Current Position

Dr Russell Richardson is an extremely experienced Intellectual Property lawyer with specific expertise in the Internet and Media/Communications sectors.

He is a senior lawyer at the Office of Communications, where he regularly advises on telecoms, Internet and broadcasting access issues as well as on consumer protection and media content.  

He has also advised on specific Internet issues such as the wholesale broadband market review, aspects of BT's next generation access and Ofcom's policy behind Voice over IP and net neutrality. He has managed various related multi-discipline litigation before the UK and EC courts. 

He has a special interest in Information law issues; managing the Ofcom legal team's input in this area. He is currently advising on a leading Environmental Information appeal before the High Court, which examines the public interest in disclosing a database.

Russell also advises Ofcom on intellectual property issues more generally - including copyright, trademark and database protection. 
Prior to undertaking his training at Lovells solicitors, he lectured in EC and Administrative law at Anglia Law School, Anglia Ruskin University, and published a Ph.D comparing the state liability laws in France, Germany, England & Wales and the European institutions. It looked specifically at the remedies available to an individual against State abuse of power when relying on EC law.

He also has experience working for the Crown Prosecution Service and the European Parliament as a stagiaire.

Memberships

From 2003 to 2006, he was a member of the Law Society's EU Committee, advising members on possible implications of new European legal initiatives.  He is also a member of various Government internal working groups (e.g. Information Law/Human Rights).

Professional Qualifications

• 1999 Solicitor - England and Wales

Degrees and Awards

• 1998 Ph.D, Anglia Ruskin University
• 1996 Diploma in Legal Practice Course, Nottingham Trent University
• 1992 Master of Laws, Nottingham University
• 1991 Bachelor of Laws, Anglia Ruskin University

Publications

Books

He helped organise a symposium at Anglia Ruskin University, which produced a book entitled "1996 Onwards: Lowering the Barriers Further".

He undertook extensive research for, and was credited in, "Principles of Administrative Law", Cavendish Publishing, published 1998.

Ph.D - 1998, a comparative examination of the protection of individual rights in the European Community leading towards the creation of a European Administrative System.

Articles

The Millennium Problem, Banking Technology, February 1998 (co-written with Heather Rowe).

Prisoners' right to free speech, consequences of the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights into the UK Legal System, Communications Law, Vol. 3 No 4 1998 August 1998.

Internet telephony, Computer Law & Security Report, October 1998, (co-written with Heather Rowe).

Guidance without Guidance - a European Revolution in Competition Fining Policy? Commission's new guidelines on fines, European Competition Law Review, Vol. 20, November 1999.

Collective Dominance: The Third Way?, European Competition Law Review, Vol. 22, October 2001, (co-written with Clive Gordon).

The New Electronic Communications Regime - Ofcom one year on, a missed opportunity or the foundations for success? Utilities Law, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005.

Interests

Newcastle United, reading.