Ed Roper

ED ROPER advises on commercial technology transactions and digital regulation, with a practice spanning artificial intelligence, intellectual property, information technology, and data privacy. He acts for clients across the technology, media and telecommunications, consumer products, retail, and life sciences sectors.

Ed structures and negotiates complex technology and commercial agreements, as well as advising on the IP and IT aspects of M&A, carve-outs, and other corporate transactions, including separation and transitional services arrangements. He has particular experience in UK and EU consumer protection and technology regulation, advising on compliance, investigations, and enforcement, as well as the legal and regulatory issues arising from business-to-consumer transactions, AI, and other emerging technologies.

Ed brings an in-house perspective from a 12-month secondment in 2018 to the UK legal team of a leading global technology company.

Ed has been recognized as an “Associate to Watch” for London (Firms) Information Technology & Outsourcing by Chambers UK (2026 – 2027). Clients have described him as “excellent with all things technology, IP, and commercial,” “efficient and effective,” and "detail-oriented without losing the larger commercial picture" (2027). Ed also co-authored the “UK Law and Practice” chapter in the Chambers AI & Intellectual Property 2026 Global Practice Guide.

Recent examples of Ed’s work include advising:

• Acteon in relation to IT aspects of the sale of Menck to Cadeler A/S, a leading offshore wind installation contractor.
• Barings LLC, a leading global asset manager, in relation to the intellectual property and technology transactions aspects of the launch of Pinion Insurance and its preferred equity commitment of up to US$180 million.
• GE HealthCare on data privacy aspects in relation to its US$2.3 billion acquisition of Intelerad.
• Pepper Advantage, a leading international credit management and technology firm backed by J.C. Flowers & Co., on its pending acquisition of Computer Loan Services.
• Evri, a portfolio company of funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc., on IP transactions matters in its merger with DHL eCommerce, the e-commerce logistics specialist of DHL Group.
• A U.S. technology giant on various significant cloud and strategic transactions, including on a US$2.8 billion cloud deal and strategic partnership over a 10-year period for next-generation data and analytics with a major financial exchange.
• A leading global technology company on various legal topics (including commercial and regulatory matters) regarding its artificial intelligence offerings, including assisting with customer engagements on the development and deployment of generative AI and large language model capabilities.
• An international technology giant on drafting and negotiating various strategic, commercial transactions.
• A major broadcaster and telecommunications company on its renewal and extension of an IP license with a satellite broadcasting technology provider.
• Various companies in different sectors, including online platforms and a major international e-commerce marketplace, on their terms and conditions with consumers and compliance with consumer law and other digital regulations.
• A partnership of two international media companies on the consumer law aspects relating to their launch of a new subscription video-on-demand streaming service in over 20 countries across Europe.
• A U.S. technology giant on an investigation brought by the Competition and Markets Authority into its online console gaming subscription business.
• Several companies in relation to various consumer protection law investigations brought by the Competition and Markets Authority.
• An e-commerce business on an investigation brought by the European Union’s Consumer Protection Cooperation Network.
• A major pharmaceutical company on advertising compliance.
• A FTSE 100 consumer products company on website and digital accessibility laws across various countries globally.
• A digital infrastructure provider on a strategic agreement with an international telecommunications company.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.