Oliver Bray > RPC > London, England > Lawyer Profile
RPC Offices
TOWER BRIDGE HOUSE
ST KATHARINE'S WAY
LONDON
E1W 1AA
England
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Oliver Bray
Work Department
Intellectual property and technology.
Position
Senior Partner. Oliver is Senior Partner at RPC and a recognised specialist in commercial law. He has over 25 years’ experience with particular expertise in commercial contracts, advertising and marketing, regulatory investigations/proceedings, data protection, consumer, intellectual property and digital.
He is ranked in the Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” and “Top Ranked” by Chambers and Partners for both commercial and advertising/marketing.
He works with some of the world’s highest profile brands and digital platforms, providing advice on all aspects their commercial operations and consumer engagement. He is the co-editor of the leading text book ‘Advertising Law and Regulation’ (Bloomsbury Professional).
He is Chairman of the City of London Law Society Commercial Law Committee, a member of the Ad Law Group and an editorial board member of Digital Business Lawyer and Entertainment Law Review.
He was awarded “Best Client Partner” at the 2016 British Legal Awards and is recognised by Acritas for outstanding client service.
Career
Trained Lovells; qualified 1995; Beachcroft Wansbroughs 1997-2000; Pinsent Curtis Biddle 2000-03; joined Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 2003; partner Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 2005; Senior Partner June 2020. Publications of note: co-editor of ‘Advertising Law and Regulation’ (2nd edition, 2011, Bloomsbury Professional).
Memberships
City of London Law Society’s Commercial Law Committee
Education
Wellington College, Berkshire; Nottingham University (1991); York Law School (1992).
Leisure
Tennis and snowboarding.
Lawyer Rankings
London > Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
RPC counts major tech, social media, and newspaper companies among its impressive roster of clients, handling the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters for clients including Meta, Google, TikTok, and the BBC. Jon Bartley leads on data advisory matters, with a sector focus on retail and technology. Richard Breavington takes point on cyber matters, while Rupert Cowper-Coles and David Cran are the key names for data and tech disputes. Also in the core team is Oliver Bray, whose practice has a particular focus on data issues relating to digital media and online retail. The ‘oustanding’ Joe Lippitt was elevated to the partnership in May 2023 and is also recommended.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social
(Hall of Fame)RPC‘s comprehensive client roster – including major social media platforms and digital content publishers – benefits from the firm’s broader expertise in media, data protection, commercial, advertising, IP and litigation. Practice head Oliver Bray specialises in advertising and is a regular advisor to platform-based tech giants such as Meta (including all of its platforms) and Google; his workload further spans ecommerce, AdTech and regulatory investigations. Other recommended individuals include renowned media litigator Rupert Cowper-Coles, who represents a number of leading tech organisations and digital publishers, and data protection expert Jon Bartley.
London > Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
(Hall of Fame)RPC offers pragmatic advice rooted in strong sector experience, with notable expertise in matters pertaining to tech and media, sport, and insurance. The firm has been engaged with substantial commercial projects over the past twelve months, including reviewing and updating company policies, counselling on master services agreements, and acting on sector-first partnerships, such as their advisory role for Saracens Rugby Club partnership with Socios that looks to bring tailored crypto-assets to fans. Furthermore, the team continues to establish itself as a leading player in the hospitality retail industry, adding the landmark brewing and distribution deal between Shepherd Neame and Boon Rawd to its matter portfolio. Department head Tom Purton‘s expertise ensures the group are sought out by established logistic corporates, and is known as a go-to for outsourcing arrangements. Paul Joukador is chiefly recognised for his supply chain arrangements, particularly in the retail sector, whilst Oliver Bray‘s broad practice attracts the interest of global tech giants – with regular support from Ciara Cullen. Charles Buckworth is highlighted for his excellence on financial services-related mandates, including finalising master services and framework agreements. Senior associate Eleanor Harley has also been active on a wide range of matters.
London > Industry focus > TMT
(Hall of Fame)RPC acts for leading digital platforms, insurance providers and retail businesses on matters relating to media, tech and outsourcing. On the contentious side the team handles disputes while non-contentious work involves providing regulatory advice, commercial agreements and acquisitions. Jeremy Drew is experienced in representing large tech platforms and leads the team while Oliver Bray has market-leading expertise in digital, consumer and advertising. Disputes lawyer David Cran is experienced in arbitration with support from Keith Mathieson who is involved in media defence. Mark Crichard advises on complex tech and outsourcing contracts. SSSpecialist tech litigator Helen Armstrong has added strength on the contentious side since her arrival from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in 2022.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
RPC‘s sports group and commercial division chief Jeremy Drew is a key contact for a range of clients – including rugby teams, sports data companies, sports investors, sports consultancy companies and football clubs – on a diverse array of matters that includes litigations and commercial agreements. Oliver Bray works with social media clients on issues that intersect social media with sport. Tax specialists Adam Craggs and Michelle Sloane support Drew in advising clients, such as football clubs, on contentious tax matters concerning player transfers and agent fees. Josh Charalambous is a key name to note at the junior end, while Samuel Coppard focuses on soft IP infringement issues in the sports sector.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
(Hall of Fame)RPC houses a ‘brilliant, yet friendly and personable‘ team, which assists a number of notable clients, namely Shiseido, New Look,and Dreams. The ‘impeccably pragmatic‘ group frequently acts in campaigns, handling endorsement and giveaway related issues, and green claims. Practice head Oliver Bray is a recognised advertising specialist who has ‘always goes above and beyond‘ when assisting clients with copy approval matters, and regulatory investigations. Senior associate Hettie Homewood has a great deal of expertise, having spent time in-house within the e-commerce and luxury retail sectors. Homewood primarily focuses on advising retailers, tech businesses, and media agencies.
Lawyer Rankings
- Commercial contracts London > Corporate and commercial
- Hall of Fame London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- Hall of Fame London > Industry focus > TMT
- Hall of Fame London > Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Hall of Fame London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social
- Media: Digital content & social London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
- Media: Advertising & marketing London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
- TMT London > Industry focus
- Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity London > Risk advisory
- Sport London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Risk advisory > Corporate governance
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Theatre, publishing and other media
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Corporate and commercial > Customs and excise
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Employment > Health and safety
- Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- Insurance > Product liability: defendant
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Industry focus > TMT
- Corporate and commercial > VAT and indirect tax
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: defendant
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- Employment > Employers
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Gaming and betting
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Private client > Art and cultural property
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Dispute resolution > Competition litigation
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- Corporate and commercial > Partnership
- Insurance > Personal injury: defendant
- Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £250m)
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans