BGL Group is a rapidly-growing financial services group with specialisms in Insurance, Digital Brands and Legal Services. We have 10 businesses in our portfolio including comparethemarket.com, Beagle Street, Budget, Minster Law, dialdirect, HoyHoy and LesFurets.
About me: Senior technology and commercial lawyer with strong business acumen, and a proven track record in complex transactions, being a trusted adviser and offering strategic leadership on corporate, commercial, IPR, digital media, financial services, insurance, consumer protection, data privacy, and risk (including governance and ethics) issues. A culturally-aware, articulate, team-player described by The Lawyer magazine as “a smashing brand ambassador for YouView.”
Qualified as a solicitor in 1990.
Over 13 years' people management & senior leadership experience including career management, performance reviews, career guidance, and personal development.
Experience of setting and implementing commercial policy and strategy, liaising with executive board and membership of senior leadership teams.
Supervised and managed legal teams in USA, UK, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, & Germany. Lived and worked in UK, USA, & Italy.
Regulatory and Lobbying experience: including FCA, CMA, ASA, CEOP, Home Office, HSE, ICO, Intellect, ISPA, Lynx, NMO, NTAC, Ofcom and Ofgem (both tactically to deal with issues and strategically to lobby on new legislation and proposals.
Main industries: Financial services, Insurance, Technology, IT, Advertising & Outsourcing.
Data Privacy, Security, Media & IPR & Litigation experience.
M&A, Joint Venture experience and substantial experience of corporate governance, compliance, and ethics.
Established track record for growing client base in private practice.
Associate Director - Head of Legal @ Head of Legal: the most senior legal position in the business, with responsibility for the overall direction, control and leadership of all legal advice and transactions. From September 2014 to Present (1 year 2 months) Peterborough, United KingdomHead of Legal & Company Secretary @ YouView is a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, C4, C5, Arqiva, TalkTalk & BT and its innovative hybrid set-top-box allows access to broadcast, on-demand and catch-up TV. I was part of senior management team with regular contact with shareholders CEOs and Board and negotiated a new joint venture and shareholders agreemeent between the parties. My role covered regulatory, corporate, business development / affairs and commercial issues. From October 2012 to September 2014 (2 years) London, United KingdomAssistant General Counsel @ Broad executive commercial role managing B2B and relationships with all suppliers. Managed 15 lawyers dealing with Virgin Media’s network and technology infrastructure including mobile and home telephony, strategic outsourcing, and joint ventures.
Substantial B2B experience including managed and outsourced networks, telephony and IT services to business customers in the private and public sectors. Responsible for commercial policy and strategy, liaising with senior management.
Board level engagement on strategic contracts, ethics and policy issues including security, data privacy, net neutrality, and other regulatory issues.
External lobbying and engagement with relevant NGOs, regulators, and government on network security, anti-fraud investigations and consumer related issues From October 2009 to October 2012 (3 years 1 month) London & HookSenior Counsel @ Managed 23 lawyers and contract professionals in EMEA; responsible for managed services, strategic & business process outsourcing, and complex commercial engagements involving multi-jurisdictions and regulatory issues.
From 2006 - 2008 assigned to IBM’s New York HQ to manage international outsourcing and responsible for financial services sector across the USA.
Substantial experience of IT including outsourcing, drafting software & hardware procurement, licensing, and facilities management agreements and dealing with litigation and disputes regarding contracts and protection of rights and information.
Gained multi-jurisdictional experience in regulated sectors - financial services, public, and utilities.
Advised on troubled projects, customer disputes, and litigation.
Assisted the European General Counsel to manage the legal team and was part of the Senior Legal Management Team helping to set internal strategy and policy across EMEA. Appointed and managed external counsel and responsible for legal budget. From October 2002 to November 2009 (7 years 2 months) London & New YorkSenior Legal Adviser @ Head of the legal function in the largest division heading a team of 10 lawyers advising on outsourcing, integration, software, technology and IP licensing, facilities management, business process, helpdesk and desktop support arrangements in public sector and for private enterprises.
Liaised with and advised senior management, assisted in the shaping of business activities and policy, explained the meaning and effect of legal documents and advised on legal procedures.
Identified training requirements, prepared, and presented courses internally.
Ran a number of major outsourcing and PFI negotiations and competition and commercial disputes.
Advised on corporate responsibility, public relations, and other commercial transactions.
Management responsibilities included career management including carrying out performance reviews, career guidance, managing workflow, reporting on activities to management, and managing the legal budget.
Appointed and managed external counsel where required From May 2000 to October 2002 (2 years 6 months) London & StainesHead of IT & Telecoms @ From January 1999 to April 2000 (1 year 4 months) London & GuildfordAssociate Solicitor @ From July 1997 to December 1998 (1 year 6 months) London, United KingdomSenior Assistant @ From July 1995 to July 1997 (2 years 1 month) London, United KingdomSolicitor @ From July 1991 to June 1995 (4 years) London
Law Society Finals, Law Finals @ University of Northumbria at Newcastle From 1987 to 1988 Bachelor of Arts (BA), Law & Politics @ Queen Mary, U. of London From 1984 to 1987 Toni Vitale is skilled in: Intellectual Property, Corporate Governance, Outsourcing, Data Privacy, Joint Ventures, Mergers, Contract Negotiation, Governance, Employment Law, Corporate Law, Restructuring, Competition Law, IT law, Commercial Litigation, Legal Advice, Privacy Law, Software Licensing, Legal Compliance, Personal Data Protection, Contract Law, Trademarks, Copyright Law, Negotiation, Telecommunications, IT Outsourcing, Strategy, Entertainment Law, Legal Issues, Consumer Law, Trade Secrets, Information Technology, Management, Company Secretarial Work, Change Management, FCPA, Business Strategy, Legal Assistance, Employment Contracts, Patents, Cyberlaw, International Law, IP, Executive Management, Strategic Partnerships, Civil Litigation, Acquisitions, Alternative Dispute..., Cross-border..., Arbitration, Contract Management