Regulation & investigations

If you interact in any way with the regulated sector, public authorities, the Government or the legislature, you will benefit from our extensive experience in this area of the law.

Our lawyers advise businesses operating in regulated industries including broadcasting, advertising, consumer protection, financial services, telecoms and charities, drawing on the firm’s strengths in these sectors to provide advice that is both legally and commercially astute.

We can provide pre-emptive advice on how to achieve compliance, and best-practice within specific sectors. Should regulatory action become unavoidable, we are experienced in dealing with regulators to secure the best possible outcome. Several of our lawyers have held senior positions at regulatory bodies in their previous roles, giving them a unique insight into their inner workings.

In cases where there are concurrent regulatory investigations in several countries, we can help to co-ordinate responses in each jurisdiction.

We also offer comprehensive advice to unregulated companies who come into contact with the Government or regulators on a specific project such as funding applications, planning permission, licences or competitive tendering.

We can provide specialist advice on:

• Judicial review
• Inquiries and Parliamentary Select Committees
• Freedom of information and data protection
• Investigations by Trading Standards and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
• Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) investigations, adjudications and independent reviews
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) complaints and investigations
• Product labelling
• Practical advice on achieving regulatory compliance and industry best practice

Leveson inquiry

We advised a company called to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.

Football club

We acted for a football club in relation to an investigation by the FA.

Aaron Cook

We acted for Aaron Cook in his high profile dispute with British Taekwondo over its selection process for the London 2012 Olympic games.

United Nations Human Rights Council

We represented three businessmen in their complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) complaints and the regulation of advertising 

We act for numerous clients in relation to complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority over their advertising, and more generally in relation to advertising regulation both here and overseas.

Health and nutritional claims in advertising

We advised a well-known drinks brand on the regulatory implications of making borderline health and nutritional claims in its advertising.

Sensitive online content and age-gating

We advised several content production companies and platforms on the risks of hosting age-sensitive content in a location where it may be accessed by minors, and the potential implications of the Online Harms regime.

Telecoms operator

We advised a telecoms operator in relation to its rights and obligations on receipt of police requests for information.

‘Interested Parties’

We have advised interested parties on the conduct and their participation in high profile proceedings worldwide, such as government inquiries, Parliamentary Select Committees and Inquests.

Telecoms operator

We represented a telecoms operator in a regulatory challenge to a taxation decision by HMRC, including pursuing a reference to the European Court of Justice.

Ofcom complaints

We acted for a number of applicants who have successfully pursued fairness complaints to Ofcom under the Broadcasting Code.

Outer space regulation

We successfully sought the Government’s adoption of changes we suggested to outer space regulation.

Broadcasting licences

We advised a non-EU national broadcaster on maintaining broadcasting licences in Europe.

Public service broadcasting

We advised a national broadcaster on the European framework for public service broadcasting.

AVMS Directive

We advised on a successful appeal to Ofcom against newspaper websites being regulated under the AVMS Directive.