Christopher Bates

Chris Bates advises primarily on high-value, complex technology and commercial contracts which have a transformative impact on his clients' businesses.

Chris has extensive experience in advising on technology related matters of all varieties, both as stand-alone transactions and as specific aspects of wider arrangements and is increasingly active in facilitating long term and strategic partnerships as part of his clients' digital transformation agendas. He is a trusted adviser to key clients of the firm on their most significant commercial and technology-based mandates.

Chris operates across numerous sectors, including financial services, governments, nuclear technology, automotive and sport. He also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to working on M&A transactions in the technology sector, spearheading the work on the complex separation and technology aspects of those deals, and on the sourcing of business-critical IT infrastructure and related technology.

Chris also advises extensively in the defense and security sector, representing key defense industry players in high value defense procurements with the UK Ministry of Defense. He is particularly sought after for his expertise in UK Single Source Contracting, having regularly advised Tier 1 defense contractors on the area since the introduction of the Defense Reform Act and Single Source Contract Regulations in 2014.

Chris is recognized by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as one of the top technology and sourcing lawyers in the country, and is one of only a handful of lawyers to be inducted into Legal 500's Hall of Fame for IT.