Tom takes instructions in all the main areas of chambers’ practice. He has experience of all levels of the English court and tribunal system, as well as of domestic and international arbitration (including CAS), the European Court of Human Rights, the CJEU, and the courts of numerous British Overseas Territories and other jurisdictions such as the Dubai International Financial Centre. He acts regularly in cases of all types, from fast-paced injunctive proceedings to complex and multijurisdictional strategic litigation.

The main focus of Tom’s practice is public and commercial law, with a particular emphasis on media and entertainment. 

He has been recognised as a leading junior in Chambers UK and Legal 500 for several years for his expertise in information technology, intellectual property and media and entertainment. Recent comments include:

  • "He is a rising star."- Chambers UK, 2023
  • "Tom’s brain works faster than everybody else’s. He sees through complex problems to get to the heart of a point."- Legal 500, 2023
  • "He gets to the heart of things quickly, is very thorough and thoughtful, and comes up with solutions."- Chambers UK, 2022
  • "Tom is fantastically sharp and grasps complexity with ease."- Legal 500, 2021

Tom is Junior Counsel to the Crown (‘B’ Panel) and is a member of the Treasury Solicitor’s ‘C’ Panel. He also served as a member of the Council of the human rights group Liberty from 2010 until 2018.

Experience

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Public & Regulatory

Tom has acted in a number of important and high-profile public law disputes, for claimants and defendants. 

His clients have included campaign groups (such as Privacy International and the Good Law Project), industry groups (such as UK Music), and individuals. He also regularly advises government bodies and regulators, including in a non-litigation context. His clients have included Ofgem, the FCA, the Gambling Commission, the Environment Agency, and other UK public authorities. 

He has conducted training in public law and financial services law for the Dubai Financial Services Authority, for whom he has acted on several occasions. He also spent several months on secondment to Ofgem (the gas and electricity regulator) advising on issues of public and European law. 

Tom also has a particular interest in civil liberties and human rights: see the separate section below.

Cases

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Civil Liberties & Human Rights

As well as dealing with human rights law regularly in his other work (in particular his public law and media law work), Tom regularly acts in cases revolving around civil liberties, and has a strong academic and personal interest in the subject. 

Before starting pupillage Tom volunteered in the Advice and Information department of human rights group Liberty, advising members of the public on questions of human rights law. He also served four terms as a member of Liberty's Council from 2010 until 2018. 

Cases

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Commercial

Tom has experience of a range of large and complex commercial cases, often with a substantial international element. As well as working as part of large teams on multi-billion-dollar litigation, he regularly acts as sole counsel. 

He has particular experience of ex parte relief such as search orders and freezing orders.

Cases

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Media & Entertainment

Tom regularly acts for media law clients in a range of contexts, both advisory and litigious, and in various courts and arbitral tribunals. 

He is rapidly becoming one of the country’s leading barristers in the field of interactive entertainment, combining interest and expertise in the relevant law with a thorough awareness of the industry and its needs. He has advised and represented a range of publishers (such as Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Bandai Namco) and developers (such as Doublesix and Sumo Digital). 

He also has a great deal of experience in relation to music, film and TV, with his clients having included the BFI, the BBC, ITV, Rihanna, and members of One Direction. He is a particular authority on difficult issues of film copyright, having advised a number of clients on chain-of-title issues and copyright under predecessor legislation. 

Tom occasionally writes as a videogame historian. His article Videogames and the English Courts was published by Read-Only Memory in 2015. 

Cases

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Intellectual Property

In addition to his extensive work in connection with the media industries (see the separate section above for details), which regularly raises IP issues, Tom has expertise of various other aspects of intellectual property law.

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Sport

Tom has represented a wide range of sporting bodies, clubs and players in disputes ranging from commercial (such as contractual or IP disputes) to disciplinary issues. His clients have included the International Cricket Council, Ilie Nastase, the Football Association, and several major English football clubs. 

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EU Law

Tom has experience of a wide range of European law, particularly EU telecommunications law and competition law. He has been involved not only in EU law challenges in domestic courts but also in prospective challenges to acts of EU institutions.

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Financial Services & Banking

Tom has extensive experience of a wide range of financial services disputes, regularly acting both for and against regulatory bodies. 

He has also conducted training in public law and financial services law for the Dubai Financial Services Authority, for whom he has acted on several occasions

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Achievements

Education

BA Hons History (Cambridge): Starred First, top of year; Graduate Diploma in Law (College of Law): Distinction

Prizes & Scholarships

Essays

  • Winner, FSLA (Financial Services Lawyers Association) Essay Competition, June 2010
  • Winner, Andrew Lees Essay Prize (UK Environmental Law Association), March 2010 
  • Winner, Law Reform Essay Competition (Bar Council), November 2009
  • Finalist, Graham Turnbull Human Rights Essay Prize (Law Society), April 2009

Mooting

  • Winner, Inter-Inn Mooting Competition, June 2009 (for Lincoln’s Inn)
  • UK Semi-finalist, Jessup International Law Moot, February 2009 (for Lincoln’s Inn), and winner of special prize for being the only competitor to score a perfect 100

Scholarships

  • Lord Mansfield Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn), 2008
  • Hardwicke Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn), 2008
  • Makin-Foster Prize for History (Peterhouse), 2007
  • College Prize for History (Peterhouse), 2007

Tom worked as a researcher at Unlock Democracy (formerly Charter 88) in 2008, researching and preparing briefing papers on issues of human rights law and constitutional reform.


Tom is a former Trustee and Secretary of the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association.

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