Our Telecoms team acts exclusively for landowners against operators and has advised on telecoms issues for over 20 years. Our clients include retailers, social housing providers, housebuilders, commercial property developers, communications businesses and commercial landlords.
The team is progressive and proactive, carrying out a variety of complex and often cutting edge work. Our reputation is for providing bullish and commercial advice and we have the necessary expertise to stand up to the operators to achieve a better outcome for our clients.
Our expertise in advising landowners
We are experienced in:
- Advising on the implications of the Electronic Communications Code and advising on tactics generally in dealing with operators
- Acting in the Tribunal in respect of Code rights
- Negotiating the terms of code agreements of new and existing sites
- Advising on the ability of operators to upgrade existing equipment
- Removing telecoms masts, serving the appropriate notices and obtaining vacant possession
- Exercising “lift and shifts” to force operators to re-locate temporarily
- Advising on approaches made by operators for multi-skilled visits
- Mast planning appeals
- Trespass and dilapidations claims
- Wayleaves and other easements for the installation of fibre optic cabling/broadband
- Data protection, voice links, data security issues and GDPR
- The commercial and contractual side of information technology including drafting commercial IT agreements, licensing and joint ventures
Examples of our recent work
- Acting for landowners in successfully removing several code protected operators from a prime Central London site which enabled a proposed development to proceed.
- Successfully negotiating and agreeing terms for a new greenfield site within 14 days of instruction, avoiding the substantial costs of a tribunal hearing.
- Acting for the landowner in some of the leading cases including:
- CTIL -v- L&Q [2020] – one of the leading and widely reported cases which established a value of circa £5,000pa for rooftop sites.
- EE Limited and H3G Limited -v- L&Q [2019]
- CTIL -v- TGP and Sheffield City Council [2018]
- Acting in one of the few reported cases under the old code PG Lewins Limited -v- H3G and EE Ltd (2018). This concerned a unique and untested point of law. We successfully argued on behalf of our landowner client that the Code is no defence to a claim for breach of contract.
Why choose Clarke Willmott for telecoms law
Proven track record in telecoms
We are one of the few law firms who act solely for landowners. We have been acting for landowners on telecoms issues for over 20 years and act against all the major operators. Our team has an unrivalled knowledge of telecoms law and we have a proven track record in achieving positive outcomes for our clients.
Cutting edge advice
We took an active role in the government’s consultation regarding the new Electronic Communications Code which came into force in December 2017, and are continuously at the forefront of developments in this area.
Experienced at working with specialist telecoms agencies
The team regularly work with specialist telecoms agents and advise a number of organisations representing landowners. We have produced new Code compliant Heads of Terms for use by some of those agents in addition to precedent Code agreements and wayleaves.
Pragmatic and commercial advice at value-for-money prices
We understand how our advice pans out in the real world and our solicitors will always take a commercial approach to your matter, recommending the best course of action wherever appropriate. Fee transparency is important to us and we will provide you with a quote upfront so you know how much the work will cost and we will keep you informed throughout.
What they say about us
“Deep dive telecoms knowledge.” Legal 500 2026
“The team is well-resourced with market-leading expert knowledge, which allows them to easily identify and address key issues. They stand out against other firms by virtue of this efficiency.” Legal 500 2026
“The telecoms team at Clarke Willmott is second to none. They have an impressive, in-depth knowledge of their subject and provide a first class service in a timely and efficient manner that addresses all aspects of the matter in question.” Legal 500 2026
“I feel Clarke Willmott excels at client management, in an area such as telecoms where the code is complex, and the operators are, at times, quite commercially and legally aggressive; there is an emphasis on our legal team to keep us abreast which Clarke Willmott LLP do excellently.” Legal 500 2026
Contact a telecoms solicitor
If you would like to find out more about our Telecoms team can support your organisation, please contact the head of our telecoms team Kary Withers directly, call us on 0800 652 8205 or get in touch online.
