Philip specialises in technology disputes and cyber security incident response. His background as an insurance lawyer means that he also has extensive experience advising on policy coverage issues.
His areas of focus include acting in technology and product liability disputes, particularly software implementation failures. He also advises on legal and practical issues arising from cyber incidents, having acted as a “breach coach” in more than 50 incidents to date. His expertise includes providing regulatory advice encompassing data protection (including GDPR), FCA, SRA and PCI DSS and representing clients in follow-on liability claims. Philip also advises insurance companies and policyholders on complex coverage issues.
At a previous firm, Philip co-founded a multi-award-winning cyber incident response service.
Philip is also a Solicitor Advocate.
- Technology disputes
- Cyber security incidents
- Insurance and reinsurance
- Dispute resolution
Technology Disputes
- Defended a global ICT provider against a contract termination and damages claim by a Tier 1 lead contractor arising from provision of a data solution
- Defended claims of breach of contract and negligence against an ERP software supplier arising from a failed systems implementation in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC)
- Defended claims in the TCC that a cyber security consultancy provided incorrect technical and PCI compliance advice following a data security breach
- Defended the providers of an enterprise ERP system against multi-million-pound claims for breach of contract and negligence arising from a failed implementation
- Defended the providers of a website and online marketing platform against TCC litigation alleging breach of contract and negligence in the provision of an ecommerce system
Cyber Incident Response
- Advised a financial services company in relation to compliance, notification and civil and criminal liability issues arising from the discovery of APT infecting systems
- Advised a large law firm in relation to issues arising from hacking occasioning loss of client data and subsequent cyber extortion attempts
- Advised a well-known ecommerce brand in relation to PCI investigation and threatened fine following large data breach
- Advised an accountancy firm in relation to regulatory and notification issues arising from a large data loss occasioned by an Office 365 account hijack
- Advised a not-for-profit organisation in relation to regulatory and liability issues, in particular threatened class action, following a significant data breach
Insurance Coverage
- Advised the London market reinsurers of an international mining company in relation to coverage issues arising in relation to collective actions
- Advised the insurers of a large publishing house in relation to attachment and allocation issues arising from multiple individual and class action lawsuits alleging breach of copyright
- Acted on behalf of London market underwriters in a dispute with a large insurer regarding the aggregation of multiple US class actions arising from their data handling practices
- Acted in a policy avoidance dispute relating to the insured's knowledge of a probable claim prior to policy inception
- Defended a property insurer against a Commercial Court claim for rectification of property policy arising from alleged omission of contingent business interruption cover
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Founded a leading cyber incident response service which won both the Lawyer Award for Client Service Innovation and the Insurance Day Award for Advisor of the Year in 2017.
Listed in the Technology Disputes section of Legal 500.
| 2018 | Keystone Law | Consultant Solicitor |
| 2007 - 2018 | Reynolds Porter Chamberlain | Senior Associate, Legal Director |
| 2002 - 2007 | Holman Fenwick & Willan | Solicitor |
| 1999 - 2002 | Hogan Lovells | Trainee Solicitor then Solicitor |
| 2001 | Qualified as a Solicitor |