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Team size: 80
What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?
Vodafone UK legal team has participated in multiple cases recently. Firstly, Phones 4U (P4U) sued UK mobile network operators and their parent companies, alleging collusion to drive P4U from the market. The trial was split into two sections, between breach, and causation and damages. The breach trial lasted 11 weeks and took place in summer 2022. The value of the claim is alleged at approximately £1bn. Proceedings included a determination on the use of personal data by the Court of Appeal. Secondly, in 2021, Vodafone launched EVO, a unique customer-focused mobile proposition, which split the traditional mobile contract model by separating handsets and airtime, giving greater flexibility to consumers. As well as providing all the legal support for this proposition, Vodafone’s legal team played a significant role in securing a finance conduct authority license. Thirdly, Vodafone is teaming up with BAI to deliver mobile connectivity on the London underground. BAI’s concession lasts 20 years and will see investment of more than £1bn in the network. This agreement will enable Vodafone customers to remain digitally connected wherever they are on the underground through high-speed 4G and 5G mobile connectivity.
How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? Are you likely to reconsider what firms you work with based on this?
Vodafone passionately believes in the power of new communications networks and technologies to change our society for the better. Everyone has a right to enjoy the benefits of a more connected, digitally enabled world. We also aim to be a wonderful place to work, offering market-leading maternity and paternity leave policies, and are immensely proud to offer equal working opportunities regardless of race, nationality, cultural background, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religious or political belief.
Our mission is of paramount importance to our selection of panel firms and the barristers we instruct, who represent the wider Vodafone legal community. It is imperative that our legal partners understand our mission and are as passionate about it as we are. This is reflected in the way we expect our advisors to represent Vodafone in transactions, disputes and transformation projects, and in their wider business activities. Our mission also guides our extended relationships with panel firms, including the diversity and inclusion we demand from them, social mobility initiatives and a restless drive to improve our digital society. Our panel selection process reflects our mission and gives prominence to credentials in relation to diversity and inclusion and the environment.
