Specialist Co-counsel for Telecoms, Data and Payments matters
Chambers & Partners Band 2 Telecoms (UK Guide 2026)
Lexology Global Elite Thought Leader, Telecoms & Media
Lexology Thought Leader, Data Privacy & Protection
Bratby Law acts as specialist co-counsel to the corporate and private equity teams of large UK and US law firms on significant transactions with UK telecoms, payments or data-heavy targets. We work white-label, in the instructing firm’s name, or under our own name, as the deal requires. We also support other advisers on matters that need the same depth, as set out below.
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 give regulatory input on the elements that need specialist knowledge.
Who this is for
This model is for deal partners running a significant transaction for or against a UK telecoms, payments or data-heavy business who need the regulatory workstream covered by a specialist who can start within a day or two. We work inside your existing matter management, and your team keeps the client and the deal. High street and mid-size firms whose clients need UK regulatory advice usually refer the client to us, and we then advise the client directly.
How we work with your team
The instructing firm identifies the regulatory element requiring specialist support. A first call scopes the work and the fee only; we give advice once the engagement is agreed. We run a conflicts check, quote a fixed fee for the initial review of the regulatory position once we have the documents, and begin work within 24 to 48 hours. We attend relevant calls, draft or review regulatory sections of transaction documents, and produce briefing notes and regulatory analyses 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 assessments on whether a product or service falls within a regulated regime, drafting and mark-up of regulatory provisions in transaction documents, English-law advice, 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 English-law advice on the regulatory classification of this service. Can you provide it under our brand?
- Our client is under investigation by Ofcom. 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
To scope specialist co-counsel support on a deal, contact the firm. A first call scopes the work and the fee only.
Representative experience
Recent and representative matters include:
- Acted as UK telecoms regulatory co-counsel to an international law firm on a cross-border matter requiring English-law regulatory analysis, delivering to the instructing firm’s timetable.
- Provided specialist legal input to a telecoms consultancy on European cybersecurity regulation affecting high-risk vendors, supporting a policy study for an industry association.
- Provided English-law telecoms regulatory input to economic and strategy consultancies advising operators, investors and public bodies.
- Acted as English-law regulatory counsel to an EU firm advising on a telecoms operator restructuring, addressing 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.
Human judgement, AI accelerated
Our own AI system does the research and checking that a larger firm gives to junior lawyers. Rob Bratby decides the analysis and signs off every piece of written advice.
Faster
The system assembles your matter history and the relevant law before work starts. We typically reply within one working day.
Checked
Before written advice goes out, each citation is checked against the primary text, and anything that cannot be checked is marked as unverified.
Fees
Most work is on a fixed fee or retainer, and the system does research that a larger firm would give to associates.
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?
Corporate and private equity teams at large UK and US law firms, and in-house deal teams. The common factor is a significant matter that needs specialist UK telecoms, data protection or payments regulation input. High street and mid-size firms whose clients need that advice usually refer the client to us, and we then advise the client directly.
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. We set up co-counsel engagements to work on short 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 do not act where there is a conflict of interest.
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
- Lexology: Rob Bratby is recognised in the Lexology Index as a Global Elite Thought Leader for telecoms and media, and as a Thought Leader for data privacy and protection: Lexology
