2017

I retired from Ofcom in December 2016 and launched my broadcasting and video-on-demand compliance consultancy in early 2017.

In addition to my personal compliance consultancy, in the autumn of 2017 I was invited by the leading West End media law firm of Simons Muirhead and Burton to advise their clients as a Legal Consultant.

Head of compliance and complaints

“Trevor has a unique combination of editorial, regulatory and legal experience, which he communicates with complete lucidity and common sense.” ~ Head of Compliance and Complaints, major UK public service broadcaster

Testimonial Two

“Trevor’s television, radio, and video-on-demand expertise coupled with his deep understanding of relevant industry rules and laws greatly aided our organization’s regulatory response.” ~ Business Development Director, International Broadcaster

Testimonial One

“Trevor’s years of experience at Ofcom and as a lawyer mean that he is able to anticipate how a regulator will assess and react to a situation, and therefore help us achieve our objectives. We recommend his consultancy services very highly.”~ COO, Major International Broadcaster.

2004–2016

When Ofcom was set up, I joined it in 2004 as Director of Broadcasting and Spectrum Law. Full details of my subsequent career and experience at Ofcom in managing all types of standards complaints, investigations, sanctions and issues are below.

  • Head of Harm Offence and Fairness Standards

    November 2010 – December 2016 (6 years 2 months) London, United Kingdom

    I headed the teams of Standards Executives dealing with Ofcom investigations into compliance with Sections One to Eight of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. These cover Protection of Children, Harm and Offence, Crime, Religion, Due Impartiality, Elections, and Fairness and Privacy.During this period I:

    • regularly dealt at all levels with Ofcom’s TV and radio stakeholders;
    • managed the Ofcom project looking into possibility of Daytime PIN Protection (Call for Inputs, 2016);
    • managed Ofcom research projects into Violence on TV (published July 2014); and Offensive Language on TV and Radio (published September 2016);
    • led training sessions for and gave presentations to UK broadcasters and stakeholders on a wide variety of subjects from due impartiality to the portrayal of suicide in the media;
    • led training sessions for and gave presentations to regulators abroad (eg French CSA, EPRA) on Ofcom’s work and role, on issues from hate speech to mental health as portrayed in the media.
  • Senior Standards Manager

    November 2006 – November 2010 (4 years 1 month) London, United Kingdom

    Managed Ofcom investigations across the whole of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, including Sections Nine and Ten (Commercial References and Sponsorship).In addition to this work, I led Ofcom’s extensive and complex negotiations with stakeholders which culminated in: the UK Government’s introduction of Regulations in December 2009 governing the content of UK-based On-Demand Programme Services; and Ofcom’s designation of the Association for Television On Demand (ATVOD) in 2010 as “co-regulator” to regulate UK-based On-Demand Programme Services.

    I also managed the project which led to Ofcom’s report to the DCMS, “Sexually Explicit Material and Video On Demand Services”, September 2011.This in turn contributed to the UK Government’s decision to tighten up regulation of pornography in UK-based VOD services.

  • Director, Broadcasting and Spectrum Law

    January 2004 – November 2006 (2 years 11 months) London, United Kingdom

    One of Ofcom’s first two legal directors, leading on broadcasting and spectrum law issues.During this time, I led Ofcom’s legal work:

    • culminating in Ofcom’s successful delegation in 2005 of Ofcom’s statutory powers to regulate broadcast advertising to the Advertising Standards Authority;
    • on the successful move to digital switchover, including the writing of all the main broadcasters’ digital replacement television licences, and dealing with related matters; and
    • advising Ofcom on its contribution to the UK’s negotiations which led to the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (2010).

2002–2004

Woman watching sport on tv
In 2002 I joined the UK Independent Television Commission as Senior Counsel to head their legal department. While there my most high profile and successful project was leading the legal work to relaunch Freeview after the collapse of ITV Digital.

1992–2002

Broadcasting Compliance Regulations
In 1992 I decided to train as a solicitor. I was one of the oldest trainees ever taken on by renowned London firm Slaughter and May, and practised in their Dispute Resolution department from 1997 to 2000 before being recruited by the leading US firm of Debevoise & Plimpton.

1979-1992

Breakfast News
I worked as a senior producer and reporter for BBC news and current affairs for 13 years before becoming a lawyer. I joined the BBC as a News Trainee in 1979, and started first as producer of Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme. I then moved to television and worked on a variety of output from ‘Nationwide’ and ‘Newsnight ‘to ‘Panorama’, and helped set up and edit BBC Television’s ‘Breakfast News’.