Devereux has been involved in telecommunications law for many years, having maintained a strong connection with, amongst other major communications providers, BT plc. For example, a number of our barristers and/or their cases feature in BT’s Book on 25 years of telecommunications litigation. Members of Chambers practising in this area have an extensive overview of telecommunications law and a detailed technical understanding of the issues involved.
- "Devereux is a highly respected chambers whose barristers handle a broad variety of telecommunications cases, including commercial as well as competition and regulatory law matters. Its members demonstrate notable expertise in disputes concerning the new Electronic Communications Code and frequently represent clients before the Upper Tribunal. This expertise extends to acting for clients from the real estate sector on issues arising as a result of the transition between the old and the new Electronic Communications Codes. Barristers at the set are also active in cases relating to Artificial Inflation of Traffic and its contractual consequences. The set's varied client base includes both UK-based and overseas mobile service providers, as well as infrastructure service companies."– Chambers UK 2025
- “Devereux members’ have accumulated a broad range of experience in telecoms work, encompassing commercial disputes involving telecoms companies, Electronic Communications Code issues concerning IT disputes and regulatory appeals. Graham Read KC acted for BT in its dispute against TalkTalk for alleged non-payment of services for electronic communication services, with the defendant similarly counterclaiming regarding service level guarantee payments by Openreach.” – Legal 500 2025 Editorial Commentary
- "Devereux is a go-to set for telecoms work" - Legal 500 2023
- "Members demonstrate notable expertise in disputes concerning the new Electronic Communications Code, and frequently represent clients before the Upper Tribunal. This expertise extends to acting for clients from the real estate sector in issues arising as a result of the transition between the old and the new Electronic Communications Code." - Chambers UK 2022
- “Acting in both regulatory and non-regulatory matters, the set at Devereux represents telecommunications providers through disputes, IT cases, ECC issues, and regulatory appeals." - Legal 500 2022
- "A highly respected set that handles a broad variety of telecommunications cases, including commercial as well as competition and regulatory law matters." - Chambers UK 2021
- “'Leading telecoms set' Devereux fields notable expertise across regulatory and non-regulatory telecoms work, and has set itself out as a key name for Electronic Communications Code cases." - Legal 500 2021
- "The set is a strong choice for telecoms companies requiring representation in commercial litigation." - Chambers UK 2020
- "Attracting praise for delivering ‘concise, easy to understand and sensible advice’, the ‘excellent team’ at Devereux has been highlighted by clients as the ‘first choice for work relating to the new Telecoms Code’". - Legal 500 2020
This expertise has been called upon by a wide range of clients in the sector, including most of the Mobile Network Operators, other Fixed Network Operators, overseas telecoms companies, IT entities and landowners with telecoms apparatus on their sites. Because of the integrated nature of the sector, great care is always taken to prevent any possible potential conflicts of interest.
Chambers has over the years had extensive involvement in some of the leading telecommunications cases, for example Mercury Communications v Director General of Telecommunications (regulatory powers), BT v Northumbria Water (wayleaves), Toneylogo v BT (AIT) , the Termination Rates Determination (Dispute Resolution), Private Partial Circuits cost orientation (breach of SMP obligations) and 080 numbers charging (interface of regulatory and private law rights), involving hearings in the High Court, the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
Our work includes acting for BT plc and other telecoms companies not only in Court-based litigation and arbitrations, but also contract drafting, advisory work and acting as Neutral Evaluators in telecommunications disputes. For example, members of Chambers have experience in:
- Telecommunications contract disputes
- Regulatory issues and competition law, including SMP and other conditions and Ofcom’s Dispute resolution powers.
- Mobile telephone network communications
- Technical communications issues including multimedia and computer-related problems
- Tariff charging cases
- Interconnection agreements
- Artificial Inflation of Traffic (AIT)
- Dial through fraud
- The Proceeds of Crime Act in the telecommunications context
- Wayleave disputes relating to telecommunications equipment and the Electronic Communications Code
- New Street Works Code and Traffic Management Act issues
- Overseas regulatory appeals
Devereux also has extensive involvement in other types of information technology cases. Members of Chambers have acted in a wide range of computer related disputes. These range from IT roll out cases to complex system disputes featuring a wide range of LAN and WAN systems and includes litigation over major government projects such as the MOD mail box project and the NHS “spine” contract. Various members are also experienced in IP issues in software disputes.
