tim Davison is an outstanding lawyer. His clear insight and no-nonsense approach gets agreements closed and matters resolved quickly, fairly and cost effectively.‘
Key clients
Japan Energy Fund
Libertine Holdings PLC
WANdisco Plc
Capricorn Sustainable Chemistry Fund
Coinfirm
IONATE Limited
Real VNC
Somero Enterprises Inc
Work highlights
- Advised Libertine on its GBP 9 million initial public offering (IPO).
- Advised WANdisco Plc in respect of their fundraise of GBP 16.4 million.
- Closed a GBP 3.23 million seed round funding on behalf of IONATE Limited.
Mayer Brown International LLP
Mayer Brown International LLP is best known for acting for key players in the TMT landscape across technology, media, broadcasting and telecommunications. Mark Prinsley advises regularly on business critical technologies including the IoT and autonomous vehicles. He co-heads the team with Miles Robinson, who handles contractual claims and corporate expert Richard Page. Harriet Hainsworth is also a recommended lawyer.
Practice head(s):
Mark Prinsley; Miles Robinson; Richard Page
Other key lawyers:
Harriet Hainsworth
Key clients
eOne (Entertainment One) Limited
Francisco Partners
Marlin Equity Partners
Mediawan
Mitie
Overmore Group
Work highlights
- Advised Mediawan on its acquisition of a majority stake in multi-award-winning UK production company, Wildseed Productions.
- Advised Marlin Equity Partners and its portfolio companies on a series of strategic acquisitions and investments in software and technology companies.
- Advised Mitie Technical Facilities Management Limited on two acquisitions enhancing Mitie’s telecoms acquisition, design and construction (ADC) capabilities.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is known for its tech transactions and outsourcing work with practice head Rafi Azim-Khan covering the full spectrum of TMT work including IP, digital media and e-commerce. Steven Farmer is well-versed in issues relating to IT and payment systems while Lee Rubin focuses on financial services and business process outsourcing.
Practice head(s):
Rafi Azim-Khan
Other key lawyers:
Steven Farmer; Lee Rubin
Testimonials
‘We have been using Pillsbury for many years. I have never felt let down by their service. No matter what I need, they have an expert. Rafi Azim-Khan is my key contact, and he always takes care of what we need. Even in suddenly urgent situations, he works night and day, across time zones, to deliver. I couldn’t be happier.’
‘Rafi Azim-Khan is my key contact, and he always takes care of what we need. Even in suddenly urgent situations, he works night and day, across time zones, to deliver.’
‘The team are knowledgeable, attentive, precise and incredibly skilled.’
‘Steven is always on hand to provide support, advice, and recommendations. He regularly responds outside of prescribed hours, and consistently goes the extra mile to support our team.’
‘Pillsbury continue to provide a flexible and personalised service to us, unlike other large firms we’ve used in the past.’
‘Steven Farmer has provided a reliable, diligent, and personal service in our time with him. He takes the time to understand our needs and makes us feel valued regardless of whether we are one of their larger billing clients.’
‘Pillsbury breadth, depth, expertise, and execution are amongst the finest Intellectual Property practices globally’
‘Rafi Azim-Khan – sterling technical expertise, business savvy, integrity, and sterling execution.’
Key clients
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Victaulic Company
HM Electronics Inc
SpyCloud Inc.
Upland Software Inc
Juniper Square
Infohealth Limited
World Travel and Tourism Council
Sinclair Broadcast
Everi
1stDibs
Squire Patton Boggs
Squire Patton Boggs acts for a range of clients including mobile telecommunications operators, tech platforms, media owners, broadcasters and publishers. The practice is co-led with intellectual property expert Andrew Wilkinson advising businesses while David Naylor works on digital media and privacy issues. Francesco Liberatore focuses on competition law issues with support from corporate expert Paul Mann.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Wilkinson; David Naylor; Francesco Liberatore; Paul Mann
Key clients
Akamai
Avaya
Datasite
Ericsson
GSMA
Hellen Systems
Live Nation
Maximus Inc
Supponor
Tessian
Telecom Infra Project
Viant Technology Inc
Viber
VMware
Vodafone
We Are Social
Work highlights
- Advised Maximus, Inc. on the development of a global internal AI governance and development framework.