Legal director Ravi Naik is an internationally recognised solicitor, with a pioneering practice in technological innovation. He is described as ‘the best of the best solicitors to work with on bleeding edge tech and data issues’ and ‘ahead of the curve, an innovative thinker and a joy to work with’.

Advisory work

Ravi is the first-choice advisor to a range of actors including multinational and prominent tech companies, government agencies, national and international unions, foundations, national and international advocacy organisations, policy makers and individuals. Ravi is also instructed by regulatory authorities, including the Information Commissioner’s Office. Ravi is also often sought by those in the creative industry, such as musicians, authors and artists, relating to emerging technology.

That breadth of clients has meant Ravi has provided advice in diverse contexts including novel advertising technology, smart city developments, decentralised technologies (blockchain) and the development of artificial intelligence models.

Litigation

Ravi has a prominent litigation practice including agenda-setting cases:

1. Acting for Professor David Carroll in his cases against Cambridge Analytica.
2. Representing Tanya O’Carroll in her claim against Meta (Facebook), which will change the future of online advertising.
3. Representing the claimant in RTM v Bonne Terre, a key precedent on data protection principles, how the online gambling industry uses data and technology, and the wider AdTech system.
4. Acting on a range of cases relating to the online advertising technology industry, including the cases leading to CJEU decisions.

Through his work Ravi has become recognised as a leading expert on the GDPR, Data Protection Act, PECR and related issues such as data breaches, compensation claims, ICO actions, subject access requests, “right to be forgotten” requests and compliance analysis of developing technology. He is also known for administrative and public law challenges, as well as regulatory matters. Ravi has litigated at every level, including the Supreme Court and European Courts.

Press coverage

Media coverage regularly follows, in national and international press, including the New York Times, the BBC, the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Guardian, Politico and others. Ravi has also appeared in feature length documentaries, including the Great Hack and Coded Bias on Netflix. Ravi is often sought for commentary on these fast-developing areas of law, including commissions for comment pieces by the Guardian and Slate. Ravi has also had academic work published by Oxford University and Harvard.

Other appointments

Ravi is currently an Honorary Professor of Practice at UCL Laws, which followed an extended period as a Visiting Fellow at Oxford Internet Institute.

Ravi has won numerous awards and distinctions, including an honorary doctorate and the Law Society’s prestigious Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award.

Ravi also holds several advisory positions, such as recent memberships of the Law Society Human Rights Committee, the Aspen Digital Working Group, a BIICL commission and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom. 

Ravi’s CV can be found here.