Ofcom announce senior legal team

Ofcom have announced the appointment of the senior legal professionals who will support the new communications regulator in all competition law, regulatory law and general legal activities.
The Communications Act 2003 gives Ofcom a range of competition powers across the broadcasting, telecommunications and wireless communications sectors once the Act comes into effect, and Ofcom assumes its powers on December 29 2003. Those powers are to be exercised concurrently with the competition authorities. The new regulator will also have a range of content regulation obligations in broadcasting.
Ofcom has appointed three principal legal professionals to lead on the delivery of legal advice in relation to those duties.
Peter Susman QC has been appointed to the position of independent Standing Counsel. Susman was called to the Bar in 1966 and took silk in 1997. A practising barrister, he is a member of Henderson Chambers in the Temple. He also sits as a Recorder. He is one of Britain’s leading silks specialising in Information Technology contract disputes, as well as construction and engineering, professional negligence, property and other complex commercial litigation.
As independent Standing Counsel, Susman will be retained to represent Ofcom and to give legal advice to the Ofcom legal community, the Chairman, CEO and the Ofcom Board. He will not be a full-time member of the Ofcom senior management team and will continue to practise at the Bar as an independent barrister.
Polly Weitzman has been appointed to the position of Director of Competition Law at Ofcom. Weitzman is currently Head of the EC and UK Competition Law Department at Denton Wilde Sapte and will join Ofcom in early 2004.
A qualified solicitor, Weitzman’s practice work includes advising on cartels and restrictive arrangements, abuses of market power and behavioural issues as well as mergers and joint ventures. She has extensive specialist experience of competition law issues for businesses in the communications sector.
Weitzman will act as Head of Profession within Ofcom. A member of Ofcom’s Competition and Markets group and the Ofcom senior management team, Weitzman will lead a team of competition and regulatory lawyers drawn from the existing regulators as well as from outside the organisation.
Graham Howell has been appointed to the position of Secretary to the Corporation. Howell joins Ofcom from HMV Group, where he was Company Secretary and General Counsel. A qualified solicitor, Howell has also held senior positions within the Saatchi and Saatchi group and London Weekend Television.
As Secretary to the Corporation, Howell will manage Ofcom’s Secretariat, responsible for ensuring compliance with best-practice in corporate governance and administrative law and the management of general litigation.
Howell will lead a team of lawyers drawn from the existing regulators responsible for general legal matters, including matters arising from content issues and from broadcaster licences. The team will also manage general legal queries as well as the above governance and procedural responsibilities.
Ofcom Chief Executive Stephen Carter said: “Legal strength, depth and breadth will be critical to the success of Ofcom. Polly, Graham and Peter bring real capability to the front-line of competition regulation.”
(GB)