Telecommunications

Name: Bristows
Price range: $$$

Bristows’ Telecommunications practice is large, highly skilled and growing fast.

Contact our telecoms team Read our latest insights

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.

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.

Inquisitive Minds: Telecommunications insights

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What others say

“The team, led by the sensational Anna Cook, continues to be genuinely interested in the topics we cover. The enthusiasm for going above and beyond to not just offer high-quality legal support but to take the time to deeply understand our sector…”
Legal 500 2027

“We work with Bristows on all of our data protection matters, whether in the UK, EU, or beyond. This work includes supporting us on our most complex matter—product development, breach response, and dealing with data protection authorities.”
Legal 500 2027

“The team really understands what we do as a business. This means that they provide commercial insights and proactively spot issues that are specific to us as a business. The team has a commercial and pragmatic approach, which we value highly.”
Legal 500 2027

“Bristows has a well-established and highly regarded IT and telecoms practice. It has strength and depth at all levels.”
Legal 500 2027

“High-quality team with a lot of useful background at technology companies. A stronger associate pool than is typical of their competitors in our opinion.”
Legal 500 2027

“The team is also innovative in how it supports clients, including investing in practical tools and know-how to accelerate drafting and analysis, and delivering thought leadership that helps in-house teams stay ahead of emerging risks and market practices.”
Legal 500 2027

“What stands out is the blend of deep technical understanding and an ability to translate complex legal issues into clear options and decisive recommendations…”
Legal 500 2027

“The Bristows team combines genuine market-leading technology law expertise with a practical, commercial approach that makes complex projects feel controlled and deliverable…”
Legal 500 2027

“What makes this practice stand out is the combination of strong legal expertise and practical commercial advice. The team is very responsive, easy to work with, and focused on finding practical solutions rather than giving overly cautious or theoretical advice…”
Legal 500 2027

“Bristows advises us on commercial contracts, and they are flexible, pragmatic, and efficient, providing a big boost to our negotiation efforts. They have quickly become a valued and trusted resource for our company.”
Legal 500 2027

“They are the best data protection team we deal with. They are extremely knowledgeable, very practical, and really nice people to deal with. Their advice is truly practical and helps us to do business in a lawful and ethical way.”
Legal 500 2027

“The team is incredibly well-versed in the subject matter, has a very broad view of various industries, and offers useful, practical advice. They take the time to really get to know the business and what matters most and don’t give advice that needs to go through further in-house filters before it can be applied. They are very approachable and make themselves available whenever needed.”
Legal 500 2027

“Not just brilliant and pragmatic lawyers, but also really nice people you want to hang out with.”
Legal 500 2027

They have taken the extra mile to help ensure they have the right information at the outset and understand where we need to get to.
Legal 500 2027

Highly knowledgeable and experienced people. Easy to connect with, always on call.
Legal 500 2027

“The team continues to be sensational. They have managed to consistently stay ahead of the curve in terms of skills and have offered us support on a wide range of international, European, and UK-focused topics across AI, data access, and commercial relationships.”
Legal 500 2027

“The team does a good job of marketing its capabilities and puts out a lot of thought leadership. They give a good impression of working at the coalface of interesting work in this space.”
Legal 500 2027

“Bristows’ advice is always commercial. They help to distil complex legal issues into a business-friendly approach. They also always take a clear view and direction with all the legal complexity.”
Chambers FinTech Guide 2026

“The department stands out through its strong client focus, deep industry knowledge, and ability to deliver cutting-edge, practical advice.”
Chambers FinTech Guide 2026

“It is an excellent law firm with very good expertise in technology and FinTech.”
Chambers FinTech Guide 2026

“Their key strengths are their dedication and focus on delivering value to their clients in everything they undertake. The firm is clear, honest, practical, highly experienced and business-focused.”
Chambers and Partners UK 2026

“The team has excellent technical and industry knowledge which helps when negotiating a deal and drafting the appropriate agreements. They are very client-centric.”
Chambers and Partners UK 2026

“Bristows offers clear and practical advice, which is not limited purely to the legal issues presented but to the wider context of the transaction.”
Chambers and Partners UK 2026

“The Bristows team understand client needs and go the extra mile to deliver effective advice.”
Chambers and Partners UK 2026

“It has been really positive – they are incredibly experienced and knowledgeable in their fields, and very responsive and great to deal with. Their advice is pragmatic and digestible.”
Chambers and Partners UK 2026

“Bristows give the client solutions that can be be implemented. Advice is practical and experience-based, and informed by an understanding the limitations and risk for the client.”
Chambers and Partners UK 2026

“Excellent team with strength in depth in the life sciences and tech space. Strong market knowledge. Responsive and solution-focused.”
Legal 500 2026

“Bristows have always been exceptionally responsive to my queries around commercial contract matters, and really take responsibility for driving projects forward.”
Legal 500 2026