Telecommunications

Alan Bates is best known for his work on competition law and state aid matters, including sensitive cases that involve clients in the telecommunications sector. He acts for prominent telecommunications operators and telecommunications service providers. Having previously spent a year on secondment to Ofcom, Bates is able to provide especially insightful advice on Ofcom decisions and inquiries into service providers.

"Alan is an iron fist in a velvet glove - softly spoken but packs a punch in court."

Daniel Beard KC is regularly instructed by leading UK telecommunications operators on their most important competition law-based regulatory appeals. He also handles competition law cases for operators based in continental Europe, and represents government bodies in relation to national security legislation in the telecommunications field. Beard regularly handles market-defining cases in the sphere, including matters relating to the 5G spectrum and dark fibre.

"Daniel Beard is a clear heavy hitter in the competition and telecoms space. He is incredibly astute, bright, very strategic and focused, and he is very effective."

"He is a commanding figure. He has a great brain, masses of common sense and a brilliant way with judges."

Jon Turner KC is a barrister with a well-established reputation as one of the most important telecommunications silks in the UK. He advises on challenges to Ofcom decisions before the CAT, Administrative Court and Court of Appeal. Turner has been involved in some of the most high-profile matters in the telecommunications sector, including defining cases relating to standard-essential patents and the spectrum auction. His varied client base includes significant telco service providers, tech giants and delivery companies.

"He plunges into the detail of the case to find the cross-examination nuggets that pave the way to victory for clients."

"As an advocate he has all the style and class in the world."

Josh Holmes KC is among the counsel of choice for Ofcom and other regulatory bodies, and regularly advises on competition law challenges to decisions on key aspects of telecommunications or media sector regulation. Holmes is highly regarded for his sector expertise and courtroom demeanour. He frequently acts on telecommunications matters that contain multi-jurisdictional elements and receives particular praise for his European law expertise.

"Josh is a deep expert in telecommunications. He is brilliant at drafting pleading, and his written style is matched by his advocacy style."

"He is absolutely superb and has a razor-like mind that applies in written and oral submissions."

Meredith Pickford KC has an impressive client list that includes many of the largest global telecommunications operators and electronics manufacturers. He handles competition law and complex intellectual property disputes, including Court of Appeal cases that clarify the meaning of FRAND terms in the licensing of standard-essential patents.

"He just gets the case straight away, and his closings beautifully synthesise the arguments. Meredith is very calm, works well with solicitors and is super smart."

"A rare barrister where one can rest a bit easier in court knowing he is an extension of the client and his judgement is flawless."

Robert Palmer KC is noted for handling complex advisory matters, regulatory appeals and court proceedings before the CAT, Supreme Court and ECJ. His client list includes leading telecommunications operators and public authorities. Palmer is noted for his experience acting for intelligence agencies in relation to protecting their data collection rights for intelligence and investigatory purposes.

"Robert's technical telecoms expertise is top notch. He is very good at his role - pragmatic, user-friendly and accessible. You get a sense of partnership from working with him."

"He is great. He has a calm manner for a KC, which helps in terms of advocacy. Robert is very good with clients because he knows how to frame discussions from the commercial perspective."

Tim Ward KC is a popular choice among London solicitors and in-house counsel at UK and international telecommunications companies faced with sensitive regulatory disputes. Interviewees particularly highlight his advocacy skills. Ward shows his expertise when advising government entities on reforming telecommunicationslegislation. He regularly acts on international matters.

"Tim is a very good advocate and he is good with clients."

Anneli Howard KC is an outstanding silk often instructed in both advisory and contentious mandates. A top choice for UK operators in competition law cases, she is an expert in the competition law implications of decisions made by UK public bodies, and handles challenges to those decisions before the CAT and ECJ. She is well experienced in providing regulatory advice in relation to broadband rollouts at leasehold properties.

"Anneli Howard is extremely strong, intelligent and an excellent practitioner."

Gerry Facenna KC has acted in several important public law cases that test the relationship between data privacy and the obligation on telecommunications providers to store and disclose data in the interests of counterterrorism. He also handles data privacy cases regarding EU data rules for search engines. His clients include significant telecommunications and technology companies, as well as government bodies.

"Gerry is strategically excellent and has a good instinct for how judges view a case. He is a very charming advocate."

Kassie Smith KC is best known for her work on important cases that test the relationship between the protection of IP rights and the use of standard-essential patents in mobile telecommunications technology. She also advises on media and telecommunications-related competition law cases, including in foreign jurisdictions, and further provides regulatory advice in the sector. Her client base includes government bodies and telecoms equipment companies.

"Kassie is an absolutely amazing advocate."

"Kassie is clearly very knowledgeable on the competition regulatory side of telecommunications."

Ben Lask is a well-regarded barrister in the telecommunications sector. He frequently acts in competition-related cases, and has a broad client list that includes telecommunications operators and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. He is considered by peers to be a strong choice of barrister for Ofcom matters. Lask appears frequently in cases before the CAT, High Court and Court of Appeal.

"He is someone who is very thoughtful, meticulous, hard-working and brilliant with detail."

Fiona Banks has a growing practice in the telecommunications sector and enjoys strong endorsement from fellow barristers and clients alike. Her broad-based telecommunications practice sees her handling competition and state aid matters for telco service providers, as well as representing clients in challenging Ofcom decisions.

"Fiona Banks is very experienced."

"She is proactive and plans ahead to avoid crunch points. Fiona spends the time getting into the detail of complicated issues and is very quick when discussing the issues with the client."

Stefan Kuppen is recognised as a valuable resource both for his advisory work relating to difficult points of telecommunications regulation and on the defendant side of regulatory investigations. He is experienced in providing insightful advice on legislation relating to data protection and the interception of communications. Kuppen attracts particular attention for the experience he gained working within the financial services sector.

"He is a Renaissance man with vast real-world experience outside the Bar and the ability to turn his hand to anything."

Philip Woolfe KC draws praise for his outstanding technical knowledge and ability, and plays a prominent role in important judicial review proceedings on behalf of various key operator clients, having been led by renowned telecommunications silks both within chambers and in other sets. Woolfe further stands out for his instruction as sole counsel in competition law cases that inform Ofcom decisions on dark fibre access.

"He is an absolutely first-rate intellect."