Global digital transformation and cyber security experts launch first-of-its-kind business

Introducing CyXcel, a digital transformation and cyber security consulting business grounded in the law, which uniquely fuses crises, legal, technical, and consulting expertise across computer systems, digital networks, information and operational technology, data privacy and e-crime — all under one roof.  

Powered by law firm Weightmans and headed by a leading and deeply experienced team of experts in digital transformation, risk consulting, cyber security, national and international law, CyXcel boasts a range of top-flight hires from big four consulting firms (PwC and KPMG), service integrators (Accenture), leading cyber insurers (Marsh and AON), UK and US governments, including the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

Edward Lewis (Weightmans), Sachin Bhatt (formerly of the NCSC and MoD), Rob Floodeen (formerly of Dell Secureworks and PwC) and Jano Bermudes (formerly of KPMG, PwC and Marsh McLennan) have a collective 80 years of experience advising blue chip firms and major public sector organisations on building digital resilience, honing cutting edge cyber defenses and providing counsel in times of crisis.

CyXcel’s offer of deep technical cyber expertise, forensics and intelligence — combined with the backing of a regulated law firm — is unique in the UK.

Edward Lewis, CyXcel’s founder and partner at Weightmans LLP, said:

“With the internet, computers, and technology now dominating so much of what happens in our lives, cyber has become simultaneously one of the greatest opportunities and risks of modern times. For organisations of all shapes and sizes, transforming at pace to avoid digital disruption and obsolescence is a real need but also a major challenge — when supported and underpinned by leading security assurance and timely advice, this transformation becomes an immensely  powerful asset, an opportunity to change and strengthen culture, drive performance, and run faster than the competition. That is the single purpose for which we’ve created CyXcel — to help our customers realise the possibility of their full digital potential while overcoming the many dangers they will inevitably encounter along the way.

“Put simply, CyXcel changes everything.  Our native integration of legal, cyber, and consulting solutions redefines and simplifies access to essential support for organisations seeking protection, growth, and success in the digital landscape.

“Organisations need to be able to both resist and recover from potential cyber events quickly. Our collaborative, one-stop-shop approach has the agility of a start-up and the scale of an established law firm, meaning we are the perfect partner for organisations of all sizes and sectors to do exactly that.”

The CyXcel team, expected to number 30 by the end of this year, has already worked on some of the biggest security incidents and data breaches to hit the public and private sectors in the last 12 months.

Jano said: “Critical reliance on technology and complex digital supply chains increases every day while huge profits from the proceeds of crime continue to fuel a pandemic of ever-evolving cyber attacks, so it’s only right that our response is equally strong and innovative. The well-established silos of breach coach, proactive and reactive services in the market have stifled innovation.  A native combination of cyber and legal expertise, coupled with crises, risk, insurance and management consulting capabilities, grounded in legal privilege, makes CyXcel different and a welcome breath of fresh air.

“This is the answer that so many businesses have been looking for.  Expert advice, understanding and able to interpret the law and myriad of regulations into executable actions, coupled with the capability to exact change at pace, aligned to organisational pressures.  It is this that I have long suspected is the key to shoring up the cyber defences of UK plc. The rapid advancement of digital capability is a powerful enabler, and CyXcel offers pioneering advice and vital security for firms looking to harness the power of new and emerging technologies like AI, cloud and consumerisation in a safe, informed way.”