Bird & Bird LLP

Chair of the Board and Partner

I'm a leading international regulatory and commercial technology and communications partner based in our London office. Since April 2020, I have also been Chair of our Board, working closely with the partnership to deliver on our strategic goals.

I advise on complex international projects and transactions involving communications and technology, bringing considerable domestic and international transactional and regulatory expertise and industry knowledge to the table. I have extensive experience of working with colleagues on corporate, M&A, financing and disputes matters involving technology and communications. I've been privileged to work with some of the world's leading technology and communications companies and new market entrants including on many innovative and market transforming transactions, projects and issues.

I created and led our Technology & Communications sector group having combined our IT, Communications & Electronics sector groups (2014-18) having previously co-led our Communications sector group (2010-14). I have also undertaken other management roles including our then Global Board (2015-17) and Strategy Committee (2015-2019). Prior to joining Bird & Bird in 2005 I was a partner at another global law firm having trained there. This experience provides additional insights which I leverage for the benefit of our clients.

I've been a dedicated technology & communications specialist for over 25 years which means I have been supporting clients through several market cycles. Early in my career I benefited from secondments to the competition policy branch of OFTEL (now Ofcom) and at BT's internet and multi-media legal team.

I have written and spoken widely on communications and technology. I wrote the Communications and Broadcasting Regulation chapter of Graham Smith's 'Internet Law & Regulation' (2007 edition) and co-wrote the chapter on 'Capacity Agreements - From Microwaves to MVNOs' of Ian Walden's 'Telecommunications Law and Regulation' (2018 edition).

I've been top rated/tier 1 in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for the past decade.

One of the best parts of my job is seeing the new gadgets and innovations at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas for the past 4 years.

Downing College, University of Cambridge, MA in Natural Sciences/Law College of Law, York University of Bristol, Diploma in Intellectual Property Law & Practice