Ashley Hurst > Osborne Clarke LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

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.

With a strong presence in the tech, financial services, telecom, energy and retail sectors, Osborne Clarke LLP advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters. As part of its busy workload, the team has recently handled GDPR work,  data protection litigation, ransomware attacks, investigations and data subject access requests. With more than 20 years of experience in advising on law enforcement data access matters, data breaches, and GDPR, ‘pragmatic, responsive and detail-oriented’ Mark Taylor leads the practice. Taylor works alongside Ashley Hurst, who is recommended for cyber incident responses. Simon Bollans left the firm in February 2022.

Osborne Clarke LLP‘s diverse reputation management practice is regularly instructed by leading companies in the tech space, HNW individuals, and well known multinational corporations. Team lead Ashley Hurst is a data privacy and cybersecurity expert who provides a comprehensive reputation management service to leading clients in the tech and media sectors. Hurst is supported by Bristol-based Charlie Wedin, a privacy specialist with a particular focus on data security crises. Associate Henry Fox is also recommended for his expertise in reputation and defamation law.

With ‘unparalleled experience in advising media companies‘ Osborne Clarke LLP is a go-to firm in the advertising and marketing space and additionally handles broadcasting, digital content, and interactive entertainment with a focus on digital transformation. On the litigation side, Ashley Hurst heads up the team and John Davidson-Kelly leads on non-contentious work, he has particularly extensive expertise regarding online platforms and their licensing schemes. Their team includes advertising expert Anna Williams who further heads up the firm’s offering in the Thames Valley. Mary Lawrence is a specialist on the intersection of media and health and safety as evidenced by her advising the Advertising Producers Association on drafting Covid-19 guidelines for the TV production industry.