Telecommunications | UK

A&O Shearman has a significant telecoms practice that frequently acts on infrastructure transactions all over the world, advising on projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. It advises on the structuring of new fibre optic joint ventures and on both the buy and sell sides of telecoms towers transactions. The team also assists with the negotiation of network sharing or outsourcing agreements. The lawyers can leverage corporate and competition law expertise to advise on major M&A deals that follow the trend towards consolidation of the telecoms sector. The team represents clients in satellite finance or capital markets transactions.

Ashurst has a recognised focus on corporate and commercial transactions in the telecoms space, including the development of new infrastructure assets and the procurement of capacity by non-traditional telecoms clients. The firm demonstrates additional experience in merger control within the sector. It is further noted for expertise in regulatory, commercial and financing matters in African jurisdictions.

Baker McKenzie handles significant commercial agreements on behalf of traditional telecoms companies and major international regulatory mandates for OTT and digital service providers. The London office coordinates global teams to advise on changes in the data protection regulatory environment and on the differing treatment of telecoms services between local regulators in European and global jurisdictions. The team advises on a diverse spread of commercial mandates, including the negotiation of network sharing agreements or licensing for specific telecommunication services.

Bird & Bird maintains a commanding position in the UK telecoms landscape, advising on contentious and non-contentious regulatory and transactional issues. The firm has a large team of corporate, commercial and telecoms regulatory lawyers who serve a diverse client list that includes managed network and data centre service providers. They coordinate global regulatory mandates among group offices and with external local counsel to provide OTT service providers with an analysis of regulatory risks in different jurisdictions. They are frequently involved in telecoms projects relating to the rollout of 5G.

Freshfields handles high-end corporate and commercial telecoms transactions, including tower infrastructure deals and joint ventures between major European telecoms operators. The firm acts for household names in the telecoms sector on advisory mandates that cross over between competition law and telecoms regulatory issues. The team is also recommended for commercial disputes, including court proceedings and international arbitrations.

CMS is acclaimed for its handling of diverse transactional telecoms matters, including the negotiation of joint ventures to lay new full fibre networks or fund-driven investments into owners of fibre optic infrastructure assets. The firm advises established players in the sector on broader M&A, competition or data protection mandates. The team is particularly adept at advising on regulatory aspects of significant projects on both a domestic and an international basis.

DLA Piper has a superb reputation for advice on all aspects of submarine cable projects, including the drafting of construction and procurement contracts, as well as the analysis of compliance risks in developing markets. The team advises clients on MVNO network transfers, as well as the outsourcing of network management responsibilities for operators with subsidiaries in Asian, African and European markets. Its well-regarded disputes practice often handles arbitration and litigation relating to the sector, including damage to subsea cables and breach of contract.

Herbert Smith Freehills has a longstanding reputation among UK telecoms operators as a superb choice for both contentious and non-contentious matters. It is a leading litigation firm with experience both in commercial disputes between operators and in CAT or judicial review challenges to Ofcom decisions. The team is acclaimed for work on major infrastructure sharing agreements and the negotiation of wholesale MVNO agreements.

Preiskel & Co is a boutique celebrated for its profound understanding of the telecoms regulatory landscape in the UK and abroad. The team is recommended for all manner of commercial and corporate transactions, including network sharing agreements and supply contracts. It is sought after by public and private sector clients around the world. The lawyers are also noted for representing clients in appeals against Ofcom decisions. The team has additional expertise in issues relating to the Internet of Things and machine-to-machine technology.

Simmons & Simmons has an impressive reputation for advice on the tension between data protection regulations and the monetisation of data by telecoms operators. The firm offers broader experience in diverse matters ranging from the negotiation of telecoms service contracts and distribution agreements through to regulatory compliance mandates. It also advises on contentious commercial matters in the telecoms arena. The team is well versed in advising service providers on issues related to 5G rollout, including patent applications and equipment procurement. A culture of secondment of junior and senior lawyers helps nurture close relationships with clients.

Clifford Chance is a leading destination for European M&A transactions carried out by infrastructure investors and major telecoms operators. The team advises on the complex competition law issues arising from mergers in an already heavily consolidated market. It also assists with the structuring of fibre optic cabling joint ventures and plays an important role in standalone regulatory mandates for leading UK operators.

Dentons is well placed to provide comprehensive regulatory support to global telecoms companies with operations in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa owing to an extensive network of group offices and close working relationships with other local teams. The team stands out for activity on the procurement of telecoms services for UK public sector clients. Additional expertise lies in diverse commercial mandates for private companies, including the agreement of satellite communications service contracts, as well as the financing and development of infrastructure projects and mobile networks in Africa.

Fieldfisher's telecoms practice advises on network sharing initiatives, outsourcing arrangements and network infrastructure projects, encompassing issues ranging from 5G to dark fibre. The team assists public sector clients with issues relating to the procurement of nationwide communications services. Key partners have additional experience advising on commercial and regulatory aspects of satellite projects. Clients benefit from the firm's strong practices in adjacent areas such as data protection.

Linklaters leverages its formidable capacity for high-value M&A, capital markets and corporate restructuring transactions to win roles on significant deals in the telecoms sector. The team frequently acts on telecoms infrastructure transactions for operators in Africa and the Middle East. Further expertise lies in regulatory matters for major UK telecoms operators, and also data protection mandates.

Norton Rose Fulbright is particularly strong with regard to commercial, corporate and financing transactions in the telecoms space, including high-profile partnership agreements in support of infrastructure projects. The team acts for lenders and borrowers on the agreement of new corporate or project finance facilities. It has a strong reputation for work on infrastructure transactions across Africa, principally concerning telecoms towers. It also handles global regulatory compliance projects. The team's disputes arm represents telecoms clients in High Court proceedings and international arbitrations.

Osborne Clarke is noted as a key player in developing areas of telecoms regulation, including questions relating to data privacy, the Internet of Things and the treatment of OTT service providers. The team advises key operator clients on contentious and non-contentious topics relating to the installation of telecoms apparatus and the application of the new Electronic Communications Code. Recent work has seen an increase in transactional mandates ranging from telecoms services procurement through to M&A deals and financings related to telecoms infrastructure projects.

Alden Legal has a respected telecoms team with noted strength in the space sector. The firm regularly represents satellite manufacturers and operators, as well as launch sites and aerospace companies. It is adept at advising on a range of commercial and regulatory matters in the sector, including spectrum issues, strategic collaborations and network infrastructure rollouts.

Bristows is famed for its technology expertise and has a substantial telecoms hardware client base on the basis of its IP practice alone. Beyond that, the firm handles cross-border regulatory and compliance matters that examine the treatment of OTT service providers and sensitive issues of data protection law. The team assists with transactions in the sector as well as the procurement of telecoms services on a domestic or an international basis. Bristows' lawyers also handle commercial contracts, including network services and outsourcing supply contracts.

Pinsent Masons stands out for advice to major public sector clients, including UK and foreign government departments. The team is highly regarded for in-depth knowledge of regulatory issues on a national and international level, especially across Europe and the Middle East. It acts on either side of procurement processes in support of communications initiatives for the healthcare, road infrastructure and energy sectors. It also handles regulatory disputes, including the serving of notices under the Electronic Communications Code.

Squire Patton Boggs brings together EU competition law, public law and telecoms regulatory expertise, across a strong international network. The firm handles standalone advisory matters that review and inform public policy on the regulation of the telecoms sector worldwide. It acts for a varied client list that includes government bodies, trade associations, satellite telecoms operators and OTT service providers.

Wiggin, a firm already renowned for its profile in media, digital and IP, has in recent years grown its telecommunications offering considerably. The team comprises lawyers with expertise in consumer and network regulation, competition law and commercial infrastructure transactions. The lawyers also advise on highly technical issues such as service rollout, IoT services, SD-WAN and UCaaS.