Bratby Law provides co-counsel support to UK and international law firms, consultancies and advisory practices that need specialist telecoms, data protection, payments regulation or digital infrastructure expertise on a matter. We supply senior-level legal input where English-law regulatory analysis or sector-specific interpretation is required.

We integrate directly into cross-border advisory teams on transactions, investigations, policy projects, market studies and legislative reform. The instructing firm retains conduct of the matter. We deliver focused regulatory input on the elements that require specialist knowledge.

Who this is for

Your firm is running a transaction or advisory mandate that needs English-law telecoms, data protection or payments regulation input, but hiring a full-service regulatory practice is not the right fit? Specialist co-counsel provides the sector-specific expertise your team needs, integrated into your existing matter management.

How we work with your team

Co-counsel engagement follows a consistent process. The instructing firm identifies the regulatory element requiring specialist support. We run a conflicts check, agree scope and fee structure, and begin work within 24 to 48 hours. We attend relevant calls, draft or review regulatory sections of transaction documents, and produce opinions or briefing notes as required. We report to the lead partner or general counsel and align our work with the overall matter timetable.

Engagements operate on either a white-label or attributed basis. In white-label matters we produce deliverables using the instructing firm’s templates, terminology and branding. In attributed engagements we appear as named specialist co-counsel. Both models are standard.

What we deliver

Typical deliverables from co-counsel engagements include regulatory due diligence reports for transactions, perimeter opinions on whether a product or service falls within a regulated regime, drafting and mark-up of regulatory provisions in transaction documents, English-law opinion letters, consultation responses, and sector briefing notes for deal teams or investment committees.

We also provide oral advice in deal calls and steering group meetings, regulatory input on shareholder agreements and governance frameworks, and post-completion support where regulatory conditions or undertakings require monitoring.

What clients ask

• Does this target hold the right authorisations under the Communications Act 2003 or the Payment Services Regulations 2017?
• What regulatory consents or notifications are needed to complete this acquisition?
• How should the regulatory provisions in the SPA be drafted to allocate risk correctly?
• We need an English-law opinion on the regulatory classification of this service. Can you provide one under our brand?
• Our client faces an Ofcom investigation. Can you advise on the regulatory aspects while we handle the litigation?

Related practice areas

• Telecoms Regulation
• Data Protection
• Payments Regulation
• Transactions
• Specialist UK telecoms, data protection and payments regulation lawyers

Other client engagement models

• Fractional General Counsel
• Direct Legal Advice

Representative experience

Recent and representative matters include:

• Acted as co-counsel to a US law firm on the UK telecoms regulatory aspects of a cross-border fibre network acquisition, delivering the regulatory workstream within the lead advisor’s transaction timetable.
• Provided specialist UK GDPR input to a City firm on a data centre M&A transaction, identifying international transfer risks that the lead advisor incorporated into the SPA warranty and indemnity schedule.
• Supported an international law firm on UK payments regulatory analysis for a multi-jurisdictional fintech investment, producing the FCA authorisation analysis within the investor’s DD timeline.
• Acted as English-law regulatory counsel to an EU firm advising on a telecoms operator restructuring, addressing SMP obligations and interconnection agreements that required UK-specific regulatory expertise.
• Provided specialist data protection advice to a commercial firm on the regulatory aspects of a health-data platform transaction, enabling the deal to proceed with a compliant data-sharing structure.

Frequently asked questions

How does co-counsel engagement work in practice?

We join your team at the point specialist input is needed. You retain conduct of the matter. We attend relevant calls, draft or review regulatory sections of transaction documents, and deliver standalone regulatory deliverables to your timetable and format.

Who instructs Bratby Law for co-counsel support?

Law firms (from Magic Circle to mid-market), in-house legal teams, consultancies and PE houses. The common factor is a matter requiring specialist telecoms, data protection or payments regulation input that the instructing team does not hold in-house.

Can you work under our brand?

Yes. In white-label engagements we produce deliverables using your templates, terminology and branding. In attributed engagements we appear as named specialist co-counsel. Both models are standard.

How quickly can you mobilise?

We typically begin work within 24 to 48 hours of instruction. Co-counsel engagements we structure for rapid deployment on compressed deal timetables.

How is confidentiality managed?

We are SRA-regulated (number 801942) and operate under full professional duties of confidentiality. We run conflicts checks before accepting any instruction and maintain information barriers where required.

How does co-counsel differ from direct legal advice?

In a co-counsel engagement, another firm or in-house team leads the matter and we provide specialist input. In a direct legal advice engagement, we act as lead advisor to the client. See Direct Legal Advice for the alternative model.

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