Telecommunications

Bristows’ Telecommunications practice is large, highly skilled and growing fast.
Our telecoms team includes PhD level scientists, former regulators and lawyers who spent large periods of time working in-house in the telecoms sector. As such our inter-disciplinary teams bring a deep understanding of the underlying technologies and, crucially, the commercial and regulatory environment within which everyone in the telecoms sector operates.

We work with our clients on the full range of Telecoms projects, including:

Advising significant fixed line, satelite and mobile operators (both MNO and MVNO) in the UK and around the world on their M&A, commercial and regulatory requirements.
Advising on regulatory compliance (including where telecoms regulation intersects with privacy and consumer protection laws) and advising on regulatory investigations and appeals. Our strength in this area is underpinned by our work for the regulators themselves, working on matters as diverse as spectrum clearance and licence awards as well regulatory enforcement and day to day operational matters.
Working on complex infrastructure projects ranging from under-sea cable contracts, network procurement, network builds and the myriad disputes that arise in relation to these projects.
Working with a number of “alt-nets” on network roll outs, M&A, JVs, regulatory disputes and commercial disputes.
Working with network equipment manufacturers on their contracts to supply the equipment that allows networks to operate.
Advising “over the top” providers of communication solutions on everything from establishing themselves in the UK to consumer, privacy, advertising and telecoms regulatory issues in the UK, the EU and beyond.
Undertaking complex, cross-border M&A, merger filings and commercial disputes for telecoms operators, equipment and technology providers and OTT service providers.
Advising on the technologies underpinning the networks that the whole world relies on, including litigating the patents and licensing these essential technologies.
Applying our specialist knowledge of the sector to help our clients on a range of broader legal issues encompassing branding and advertising, consumer protection law and data privacy and security law.
Advising end-users on their contracts with network and OTT providers including complex network services outsourcings and rollouts of new technologies.

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Experience

Advising a market leading independent provider of fibre to the premises (FTTP) networks in the UK.

We have continued to support our client as it builds out its wholesale network and engages with leading ISPs on various corporate, commercial, competition and regulatory matters, including in respect of potential acquisitions and strategic issues before Ofcom. In particular, we assisted our client on the market wide Competition Act complaint against BT Openreach and worked on responses to Ofcom’s consultation on BT Openreach’s ‘Equinox 2’ wholesale pricing offer.

Working with an incumbent fixed line and mobile operator active in multiple markets around the globe on various telecommunications, data protection, and commercial work.

Key projects we have assisted on include:

The merger (and subsequent merger control negotiations) related to our client’s acquisition of a competitor network in a ground breaking 3 to 2 merger.
Updating our client’s General Ts&Cs to ensure best practice with UK and EU consumer protection and privacy laws.
Various cloud and hosting contracts (both inbound, outbound and reseller).
Infrastructure deals including mast sharing agreements, under-sea cable agreements, network swap and network procurement deals.
An MVNO agreement.
International wholesale roaming agreements and global roaming discount agreements, with major mobile network providers around the world (such as Telefonica/O2, France Telecom/Orange, AT&T and H3G).

Acting in SEP FRAND disputes for more than a decade for both SEP holders and implementers at first instance, appeal and the Supreme Court.

We have built on our decades long experience in the interplay of patent and competition law issues relating to standards and our unparalleled strength and depth in scientific as well as legal training to Introduce innovative strategies on anti-suits, jurisdiction, FRAND, damages and design arounds, and assist our clients to leverage UK litigation to achieve global solutions.

We have been routinely instructed by one of the world’s leading international mobile messaging platform operator.

Our client’s technology streamlines the mobile journey for over 1000 customers including some of the world’s biggest brands (and of course millions of mobile users) by providing solutions for verification, authentication, and engagement, as well as monetisation opportunities for operators

Over the past year, we have advised on:

Collaboration agreements with national telecommunication carriers across North and South America, North Africa, Europe and Asia.
Customer service agreements (and amendments to such agreements) with global brands.
Customer-facing template agreements, guiding them through the legal stages of their customers’ journey.
Our client’s rights and obligations under existing contracts with national telecommunication carriers and assisting Tyntec to negotiate more favourable terms due to changing market conditions.

The impact of our advice has resulted in the client having more robust contractual protection in its customer-facing contracts. In a fluid market, the client has also been able to negotiate better terms with large telecommunication carriers, as opposed to having to engage on less favourable (and often “take it or leave it”) terms with major players in the market.

Working with a leading MVNO as it builds out its operations to become a Full MVNO. Our advice includes counselling on telecoms regulatory, data privacy, security, roaming, brand protection and commercial agreements.

Our ability to offer both a “full service” legal team’s advice in combination with deep sector and technical expertise means our client has steadily ramped up the range and complexity of the advice it seeks from us as, in turn, its operations have expanded in scope and risk.

What others say

“They have a clear understanding of what our business wants to achieve and that underpins all their advice. They know when to involve the business stakeholders and are able to tailor their approach to that audience and suggest solutions that take key business drivers into account.”
Chambers and Partners 2024

“Bristows has a comprehensive IT practice with powerful resources for major commercial transactions and complex litigation. It advises many of the world’s leading technology companies, and also sophisticated blue-chip buyers of IT services. It is especially adept at providing counsel on the most current and cutting-edge issues in the technology space. Bristows houses experienced advisers on digital advertising and cloud computing matters.”
Chambers and Partners 2024

“Bristows is our go-to firm for any complex or high-value technology work. The team is accessible, responsive and incredibly knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500 2024

“Excellent legal skills, combined with a good sector knowledge and a hands-on approach, make Bristows a very useful resource.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Commercial awareness is definitely one of Bristows’ strong points. Team members’ prior in-house experience shows. It is great to receive advice that is commercially balanced and easily understood by all functions of our business.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Even in the event the requests were a bit outside of telecom regulations, the firm were able to assist with providing an exhaustive response to all enquiries. They always responded within the quoted review time and usually exceeded expectations.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“All team members have very deep experience in different fields of expertise. They understand what kind of level of response a client needs before wasting money on long reports, which is very much appreciated. On top of this, they provide updates on UK case law that are very helpful.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“They are excellent, they have really good work and nice people there.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Their reputation is well deserved.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Their advice is always practical, realistic and adaptable.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Bristows have an incredible depth and breadth of experience.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“Bristows has a comprehensive IT practice with powerful resources for major commercial transactions and complex litigation. It advises many of the world’s leading technology companies, and also sophisticated blue-chip buyers of IT services. It is especially adept at providing counsel on the most current and cutting-edge issues in the technology space.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“They are technically very strong, giving us great confidence in their advice.”
Chambers and Partners 2023

“The Bristows reputation management team is small but experienced and has the advantage of being able to offer cross-expertise to other Bristows specialist departments such as data protection, copyright and IT generally. In the internet age that is very valuable.”

Legal 500 2023

“The team at Bristows strike the perfect balance between excellent technical legal knowledge and industry insight and experience. They are able to distil often complex legal positions into easy to digest and practical advice. The strategic value they are able to add sets them apart from their competitors.”
Legal 500 2023

“Their understanding of the industry and therefore ability to provide tailored advice is great. They also take a pragmatic view, such that in negotiation with providers they focus on what is important and likely, rather than focusing on theoretical, pedantic legal points that have no” probability of happening in practice.”
Legal 500 2023

“The team at Bristows is second to none in the UK technology law space. They are accessible, responsive, highly knowledgeable and experienced and are a go-to team for any complex, high value or innovative IT deal.”
Legal 500 2023

“The practice has strengths in new and emerging technologies, advising clients on cloud issues, robotics and AI.”
Legal 500 2023

“The team demonstrates wide-ranging expertise across telecoms M&A, SaaS and outsourcing issues, and regulatory matters, and is notably strong in contentious mandates.”
Legal 500 2023

“Bristows LLP has a vast array of clients, including technology and telecoms companies, regulators, and purchasers of IT, such as governmental departments and financial institutions.”
Legal 500 2023

“Exceptional practice, well motivated, and proactive.”
Legal 500 2023

“Great expertise, very approachable.”
Legal 500 2023

“The team at Bristows is second to none in the UK technology law space. They are accessible, responsive, highly knowledgeable and experienced and are our go-to team for any complex, high-value or innovative IT deals.”
Legal 500 2023

“On the non-contentious side, strengths include corporate M&A and venture capital matters, commercial IP work, and strategic and project advice for clients across the technology, media, and telecoms sectors.”
Legal 500 2023

“Contentious work is a core strength for the broad technology sector practice at Bristows LLP, with experience in disputes ranging from major FRAND cases to competition issues to media and data protection compliance work, which the firm handles for an impressive base of high-profile household names and multinational corporates.”
Legal 500 2023

“Not only is Bristows’ advice first rate (technically and commercially), but the teams are a pleasure to work with and they are continually making my life easier as the client. They have a team of amazing professionals and are constantly looking for new ways to provide the best service for their clients – whether it is staffing, billing, information sharing etc.”
Legal 500 2023

“The Bristows team members are not only exceptionally good at a professional level, but, at the same time, very easy to talk to and discuss with. They always have an open ear for the client’s needs and are happy to brainstorm.”
Legal 500 2023

“The team has exceptional knowledge of the life sciences space. It acts for a broad range of industry players and has a deep understanding of market practice.”
Legal 500 2023

“Justified reputation as one of, if not the, leading firms for IP life sciences. Excellent reputation in the UK and beyond – widely respected throughout Europe for coordinating multi-jurisdictional disputes.”
Legal 500 2023

“Bristows LLP is ‘widely respected throughout Europe for coordinating multi-jurisdictional disputes’ and has ‘a justified reputation as one of the leading firms for IP life sciences work’.”
Legal 500 2023

Toby Crick

Anna Cook

Stephen Smith

Experience

What others say

Recent rankings and awards

Telecommunications - Band 4

IT and Telecoms - Tier 1

Technology, Media and Telecoms - Tier 1

Telecommunications - Band 4

IT & Telecoms

Inquisitive Minds