Specialist UK Telecoms, Data and Payments Regulation Lawyers
Clear, senior-level regulatory and commercial advice for telecoms, data protection and payments
If your business operates in UK telecoms, processes personal data, or provides payment services, regulation determines what you can build, how you can compete, and what risks you carry. Bratby Law provides specialist regulatory and transactional advice across telecoms, data protection and payments, led by Rob Bratby, a Chambers Band 2 telecoms lawyer with over 30 years’ experience spanning the UK telecoms regulator, senior in-house roles at network operators, and partnership at international law firms. Clients instruct the firm through three models: Direct Legal Advice, Specialist Co-counsel and Fractional General Counsel.
Chambers & Partners Band 2 Telecoms (UK Guide 2026)
Legal 500 Leading Partner, Telecoms (London)
Lexology Global Elite Thought Leader, Data Protection
When clients instruct us
New product launch in a regulated sector
Regulatory compliance review, licensing requirements and go-to-market risk assessment for telecoms operators, fintechs and platforms launching new services. Product launch advice
Regulatory due diligence on an acquisition
Telecoms, data protection and payments risk assessment for investors and acquirers in regulated sectors. Due diligence
AI product launch or data compliance review
DPIA, controller/processor analysis and UK GDPR compliance for technology companies deploying AI-enabled products. AI and data advice
FCA or PSR authorisation application
Payment services and e-money authorisation, safeguarding requirements and PSR scheme compliance. Authorisation advice
Ongoing senior regulatory counsel
Fractional General Counsel for telecoms, fintech and data businesses that need board-level legal support without a full-time hire. Fractional GC
Your firm lacks sector expertise
Specialist co-counsel for law firms handling telecoms, data or payments matters that require regulatory depth. Co-counsel
An end-to-end regulatory perspective
Rob Bratby’s experience spans three perspectives that are seldom combined in a single advisor:
The Regulator’s Perspective
Work at Oftel, the predecessor to Ofcom, provides first-hand experience of how UK communications regulation is developed, interpreted and enforced. This includes leadership of the project to liberalise the UK’s international telecoms infrastructure market (subsea cables and satellite), and a detailed understanding of regulatory intent and enforcement dynamics.
The Operator’s Perspective
Fractional General Counsel appointments at regulated telecoms and payments businesses, and embedded general-counsel roles within industry-wide joint ventures, provide practical insight into how businesses are run, where risks arise, how compliance is operationalised and how commercial and regulatory decisions are made inside carriers, fintechs and infrastructure operators.
The Advisor’s Perspective
Senior partnership and management roles at international US and UK law firms in both London and Singapore provide a deep understanding of how high quality legal advice is delivered and translated into commercial and regulatory decisions at board level.
This combination enables advice that is legally rigorous, commercially aligned and technically grounded.
Telecoms, data protection and payments regulation lawyers
Bratby Law advises on telecoms regulation, data protection, payments regulation and transactions across the communications, financial services and technology sectors.
Why Choose Bratby Law?
Sector expertise
Bratby Law advises exclusively on telecoms regulation, data protection, and payments regulation. That concentration means deeper knowledge of the regulatory environment, faster analysis, and advice that reflects how regulators actually behave: not how the textbook says they should.
Senior delivery
Every instruction is handled by Rob Bratby personally. With 30 years’ experience spanning Oftel, senior in-house roles at network operators, and partnership at international law firms, you receive the analysis directly: not through a junior team. The firm uses AI tools to extend research capacity and accelerate document review, so senior judgment is applied to more of your matter, not less.
Unique perspective
Rob Bratby has sat on all three sides of the regulatory table: as a regulator at Oftel, as General Counsel at major operators, and as external counsel. That inside-out perspective informs every piece of advice. He currently holds fractional General Counsel appointments at TOTSCo, UKPI, TelXL, and Core.
Independent directory rankings
Our specialist expertise is recognised in major independent legal directories:
- Chambers & Partners: Rob Bratby is ranked as a band 2 lawyer in the UK Guide 2026 in the “Telecommunications” category: Chambers
- The Legal 500: Rob Bratby is listed as a “Leading Partner – Telecoms” in London (TMT – IT & Telecoms): The Legal 500
- Lexology: Rob Bratby is featured on Lexology’s expert profiles as a Global Elite Thought Leader for data: Lexology
Ready to discuss your matter?
What clients say about Bratby Law:
Insights
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Upper 6 GHz Spectrum: Ofcom’s High-Density Area Consultation
Ofcom’s consultation on how high-density areas are defined for Upper 6 GHz (6425-7125 MHz) subnational mobile licences closes on 6 July 2026. What MNOs and enterprise campus operators must know.
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Merchant interchange fees: CAT Trial 2 pass-on findings and the PSR cross-border cap judicial reviews
Competition Appeal Tribunal [2026] CAT 11 Trial 2 pass-on findings and the Administrative Court ruling in [2026] EWHC 64 (Admin) on the Payment Systems Regulator’s power under section 54 FSBRA 2013 to cap cross-border interchange fees.
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AI cyber threats and UK GDPR Article 32: controller duties after the DSIT open letter
The DSIT joint open letter on AI cyber threats, updated on 22 April 2026 alongside the Cyber Resilience Pledge, does not create new law. It sharpens how the ICO, Ofcom and FCA will judge existing Article 32 and sector security obligations.
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SM&CR reform and payment firms: scope before substance
HMT’s 22 April 2026 response to the SM&CR reform consultation, with FCA PS26/6 and PRA PS12/26, sets a package aimed at a 50% compliance burden reduction. The scope question comes first: pure APIs and EMIs sit outside SM&CR because the regime attaches to FSMA Part 4A authorised persons. Only dual-regulated firms are in scope.
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FCA Targeted Support and Data Protection: What the ICO and FCA Joint Statement Requires
FCA targeted support went live on 6 April 2026. The FCA/ICO joint statement of 11 December 2025 requires firms to get UK GDPR, PECR and Article 22 compliance in place before they send a single communication.
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Bank of England stablecoin cap: industry pushback and the dual-track UK regime
The FCA opened consultation on CP26/13: Cryptoasset Perimeter Guidance on 15 April 2026 (closes 3 June 2026), completing the FCA side of the UK’s dual-track stablecoin regime. On the Bank of England side, the £20,000 retail cap, £10 million business cap and 60:40 backing split in the November 2025 proposals face sustained industry pushback.
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Regulator and legislation links
- Ofcom – UK Communications Regulator
- Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) – Data Protection and Privacy
- DSIT – UK Government: Digital, Telecoms and Data Policy
- Communications Act 2003
- Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006
- Data Protection Act 2018
- UK GDPR
- EU GDPR
- EU AI Act
- PECR
- Online Safety Act 2023
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Payment Systems Regulator (PSR)
- Payment Services Regulations 2017
- Electronic Money Regulations 2011
- Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013