BCLP logo

Anna Blest

Anna Blest

Knowledge & Innovation Counsel

London

T: +44 (0) 20 3400 4475

VcardVcard
Download PDFDownload PDF
Print
Share

Biography

Anna is the Knowledge & Innovation Counsel for the Technology and Commercial Group. Her role is to support the team and its clients with technical legal knowledge, provide training and thought leadership and promote know-how across the practice area. Anna is also involved in the promotion of the knowledge of the group to existing and potential clients. Her advisory work covers the full range of work of the Group, including commercial contracts, information technology, intellectual property, data protection and outsourcing. She is part of the firm’s Retail & Consumer Products group and also advises on complex consumer law issues, including e-commerce regulations.

Anna is a contributing author to Financial Regulation: Emerging Themes in 2022 – an extensive collection of articles around the themes of Brexit; Regulatory Change; Regulatory and Litigation Risk; Technology; Governance; and Sustainability and People. Anna also authors the Global preface and UK chapter of Lexology’s Getting the Deal Through publication on cloud computing. She also contributes to the tendering and procurement section of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors isurv website.

Emerging Themes 2025

Emerging Themes 2025

Creating Connections

2025 marks the 15th edition of Emerging Themes in Financial Regulation & Disputes. This year, our overarching theme is Creating Connections, examining three main pillars: Technology, Transparency, and Trust.

Find out more Find out more

Admissions

  • England and Wales

Related Capabilities

  • Copyrights

  • Food & Beverage

  • Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets

  • General Data Protection Regulation

  • Carve-outs & Transitions

  • Marketing & Advertising

  • Intellectual Property & Technology Disputes

  • Outsourcing

  • Retail & Consumer Products

  • Sports, Media & Entertainment

  • Data Privacy & Security

  • Commercial Transactions

  • Technology Transactions

  • Corporate

  • Investigations

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

  • Healthcare & Life Sciences

  • Contract, Endorsement & Celebrity Representation

  • Sports & Event Venue Real Estate Infrastructure & Operation

  • Naming Rights & Sponsorship

  • Sports & Entertainment M&A

  • Entertainment Industry

  • Sports & Event Financing

  • Olympic & National Governing Bodies

  • Professional Sports Team Representation

  • Digital Transformation & Emerging Technology

Resources

Publications

Anna is a contributing author to the tendering and procurement section of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors isurv website

Related Insights

View All Related InsightsIcon: arrow

Insights
Jun 04, 2026

Cyber Litigation in Financial Services: managing the evolving risk

Cyber incidents are increasingly giving rise to complex, long‑tail litigation risk, particularly for financial services firms. As regulators place growing emphasis on operational resilience, outsourcing governance and accountability, the same regulatory findings may be repurposed to support civil follow‑on claims long after incidents occur. Regulatory investigations are taking longer to conclude and, alongside damages claims, courts are showing an increased willingness to grant urgent injunctive relief to prevent data misuse. As a result, firms should approach cyber preparedness not only as a regulatory or operational issue, but as a litigation risk mitigation exercise – aligning regulatory engagement, disclosure decisions and contractual liability planning from the outset. This article is the second in our three‑part Emerging Themes in Financial Regulation & Disputes 2026 series and follows our earlier analysis of cyber resilience and the 2026 regulatory shift. It examines the evolving litigation and regulatory landscape shaping cyber and operational resilience expectations for the year ahead and identifies practical priorities for financial services firms seeking to respond proactively. Our accompanying articles consider (i) cyber resilience and the 2026 regulatory shift; and (ii) operational resilience and the growing influence of critical third‑party designations.
Insights
Apr 30, 2026

Law Commission Announces Major New Project on Consumer Class Actions Regime

On 20 April 2026, the Law Commission of England and Wales announced a major new project on the introduction of a collective class action regime for consumer actions. The review will explore how a new regime could be designed, and the benefits and risks associated with a consumer class actions regime.  The review follows significant changes made to the consumer protection landscape with the entry into force of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2004 (“DMCCA”) last year (which  granted the CMA the power to directly enforce consumer protection law (without needing to go to court),  issue infringement notices, impose fines of up to 10% of annual global turnover, order consumer redress and issue other directions. The proposal to permit collective consumer actions is the latest in a series of steps targeted at bolstering the consumer law enforcement regime.  As the CMA ratchets up its enforcement activity in the areas of drip pricing and fake reviews (discussed in our recent briefings here: CMA Imposes First Financial Penalty Under New Consumer Powers in Drip Pricing Crackdown; CMA Steps Up Enforcement on Fake and Misleading Reviews: What Businesses Need to Know), it is worth considering how rights to bring collective consumer actions will change the UK’s consumer protection landscape.  The Law Commission has invited views on the project, providing a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to influence the scope and shape of any regime ultimately put in place.
Insights
04/29/2026

From Tables to Term Sheets

Insights
Apr 17, 2026

Construction products reform

In this BCLP Insight, first published in PLC Construction, Katharine Tulloch and Anna Blest consider the government's proposed reforms of the construction products regime.
Insights
Apr 07, 2026

Cyber Resilience in Financial Services: Navigating Rising Risks and the 2026 Regulatory Shift

UK regulators have not yet fully exercised the breadth of their powers to address shortcomings in organisational cyber‑security measures—but that restraint is unlikely to continue. The policy statements published on 18 March 2026 by the FCA, PRA and Bank of England, introducing a new single regime for operational incident and third‑party reporting, signal the direction of travel. The framework—under which firms must report serious cyber and operational incidents through a unified portal and provide structured information on their critical third party (CTP) dependencies—reflects the UK regulators’ sharpened focus on digital risk, system resilience, and their recognition of the vulnerabilities inherent in  complex technological supply chains. This shift sits alongside the UK government’s broader agenda. As the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (NIS Bill) progresses and HM Treasury (HMT) prepares to designate major technology providers as CTPs using its FSMA powers, firms can expect a step‑change in supervisory expectations. Cyber‑security, data protection and operational resilience disciplines must now operate as a single, evidence‑based ecosystem capable of withstanding assertive regulatory challenge. The coming year will require firms not only to demonstrate alignment on paper, but to evidence—consistently and credibly—that controls work in practice. This article is the first in our three part Emerging Themes in Financial Regulation & Disputes 2026 series. We examine the evolving regulatory and risk landscape shaping cyber and operational resilience expectations for the year ahead—and set out practical priorities for financial services firms seeking to respond proactively. Our accompanying articles will examine (i) the evolving cyber litigation risks facing financial services firms and (ii) operational resilience and the growing influence of CTP designations.

Related Insights

Insights
Jun 04, 2026
Cyber Litigation in Financial Services: managing the evolving risk
Cyber incidents are increasingly giving rise to complex, long‑tail litigation risk, particularly for financial services firms. As regulators place growing emphasis on operational resilience, outsourcing governance and accountability, the same regulatory findings may be repurposed to support civil follow‑on claims long after incidents occur. Regulatory investigations are taking longer to conclude and, alongside damages claims, courts are showing an increased willingness to grant urgent injunctive relief to prevent data misuse. As a result, firms should approach cyber preparedness not only as a regulatory or operational issue, but as a litigation risk mitigation exercise – aligning regulatory engagement, disclosure decisions and contractual liability planning from the outset. This article is the second in our three‑part Emerging Themes in Financial Regulation & Disputes 2026 series and follows our earlier analysis of cyber resilience and the 2026 regulatory shift. It examines the evolving litigation and regulatory landscape shaping cyber and operational resilience expectations for the year ahead and identifies practical priorities for financial services firms seeking to respond proactively. Our accompanying articles consider (i) cyber resilience and the 2026 regulatory shift; and (ii) operational resilience and the growing influence of critical third‑party designations.
Insights
Apr 30, 2026
Law Commission Announces Major New Project on Consumer Class Actions Regime
On 20 April 2026, the Law Commission of England and Wales announced a major new project on the introduction of a collective class action regime for consumer actions. The review will explore how a new regime could be designed, and the benefits and risks associated with a consumer class actions regime.  The review follows significant changes made to the consumer protection landscape with the entry into force of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2004 (“DMCCA”) last year (which  granted the CMA the power to directly enforce consumer protection law (without needing to go to court),  issue infringement notices, impose fines of up to 10% of annual global turnover, order consumer redress and issue other directions. The proposal to permit collective consumer actions is the latest in a series of steps targeted at bolstering the consumer law enforcement regime.  As the CMA ratchets up its enforcement activity in the areas of drip pricing and fake reviews (discussed in our recent briefings here: CMA Imposes First Financial Penalty Under New Consumer Powers in Drip Pricing Crackdown; CMA Steps Up Enforcement on Fake and Misleading Reviews: What Businesses Need to Know), it is worth considering how rights to bring collective consumer actions will change the UK’s consumer protection landscape.  The Law Commission has invited views on the project, providing a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to influence the scope and shape of any regime ultimately put in place.
Insights
04/29/2026
From Tables to Term Sheets
Insights
Apr 21, 2026
CMA Imposes First Financial Penalty Under New Consumer Powers in Drip Pricing Crackdown
Insights
Apr 20, 2026
UK Government Targets Subscription Traps: What Businesses Need to Know
Insights
Apr 17, 2026
Construction products reform
In this BCLP Insight, first published in PLC Construction, Katharine Tulloch and Anna Blest consider the government's proposed reforms of the construction products regime.
Insights
Apr 07, 2026
Cyber Resilience in Financial Services: Navigating Rising Risks and the 2026 Regulatory Shift
UK regulators have not yet fully exercised the breadth of their powers to address shortcomings in organisational cyber‑security measures—but that restraint is unlikely to continue. The policy statements published on 18 March 2026 by the FCA, PRA and Bank of England, introducing a new single regime for operational incident and third‑party reporting, signal the direction of travel. The framework—under which firms must report serious cyber and operational incidents through a unified portal and provide structured information on their critical third party (CTP) dependencies—reflects the UK regulators’ sharpened focus on digital risk, system resilience, and their recognition of the vulnerabilities inherent in  complex technological supply chains. This shift sits alongside the UK government’s broader agenda. As the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (NIS Bill) progresses and HM Treasury (HMT) prepares to designate major technology providers as CTPs using its FSMA powers, firms can expect a step‑change in supervisory expectations. Cyber‑security, data protection and operational resilience disciplines must now operate as a single, evidence‑based ecosystem capable of withstanding assertive regulatory challenge. The coming year will require firms not only to demonstrate alignment on paper, but to evidence—consistently and credibly—that controls work in practice. This article is the first in our three part Emerging Themes in Financial Regulation & Disputes 2026 series. We examine the evolving regulatory and risk landscape shaping cyber and operational resilience expectations for the year ahead—and set out practical priorities for financial services firms seeking to respond proactively. Our accompanying articles will examine (i) the evolving cyber litigation risks facing financial services firms and (ii) operational resilience and the growing influence of CTP designations.
Insights
Mar 30, 2026
CMA Steps Up Enforcement on Fake and Misleading Reviews: What Businesses Need to Know
Insights
Mar 26, 2026
The EU’s New Green Claims Regime: How Does This Affect How You Talk About Your Environmental Credentials?