Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Telecommunications - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

A very highly regarded chambers with an outstanding bench of silks and juniors, Blackstone Chambers offers an array of expertise in telecoms matters, handling commercial disputes as well as competition and regulatory matters. The barristers frequently represent significant service providers, consumers and regulators before the High Court, the Commercial Court and the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Demonstrating great expertise in EU law, the set regularly advises service providers on EU laws and regulations and the compatibility of Ofcom regulations with EU Directives. The lawyers are further proficient in handling intellectual property disputes for multinational technology companies and in providing representation in relation to FRAND licensing. Members also regularly advise on fixed-line and mobile networks, as well as internet-related matters relevant to telecommunications, including by-pass, interconnection and VoIP issues. One interviewee notes: "Blackstone has expertise in very technical and heavily regulated sectors, and is able to distil arguments and information to clients and judges in a compelling and straightforward manner."

Derek Sutton is the senior clerk and Mat Swallow is chambers director.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Brian Kennelly
1
Brian Kennelly
1
Band 1

Brian Kennelly KC is one of the most prominent silks in the telecommunications sector owing to his close relationship with a key UK operator. He advises on significant competition law cases, Ofcom investigations and non-contentious compliance mandates. Kennelly is well regarded for his expertise in relation to net neutrality compliance issues.

Brian Kennelly is very well-spoken, which you want in an advocate. He is very good with clients. He is really one of our go-tos, I can't speak highly enough of him.

Brian is very engaging and collaborative.

Brian Kennelly is user-friendly and explains complex issues clearly.

Emily Neill
1
Emily Neill
1
Band 1

Emily Neill stands out for her presence on either side of many of the most important Court of Appeal cases in the telecommunications sector in recent years, covering market-defining issues including access to dark fibre. She is a popular choice among silks both within chambers and in other sets to act as a junior in administrative appeals that have significant financial implications for telecommunications operators, such as matters relating to the determination of annual licence fees. She is also often directly instructed by key clients to advise on diverse compliance topics.

Emily Neill is very, very strong.

Emily is very much part of the team.

Emily Neill is well regarded.

James Segan
1
James Segan
1
Band 1

James Segan KC has a strong reputation in the telecommunications sphere and is well known for his work on major competition and intellectual property law cases that require a deep understanding of telecommunications technology. He has notable experience acting in major FRAND trials. Segan also assists with administrative appeals on behalf of telecoms service providers.

James has some of the best delivery I have ever seen. His performance is unflappable, very impressive. I cannot praise him highly enough.

James can really translate things to easily digestible chunks for lay clients to understand. We rate him very highly.

James Segan is very impressive and very pleasant as an opponent.

Javan Herberg
2
Javan Herberg
2
Band 2

Javan Herberg KC acts in telecommunications regulatory and commercial matters as part of a wider administrative law practice that is focused on the financial services sector. He has experience on both the Ofcom and operator sides of investigations, and has had involvement in a number of Supreme Court and CAT hearings. He is proficient in handling telecommunications mandates containing EU law elements.

Javan is really clever and good at difficult points of law. We go to him for knotty problems. He brings a practical approach to those questions.

Javan Herberg is very on the ball, a very good barrister.

Jessica Boyd
2
Jessica Boyd
2
Band 2

Jessica Boyd KC frequently acts on the regulator side of key telecommunications judicial review cases. She has appeared in a number of notable telecommunications matters, frequently representing the regulator. Boyd is well versed in providing advice to the regulatory body on spectrum auctions, the Freedom of Information Act and a number of other issues.

Jessica Boyd is very experienced.

Jessica Boyd is great at thinking outside the box. She brings her public law expertise and great, clear drafting.

Monica Carss-Frisk
2
Monica Carss-Frisk
2
Band 2

Monica Carss-Frisk KC has a longstanding reputation as a leading administrative law silk and stands out for the breadth of her practice. She has experience in EU and UK public law cases that relate to the licensing or regulation of telecoms operators.

Monica Carss-Frisk is good at getting straight to the heart of a point and then testing it. She is a very senior, very experienced and capable leader who brings real gravitas.

Monica Carss-Frisk is a standout counsel in the courtroom. She is always high on our list for sensitive JR work. I rate her really highly.

Monica Carss-Frisk is a very senior barrister and has a very commanding presence in court. She is extremely user-friendly from a client perspective, easy and pleasant to work with.

Alan Maclean
3
Alan Maclean
3
Band 3

Alan Maclean KC is frequently retained by telecommunications giants to represent them in competition law mandates and is also instructed by service providers in relation to commercial disputes. He has notable experience handling issues arising from the EU Framework and Access Directives.

Alan is very user-friendly and commercial in his approach.

Alan shows an impressive ability to turn vast amounts of technical documentation into succinct, clear and pragmatic advice.

Alan Maclean is very good and very experienced.

Kieron Beal
3
Kieron Beal
3
Band 3

Kieron Beal KC stands out for his work on behalf of key companies seeking to influence Ofcom decisions that are intended to affect competition in the telecommunications and media spaces. He also advises on sensitive compliance topics and acts in cases relating to data and surveillance.

Kieron Beal is a fantastic advocate.

Thomas de la Mare
3
Thomas de la Mare
3
Band 3

Thomas de la Mare KC handles public and EU law-inflected cases for an impressive array of clients in the telecommunications and media sectors. He has experience in high-profile cases that examine the relationship between data protection laws and the obligation to share telecoms data with UK security services. De la Mare frequently appears in judicial reviews, as well as cases before the Commercial Court and the ECJ.

Thomas de la Mare is very good - smart, very user-friendly and accessible.

Tom Coates
3
Tom Coates
3
Band 3

Tom Coates is recognised for his experience in telecoms cases. He is known for representing telecoms operators in competition-related cases in the Competition Appeal Tribunal and in the High Court. Coates is well versed in spectrum auction matters. He is also frequently instructed by Ofcom.

Tom is extremely user-friendly and has integrated himself into the team in a way that makes working with him very seamless. He is very clever.

On his feet, Tom Coates is very clear, assertive and well prepared. He's a very effective advocate.

Tom is good at working with experts within our organisation. He is very good at working through the complexities of the evidence and helping them put it in a way that's useful for the court.

Tom is exceptionally clever. He is the barrister for when you have a really complex issue of law; you can trust him to give you the right answer in the clearest of terms. He's reliable and practical.

I regard Tom Coates highly. He is very strong.

Tom Richards
3
Tom Richards
3
Band 3

Tom Richards KC advises telecommunications operators on sensitive competition law and judicial review cases, including those that intersect with media and broadcasting law. He has represented mobile network operators as sole counsel before the CAT.

Tristan Jones
3
Tristan Jones
3
Band 3

Tristan Jones acts for both operators and Ofcom in high-profile and complex telecommunications cases on issues ranging from dark fibre and licence fees to spectrum auctions. He draws praise for his significant telecommunications regulatory knowledge and his complementary strength in competition law matters, and often acts for regulatory authorities.

Tristan Jones is very talented.

I couldn't sing Tristan Jones's praises highly enough. He is very active in this space. He is brilliant.

I think Tristan Jones is brilliant.

Ranked Barristers at
Blackstone Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Telecommunications

Brian Kennelly KC
1
Brian Kennelly KC
1
Band 1
James Segan KC
1
James Segan KC
1
Band 1
Javan Herberg KC
2
Javan Herberg KC
2
Band 2
Jessica Boyd KC
2
Jessica Boyd KC
2
Band 2
Monica Carss-Frisk KC
2
Monica Carss-Frisk KC
2
Band 2
Alan Maclean KC
3
Alan Maclean KC
3
Band 3
Kieron Beal KC
3
Kieron Beal KC
3
Band 3
Thomas de la Mare KC
3
Thomas de la Mare KC
3
Band 3
Tom Richards KC
3
Tom Richards KC
3
Band 3
Tristan Jones KC
3
Tristan Jones KC
3
Band 3

Juniors

London (Bar)

Telecommunications

Emily Neill
1
Emily Neill
1
Band 1
Tom Coates
3
Tom Coates
3
Band 3