“Not every attack is visible and not every war is declared.”

In recent decades, conflict has moved beyond physical borders into the digital realm. Cyber operations now have the power to disrupt critical infrastructure, manipulate information, and cause real-world harm without a single shot being fired.

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we are joined by Dr. Elizabeth Hofberger-Pippan, who brings expert insight into how international law is adapting to this evolving landscape. From the “scale and effects” test in cyber warfare to the legal challenges of attribution, we unpack how states respond to threats that are often invisible and difficult to trace.

We also explore the rise of information warfare, where disinformation and digital influence campaigns blur the line between peace and conflict.

As the battlefield becomes increasingly intangible, the question remains: can law keep pace with a war that is fought in code rather than combat?

“Screens are the hardest part of modern parenting, but who’s really in control?”

Whether it’s calming a tantrum, filling a childcare gap, or supporting learning, screens have become an essential and often unavoidable part of childhood. But as devices take on the role of a “third caregiver,” deeper questions begin to emerge about attention, behaviour, and what it means to grow up constantly connected.

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, produced by qLegal for the TMT Institute, we are joined by Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, a global expert in digital parenting and children’s online safety. Drawing on her work advising governments, tech companies, parents, and schools worldwide, she brings a nuanced perspective to the challenges of raising children in an increasingly digital world.

Together, we explore what it really means to be an “iPad kid,” whether technology is shaping children more than parents are, and why families have become so reliant on screens in the first place. We also examine the role of persuasive design, the realities behind “digital natives,” and the growing concerns around children’s data, profiling, and online safety.

As digital devices become embedded in everyday parenting, we ask a fundamental question: how do we strike the right balance between convenience and control and what role can law and regulation but more importantly we play in protecting the next generation?

The show must go on… but only if the contracts allow it.  

Ever wondered what keeps a West End production running smoothly behind the scenes? In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore the fascinating intersection of creativity, law, and commerce with theatre lawyer Stephen Pidcock. From copyright and licensing to contracts, royalties, and union agreements, we uncover the legal frameworks that quietly shape every production. Stephen shares insights on commercial vs. subsidized theatre, how financial considerations influence creative decisions, the complexities of digital and live-streamed performances, and what happens when productions cross borders from London to Broadway. Whether you’re a theatre enthusiast, a creative professional, or curious about the legal side of the arts, this episode offers a fascinating look behind the curtain of the West End.

"Critics argue that the UK is ‘sleepwalking into a surveillance society’ where more information is collected than what the British society would normally feel comfortable with"

In a world where we already carry our bank cards and travel tickets on our phones, carrying a national digital ID is touted as being the ‘boarding pass to getting on in life’. This is the promise of a national digital ID: a tool stored on your smartphone, allowing you to prove your identity instantly.  

The UK government has set out its idea for how this could work. It wouldn’t be compulsory, but the goal is to make everyday processes smoother, cutting down on what the government sees as unnecessary paperwork and giving people a more control over their own information.

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, produced by qLegal for the TMT Institute, we are joined by Bryn Robinson Morgan, who has spent more than 20 years at the forefront of digital transformation and has experience designing digital identity systems for major organisations such as Mastercard and HSBC. He also advised the UK government on digital identity and privacy.  

In this episode, we explore a simple but important question: what is a national ID? From its basic purpose to how it works in practice, we break down the role it plays in modern society and why governments are increasingly moving toward digital identity systems.

Does data protection really protect our data, or has it just given us endless cookie banners to click through?

Did you know that the data protection rules protecting your phone today actually have their roots in a 1978 French law? Long before the modern web, legislators already believed that technology should serve citizens and never violate human identity. Fast forward to today, and that spirit lives on in the General Data Protection Regulations, commonly known as the GDPR.

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, produced by qLegal for the TMT Institute, we explore the realities behind GDPR, moving beyond the legal text to examine how it operates in everyday digital interactions. We are joined by Professor Ian Walden, who’s an Of Counsel at Baker McKenzie, and has been a Professor of Information and Communications Law at the Centre for Commercial Law studies for over 30 years. We look at how GDPR functions from consent and transparency to enforcement challenges and organisational compliance. We also unpack the regulation’s strengths, limitations, and evolving role in a data-driven world.

“If our devices are always listening, how much are they really hearing, and who else might be listening too?”

In 2018, a smart speaker recorded a private conversation and sent it to a third party, no hacking, no warning. Incidents like this force us to confront whether our homes are purely private spaces. As voice-enabled devices become embedded into daily life, the line between convenience and privacy grows increasingly fragile.

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, produced by qLegal for the TMT Institute, we are joined by Nimet Karaca, Legal Counsel at Ocado Group and a qualified solicitor in England and Wales who has also practised law in Turkey. With this international legal background, Nimet brings a unique perspective and takes us behind the scenes of how smart-home devices are designed, how wake-word detection and cloud processing function and meaningful consent.

Together, we explore voice-enabled devices, the privacy implications for guests and bystanders, the limits of the household exemption under data protection law, and current regulations.

As smart technology becomes ambient, invisible, and deeply integrated into domestic life, we ask a fundamental question: Are we trading privacy for convenience more than we realise?

There is growing uncertainty around what studying in the UK really offers international students today. With visa rules tightening, costs rising, and political rhetoric becoming increasingly hostile, many students are left questioning their future long-term after graduating from U.K. institutions.

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore why student visas have become such a charged issue in the UK. Joined by Dr Mihnea Cuibus from the Oxford Migration Observatory, we look beyond the headlines to understand what the data actually tells us about student migration. Our conversation covers post-Brexit visa reforms, cross-party support for restricting student numbers, the lasting impact of the pandemic, and why international students so often find themselves at the centre of the public and media debate.

‘There’s a historic perception that people who buy the lower price dupe were never going to buy the branded product anyway’ 

Whether you’re chronically online or a staunch high street shopper, you are bound to have encountered a dupe. They have become an unavoidable aspect of shopping, with many consumers being actively praised for finding them. Navigating them in the context of intellectual property law has proven to be challenging, with the rise of social media accelerating the need for it to keep up.  

In this episode, which was produced by qLegal for the TMT institute, we are joined by Deniz Toker, a Trademark Associate, and Kerri Ann Hazzard, a Senior Trademark Attorney, both at Baker McKenzie. In our conversation, Toker and Hazzard discuss how dupe culture emerged, social media’s influence on dupe culture, changing consumer behaviour and psychology, and what IP avenues brands can use to take action against dupes.  

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore the legal and social implications of 5G and edge computing - two technologies reshaping how we connect and communicate. From intellectual property battles over FRAND licensing to complex questions of data ownership in edge environments, our discussion highlights the challenges at the intersection of law, technology, and society. We also examine pressing issues of regulation, cybersecurity, and global rollout, including lessons from past controversies like the Huawei ban. Join us as we connect the dots between innovation and responsibility in the rapidly evolving world of 5G and beyond. 

In this episode of Yours Lawfully, we explore how the telecom industry is navigating the growing demand for sustainability in a fast-changing regulatory environment. With guest Jackie Esono, Regulatory Advisor at Wiggin, we discuss the policies and directives driving energy efficiency, renewable adoption, and Environmental, Social, Governance transparency. From compliance with frameworks like the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive to the risks of greenwashing and non-compliance, we unpack the legal pressures shaping telecom’s future. Join us as we examine how regulation, accountability, and innovation intersect to build a greener, more responsible telecom industry.