Bird & Bird LLP‘s team of ‘phenomenal and exceptionally responsive lawyers‘ handles the range of contentious and non-contentious work for clients across the TMT sector. The practice is split into three groups: the tech and comms sector group, led by Ronald Hendrikx; the media, entertainment and sports sector group, led by Phil Sherrell; and the tech transactions practice group, led by Mark Leach. This structure allows it to put together specialist teams to handle complex matters including large-scale technology implementations, large-scale network infrastructure work, media and sports finance matters, and a wide variety of disputes. Hendrikx specialises in IT and communication projects, while Sherrell is well known for his litigation experience, and Leach for his work on outsourcings. Kimberly Wells is a key contact for businesses across a range of sectors, and was promoted to partner in March 2022.

Clifford Chance LLP‘s TMT offering focuses primarily on large and complex corporate transactions. With cross-practice support from specialists in areas including corporate law, litigation, antitrust, technology, and regulation, the team is well-equipped to provide support to major clients from start-ups to multinationals. Practice head André Duminy is renowned for his M&A experience, and has particular experience in the fintech and insurtech sectors. Jennifer Chimanga is similarly highly regarded, and has worked increasingly on cross-border transactions; corporate specialist Toby Parkinson is also significant in this area. Simon Persoff brings expertise across technology and telecoms, while Kate Scott and Samantha Ward are cornerstones of the group’s litigation offering. Zayed Al Jamil joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in March 2022, further strengthening the firm’s offering in outsourcing and technology projects.

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. 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. The offering is anchored by experienced partner Mark Watts, who has particular experience in commercial IP and data protection work. Toby Crick is a key contact for telecoms clients, where Myles Jelf is also recommended for his litigation expertise. Adrian Sim is highly recommended for financial services implementation projects, and Pat Treacy for her experience in EU competition law.

Deloitte Legal‘s TMT practice has continued to develop after its 2021 acquisition of Kemp Little, with new telecoms, data protection, and cybersecurity lead Cavan Fabris arriving from EY Law in February 2022. Alongside a developing role as a long-term strategic adviser to major technology clients, mid-market M&A remains a core strength of the team, with Andy Moseby a key contact in this area. Calum Murray heads up the overall TMT industry offering, and is especially well regarded for his work providing strategic support to both established digital players and clients newly expanding their digital offerings. Other significant lawyers include Andrew Joint and Paul Hinton, while Paul O’Hare spearheads the firm’s outsourcing offering.

The data and technology transactions practice group at Latham & Watkins brings together lawyers from the firm’s transactional, regulatory, and litigation practices to provide broad support to clients across the TMT sector on matters ranging from product launches and funding issues to commercial contracts and outsourcings and privacy and cybersecurity work. Andrew Moyle is global co-chair of the firm’s fintech industry group, with significant expertise handling high-value contracts and transactions, and co-leads the practice with Gail Crawford, who is also chair of the internet and digital media industry group. Experienced technology and commercial lawyer Christian McDermott is a key contact for clients in the fintech space, with a growing practice relating to NFTs, while Fiona Maclean is noted for her work in matters relating to outsourcings, data privacy, and the cloud.

The cornerstone of Norton Rose Fulbright‘s TMT offering is its technology consulting practice, established in 2021 with the hire of Madeline Bailey and co-headed by Bailey and Peter McBurney. Through the team, the firm provides in-depth strategic support to clients looking to take advantage of emerging technologies, including those on the cutting edge of innovation such as blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and AI. The technology team is headed up in EMEA by Sean Murphy, who helms a practice with expertise ranging from corporate finance and M&A deals to data and fintech work. Also in the technology space, James Russell leads on matters relating to outsourcings, while Oliver Stacey heads up the UK telecoms team. Competition lawyer Caroline Thomas is also noted.

RPC‘s TMT group is well known for its work for clients in the technology sector, from start-ups to the biggest names in the industry. The firm provides support on the full spectrum of matters, from contract and regulatory advice to fundraising and M&A transactions and through to dispute resolution, where it has an especially good reputation in technology litigation and acting for media defendants. Jeremy Drew leads the team, bringing broad experience across contentious and non-contentious technology matters. Senior partner Oliver Bray is a key contact for prominent technology clients, and is well known for his wide commercial expertise, which extends to digital, consumer, advertising, data protection, regulatory, and content issues. David Cran heads up the technology disputes practice, while Mark Crichard leads on complex contracts and outsourcings.

The TMT group at Slaughter and May is especially well known for its work supporting major technology clients on corporate and commercial transactions. The practice is co-headed by long-term TMT stalwart Rob Sumroy and experienced corporate lawyer Victoria MacDuff. The firm’s offering in this sector was further strengthened by the promotion of two associates to partners in May 2021: Laura Houston and James Cook. Houston assists a broad client base in the acquisition, creation, exploitation, and divestment of technology assets, while Cook assists technology and telecoms clients in a range of transactions, in addition to co-heading the fintech practice with Sumroy. Roland Turnill and Duncan Blaikie are also noted, as are Paul Dickson and David Watkins for their media work.

With its technology, media and communications offering, Taylor Wessing LLP provides full-spectrum support to technology company clients across their life cycles, from start-up issues through to IPOs and including major transactions and development work. Experienced venture capital lawyer Josef Fuss co-heads the international team, and spearheads efforts involving investment financing, with notable support on corporate M&A and transactions from Robert Fenner. UK team head Mark Owen is a specialist in intellectual property law, with particular experience in matters relating to trade marks and copyright. Adam Rendle is also a key contact in this area.

Dentons' sizeable TMT team focuses on technology transactions and software licensing issues, which it handles for both vendors and users. As of October 2021, Martin Fanning and Henrietta Baker co-lead the offering, with former practice head Andy Lucas a key contact for public sector clients in particular. Baker and Fanning both specialise in major corporate advisory work, including financing, outsourcing, and business-critical technology projects. Also noted is Sarah Lima, who was promoted to partner in May 2021.

The TMT offering at Harbottle & Lewis LLP was strengthened with the March 2022 arrival of Emma Wright from Deloitte Legal. Under Wright, the firm has established a new technology, data and digital group, which will coordinate the firm’s efforts in areas including AI and technology regulation. The team is also especially noted for its work in media and entertainment, where Abigail Payne and Peter Armstrong are key contacts in the film and TV group, headed up by Jonathan Berger. Other areas of experience include IP, advertising, and defamation mandates.

Mishcon de Reya LLP‘s TMT offering has, since April 2021, operated as part of the firm’s innovation department, which brings together teams with expertise across IP and competition, commercial, data, technology and sport, and betting and gaming issues. Jeremy Hertzog heads up the department, bringing significant experience in litigation, especially related to IP and other technology disputes. Head of data Adam Rose co-leads the firm’s technology group, where his expertise extends to IT and commercial contracts for suppliers and licensees of IT systems. Sally Britton heads up the brands group and co-chairs the retail department, while the arrival of Ashley Winton from McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP in April 2021 extends the team’s reach into fintech, data protection, and cybersecurity work.

Led by Ashley Hurst, the sizeable technology, media and communications team at Osborne Clarke LLP is well known for its broad experience. The team is split across three subsectors, with an international lead for each: Mathias Loertscher heads up the technology team, John Davidson-Kelly leads the media and entertainment group, and Jon Fell heads up the communications practice. Hurst focuses on cybersecurity and contentious data litigation; Davidson-Kelly works on digital media regulation, consumer law, and media and tech agreements; and Fell provides operational and transactional advice, with a focus on procurement agreements. Loertscher has particular experience in M&A, joint ventures, and fundraising mandates.

Shoosmiths LLP‘s technology, digital and telecoms team has a strong focus on work relating to clients’ technological transformations, with core areas of expertise including technology procurement, supply and licensing, and investment mandates. National in scope, the team operates across the firm’s offices in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Reading, and Milton Keynes, as well as in London. Corporate expert James Klein leads the firm’s technology sector offering from London, while Joe Stephenson in Birmingham is head of the firm’s TDT service line, and often leads on complex digital transformation projects. The team was strengthened with the March 2021 arrival of fintech specialist Prakash Kerai from DAC Beachcroft LLP, complementing financial services specialists Craig Armstrong and Sam Tyfield.

Bates Wells has broad experience advising clients across the technology and media sectors. Richard Marke is head of the firm’s TMT team, while Paul Jennings is noted for his expertise in employment law, as well as his recent work on a case concerning the potentially discriminatory effects of AI technology. Media litigation head Rupert Earle is also recommended.

Neil Foster heads up Brown Rudnick LLP‘s technology and innovation team, which advises clients in a range of sectors including the IT, energy transition, digital and mobile health, fintech, data analytics, and life sciences industries. Corporate expert Tim Davison is a key contact for clients seeking advice on complex cross-border transactions and investment.

James Hyde became international head of telecoms at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP in January 2022, and leads an offering that provides broad support on matters from deals and acquisitions to disputes, with Thekla Fellas especially highly regarded for her capability in Telecoms Code work. Commercial specialist Charlotte Walker-Osborn leads the firm’s international technology focus, while consultant Simon Cloke is also noted.

The commercial, IT and outsourcing team at Gowling WLG is led by Birmingham-based expert Jocelyn Paulley, who specialises in non-contentious IT matters, with particular experience advising clients in the retail and technology sectors, as well as co-leading the data privacy and cybersecurity team on the non-contentious side. Commercial litigator Patrick Arben, also based in Birmingham, leads on contentious IT matters, while corporate expert and technology group co-chair David Brennan focuses on M&A and equity capital funding work.

Mayer Brown International LLP‘s TMT offering includes significant strength in media and technology mandates. Robert Hamill is a key figure for clients in the media sector, where Miles Robinson is especially well regarded for his dispute resolution experience. Mark Prinsley heads up the technology-focused London offering, while the firm also provides corporate support on technology matters, with Richard Page and senior associate Harriet Hainsworth key figures for transactions and acquisitions.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP‘s TMT offering is anchored by practice head Rafi Azim-Khan, who is a core TMT practitioner in the group and works between the firm’s London and Silicon Valley offices, handling a range of work from telecoms regulation and deals to media production and global licensing issues, as well as data protection and e-commerce mandates. Steven Farmer is also noted, as is Lee Rubin, who was promoted to partner in January 2022.