Bristows LLP remains a popular choice among major tech companies, telecoms providers, streaming services and digital platforms. Its cross-disciplinary TMT group handles matters ranging from competition and regulatory advice to complex data protection and compliance issues. Mark Watts is a recognised authority on data protection law, with particular expertise in high-stakes enforcement cases involving data misuse and breach allegations. Toby Crick advises on telecoms and tech-related disputes, while Stephen Smith combines transactional work with experience in contentious competition matters. Hannah Crowther assists on evolving regulatory issues linked to AI, marketing tech, cross-border data flows and user rights. Anna Cook counsels on disputes involving IP, contracts and technology implementation. The team also welcomed Julian Darrell as partner in 2024, previously the European head of litigation at TikTok.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Team is focused on supporting concrete challenges that client is facing, taking into account the big legal picture but also the subtleties of our business. We have worked with Bristows in different capacities and each time the level of service has been stellar.’
‘Mark Watts has been a very good source of truth and ideas. In a area where legal changes are plenty, he is always a good sounding board as well as a seasoned lawyer.’
‘Exceptional understanding of the fast changing environment.’
‘Pragmatic, clear communicators who are responsive and thorough in their approach. I feel very confident in applying their advice.’
‘The team provides very practical and useful guidance, they are very responsive to requests for advice.’
‘Mark Watts is a fantastic lawyer with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and a very practical and business friendly approach to advice. He is always willing to look at each problem from multiple perspectives and assesses the risk based on real world considerations rather than theoretical assumptions. His advice is always clear and well thought out. ’
Key clients
- Capgemini
- Thomson Reuter Foundation
- Cisco Systems
- Facebook/ Meta
- Sure (Guernsey)
- Spotify
- Scientia Limited
- Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe
- Amazon / Amazon Web Services
- Philips N.V.
- Schibsted Media
Work highlights
Advising OpenAI, makers of Chat GPT, in connection with all aspects of data protection compliance.
Advising Lebara on trade mark work, telecoms regulation, and data protection and privacy laws compliance across its global operations.
Advising Google DeepMind, a world-renowned AI company and part of the Alphabet group, on activities related to several AI models designed to accelerate scientific research.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Mark Watts
Other key lawyers
Toby Crick; Stephen Smith; Hannah Crowther; Anna Cook; Julian Darrell