At the forefront of the digital content and social media markets, RPC provides assistance to leading social media platforms and products, video game publishers, digital marketplaces and content companies with the full range of legal matters. On the litigation front, the group focuses on advising defendants, including major media organisations. The team also boasts expertise in online safety issues and blockchain. Oliver Bray and Rupert Cowper-Coles jointly lead the group. Focused on the digital space, Bray assists social media platforms and brands with regulatory investigations, digital and commercial contracts, data protection and IP issues. Cowper-Coles is a leading data protection litigator and is well versed in representing technology and social media companies in complex disputes. IP expert David Cran handles class actions involving competition, consumer and data issues, while Ciara Cullen is active in both contentious and non-contentious media matters. Interactive entertainment and esports specialist Josh Charalambous is key to digital matters involving sports, esports, publishers and brands. Hettie Homewood focuses on digital and content matters, most notably regulatory and contractual work.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Commercial acumen is at an exceptional level, not just providing sound legal advice for a situation but really understanding the drivers of the business in order to tailor that advice appropriately. Bringing together people from other companies in the same industry in order to share ideas and find collaborative ways to improve together is really helpful for businesses.’

  • ‘Always available and very good attention to detail while at all times giving useful and pragmatic advice.’

  • ‘Ciara Cullen is responsive, knowledgeable, professional. Josh Charalambous has common clients on the consumer and gaming side, he's organised and clear in his dealings. Jonathan Greenway is a senior associate who is helpful and knows his stuff.’

  • ‘I value my firm's relationship with RPC very highly. Oliver Bray leads a great team that is keen to learn about our business and work with us as true partners. The team’s willingness to get underneath the bonnet and really understand the business is a huge asset. RPC is my go-to firm in the UK for data protection matters arising in a contractual setting. What makes RPC stand out is its very practical approach. ’

  • ‘My go-to partners are Oliver Bray and Joe Lippitt. Oliver Bray is a trusted adviser and a great ally. Olly has a genuine interest in our business and has tackled many complex data protection issues for me. He makes a real effort to understand not just the legal issues, but also the business dynamics. RPC's advice is always practical and tailored. I see Olly not just as a business adviser, but a true partner to our business. Joe Lippitt is outstanding. Joe manages a significant workload of complex work for us around data sharing contracts.’

  • ‘RPC is dynamic, friendly, commercial and receptive. They know our industry inside and out. They are reliable and efficient with their advice and flexible when it comes to the way we would like the work delivered. They are also self sufficient and practical when it comes to fact finding. I really enjoy working with the teams.’

Key clients

  • Google
  • YouTube
  • Darabase
  • Temu
  • Vinted
  • Back Market
  • Warner Music
  • The Esports Awards
  • Game Digital
  • Soft Construct
  • OliveX / Zombies
  • Excel Esports

Work highlights

  • Advising Google and YouTube on all aspects of their social media operations, including influencer marketing campaigns, regulated areas of marketing activity, sponsorship deals and partnerships.
  • Representing Google as defendant in litigation before the Competition Appeal Tribunal involving Epic Games and the esports title “Fortnite”.
  • Advising Darabase on immersive location-based augmented reality experiences layered on the real world.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Oliver Bray, Rupert Cowper-Coles

Other key lawyers

David Cran, Jon Bartley, Sarah Mountain, Josh Charalambous, Joe Lippitt, Hettie Homewood, Mafruhdha Miah, Ciara Cullen, Helen Yost, Jonathan Greenway, Joe Lipett