Freya specialises in advising on technically complex disputes arising out of commercial contracts both at the pre-action stage and before the courts or arbitral tribunals. Freya’s clients range from international outsourcing providers, multi-national PLCs and government departments to SMEs.

Some of Freya’s recent work examples include:

• Acting for DBS in TCS v DBS [2024] EWHC 1185 (TCC) (one of the Lawyer’s top 20 cases of 2023) in relation to a +£200m dispute with its IT supplier arising out of delays and other issues with an IT modernisation programme.
• Acting for a global tech company in arbitration in one of the largest IT disputes in the UK involving the termination of a £1bn government IT project. This also included advising on the separate quantum hearing and sub-contractor dispute.
• Advising an international PLC on all aspects of a breach response following a cyber extortion attack, including: containment, regulatory notifications, client/customers communications and seeking injunctive relief. This involved coordinating multiple third parties (IT forensics, law enforcement, PR, foreign counsel) as well as key client stakeholders from across the business.
• Acting for a leading technology insurer in relation to a number of ongoing claims brought against its insureds, including: a claim against a website designer for defects/SEO issues with an e-commerce website; a claim against an IT services provider arising from the deletion of client data; and a claim against an IT integrator for delays to the design and implementation of a back-office system.
• Advising a global digital transformation provider at the pre action stage in connection with a claim arising from accuracy issues relating to an AI modelling programme, including providing formal advice on the merits of the client’s position to inform settlement discussions.
• Advising a software development company in respect of a portfolio of licensing claims it had against long-standing resellers of its software, including working with the client to ensure that it maintained its future relationships and revenue stream from these resellers.
• Advising on the merits of a contractual dispute arising between an online news outlet and a digital advertising platform generating AI-recommended articles.

With technology increasingly at the core of disputes, Freya also provides clients with strategic and risk-management advice in relation to conflicts arising out of IT or technology, including AI. This advice helps to facilitate settlements or renegotiations on favourable terms, often avoiding litigation altogether.

Freya has excellent project and case management skills having worked on a number of the largest technology cases in recent years, as well as co-ordinating multi-national data breach response activities and follow-on litigation.

Prior to joining Bristows, Freya spent several years as part of a Tier 1 IT disputes practice at an international firm.

In addition to her extensive expertise in advising clients in the technology sector, Freya also has experience in the life sciences sector, advising pharmaceutical companies in relation to contractual disputes arising out of licence agreements.

Freya is a member of the Society for Computers and Law.