Mr Chris Watson > CMS > London, England > Lawyer Profile
CMS Offices
CANNON PLACE
78 CANNON STREET
LONDON
EC4N 6AF
England
Mr Chris Watson
Position
Partner
Chair, Technology, Media & Communications
Career
Chris Watson is one of the world’s leading communications law experts. He is Chair of the Management Board of the CMS Technology, Media and Communications sector group, and was previously Head of the group for eight years.
He focuses on international commercial matters in TMC, particularly in areas where competition and regulation overlap, and on EU law arising in cross-border and complex transactions.
Ranked by Chambers and Partners as Band 1 for Telecommunications in the UK, Chris is described by clients and contacts as “exceptionally bright”, boasting an “amazingly international practice”. Sources told Chambers and Partners: “He is very knowledgeable on telecoms regulation and competition law, and one of the nicest people you could ever meet.”
He also has extensive experience in other regulated network sectors such as postal, electricity and other utilities and as well as broad experience on commercial, corporate, and financial matters.
Chris is a sought after speaker and is frequently quoted in the media. He is a past member of the governing Council of the International Bar Association (IBA), chair of its Diversity Council and a past chairman of the Communications Law Committee. He is a member of the techUK Communications Infrastructure and Services Council. Chris’s memberships also include Supreme Court of England and Wales, and the Paris Bar.
Memberships
- Council Member, International Bar Association
Education
Lawyer Rankings
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
(Hall of Fame)Specialising in contract risk management, CMS covers infrastructure finance, as well as commercial, competition, and regulatory IT matters. Chris Watson is vastly experienced in communications law. Ian Stevens is knowledgeable of outsourcing, as well as the procurement, exploitation, and supply of technology. Sam De Silva is proficient in cloud computing and service agreements, while Dominic Dryden excels in IT procurement. Laurence Kalman and Daniel Gallagher are well versed in intellectual property.
Lawyer Rankings
- Hall of Fame London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- IT and telecoms London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Real estate > Environment
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech: corporate and commercial
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Gaming and betting
- Insurance > Product liability: defendant
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Insurance > Product liability: defendant
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Patent attorneys
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
- Employment > Pensions: dispute resolution
- Real estate > Planning
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity and nuclear)
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Investment fund formation and management > Real estate funds
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Renewables
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- Investment fund formation and management > Retail funds
- Industry focus > TMT
Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- Employment > Employers
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech: regulatory
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys
- Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Real estate > Property finance
- Transport > Rail
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Corporate and commercial > VAT and indirect tax
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: defendant
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Finance > Derivatives and structured products
- Employment > Employee share schemes
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- Employment > Health and safety
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Investment fund formation and management > Listed funds
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Upper Mid-Market And Premium Deals, £750m+
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £500m)
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Transport > Aviation
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Finance > Debt capital markets
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – mid-large cap
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Dispute resolution > Public international law
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Finance > Acquisition finance
- Finance > Transport finance and leasing
- Investment fund formation and management > Private funds