Technology

Our technology lawyers expertly structure and negotiate affiliate agreements, advising on digital partnerships and innovative tripartite affiliate models to support seamless online commerce and monetisation strategies.  

• Worked with a global travel publisher to implement affiliate deals and partnerships across their premium website content.   
• Agreed tripartite digital affiliate deals between the major UK supermarkets and BBCgoodfood.com and to enable seamless online grocery shopping, licensing a technology platform developed by a third party.   
• Advised on digital partnerships and affiliate deals.  
• Negotiated IP spin-outs and cross-licensing arrangements and associated advice for a global SaaS community and events platform.  

We advise extensively on confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, from negotiating complex nondisclosure and information use rights to preparing NDAs within commercial, data driven, and multiparty technology projects. Our expertise spans confidentiality frameworks, template NDAs, and dispute sensitive information sharing arrangements.

• Advised an advanced paper coating technology client on the protection of trade secrets and confidential information in relation to material transfer arrangements with dozens of counterparties on multiple continents, as well as manufacturing and development agreements and Horizon Project participation.  
• Advised clients including sole inventors, SMEs and academic institutions on the ownership and protection of intellectual property rights and confidential information in research and development projects.   
• Advised a platform provider on a serious data breach involving information that was highly confidential to one of the world’s largest and wealthiest companies.  
• Obtained an emergency injunction to restrain a software release for breach of confidential information, High Court to Court of Appeal in one day, resulting in the law on equitable relief on foreign claims changing. Titus v Bolden James [2011] EWCA Civ 993.  

With experts able to advise on all aspects of cybersecurity, we support clients through catastrophic data breaches, ransomware incidents, and major regulatory investigations. We develop robust cybersecurity and data governance policies, guide incident remediation, and provide strategic risk management advice across fintech, SaaS, and infrastructure environments. 

• Developed cybersecurity and data-governance policies for SaaS, fintech, and infrastructure businesses.  
• Acted for a client in relation to a data breach by a former staff member and a subsequent regulatory investigation.  
• Created a new set of customer contracts for an award-winning provider of cyber security services. These contracts needed to be flexible enough to deal with constantly evolving system functionality and regular changes to the business model, whilst addressing the risks of cyber security liabilities being passed to the provider and also minimising contracting friction.  
• Advised a provider of cyber security services on its key contractual matters, including updates to its template terms to strengthen the client’s contracting position, negotiating amendments to the terms, and drafting a reseller agreement to enable a third party to resell the client’s products in an offshore jurisdiction.  
• Advised a platform provider on a serious data breach involving information that was highly confidential to one of the world’s largest and wealthiest companies.  
• Created and maintained a set of data protection-related templates, including privacy policies, data processing agreements, data sharing agreements, data protection policies, data retention policies and data breach response policies.   

We handle complex disputes across commercial, IP and technology sectors, advising on high-value litigation, cross-border enforcement, software project failures, and prelitigation conflicts. Our dispute resolution expertise spans mediations, regulatory investigations, and major court proceedings in the UK, US, and EU. 

• Advised a technology company in respect of its alleged failure to deliver a technology project. The case culminated in a successful mediation.  
• Acting as counsel and supervising lawyer in Throughputer v Microsoft, the 2025 English High Court case (linked to a US action) concerning  patent validity and infringement relating to hardware and software use by Microsoft concerning field programmable gate array (“FPGA”) technology in its Azure project.  
• Advised a US company in relation to alleged underpayment of royalties/licensing fees/pre-litigation.   
• Lead English law Advisor for US Federal Court trial for breach of clickwrap license/copyright infringement in the software space including appeals and working with leading US supreme court advocates on petition to US Supreme Court.  
• Advised on the data protection, defamation and data protection aspects of the acquisition of a market intelligence service.  
• Arbitration of a software licence for financial services use and copyright claims.  
• Co-lead advisor for World Programming Limited in high-profile, ground-breaking proceedings against SAS Institute Inc. both in England and in the US. The underlying proceedings led to the leading English judgment on the scope of copyright protection of software and included a reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The proceedings have also resulted in a significant judgment concerning conflict of laws and the enforceability of US judgments in England.   

Our technology lawyers advise on all forms of escrow arrangements, from software and source code escrow to wider operational resilience frameworks. Their experience includes developing escrow structures within major technology contracts and advising on source code escrow arrangements for software, data and hosting environments. 

• Advised on escrow, disaster recovery, service continuity and operational-resilience frameworks.  
• Provided creative escrow solutions for source code access.   
• Advised on source code escrow arrangements, disaster recovery and business continuity agreements.

With expertise in drafting and negotiating early-stage contracting documents, including heads of terms and memorandums of understanding, we help clients structure commercial relationships clearly from the outset and manage risk before entering full-form agreements.  

• Advised Canonical, an open-source-based, high-growth software business, on its early-stage legal needs which involved placing secondees into the business, developing its first round of template contracts, working with other specialists on developing its IP strategy, which differed because it develops and distributes open-source software, and helping it recruit in-house lawyers.  
• Advised Harbr, an enterprise data exchange business, on its early-stage legal needs which involved developing template contracts for its Secure SaaS data exchange product, working with product and sales to develop a sales execution model and providing advice on contracts, IP and data.

Advising on the full spectrum of IT agreements, from telecommunications and IT outsourcing to datacenter services, IT support, software development, hosting and maintenance, our technology team is experienced in complex technology, managed-services and infrastructure contracts across highly regulated and mission-critical environments. 

• Advised Seeburger on various IT outsourcing projects.  
• Advised British Telecom on its six-year £170 million network management services agreement with Redstone Telecom, and on its £40 million contact centre outsourcing arrangements across Europe with ClientLogic.  
• Advised on the implementation of SaaS system for Shawbrook Bank.  
• Advising on app platform requirements, including for digital magazines, games and news apps, and free, freemium and paid apps.  
• Advised an international security technology company on the terms of a significant technology co-operation transaction in EMEA.  
• Advised a SAAS business operating in the ticketed events industry on regulatory compliance including guidance on the application of FCA rules, Payment Services Regulations, and Electronic Money Regulations.  
• Acting for Decibel Insight on the SaaS licensing of its web optimisation software.

Our corporate lawyers have years of experience advising on complex mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, supporting corporate reorganisations, investment agreements, and strategic co-development partnerships. We have advised on major cross-border joint ventures, significant technology-driven M&A transactions, and buy-and-build growth strategies for high-growth tech businesses. 

• Advised Hassle.com and Network Locum on their business acquisitions as part of their buy-and-build corporate finance strategy.  
• Advised Dassault Systèmes (French corporate) on its UK acquisitions, including Safe Technology.   
• Advised on a multi-million-dollar global joint venture between Intersection and Primesight in relation to the InLinkUK infrastructure project, which spanned over two years.   
• Advised Tesco on the corporate aspects of its joint venture renegotiations with O2.   
• Acted for Media 10 on its global M&A and tech investments.  
• Acted for Science Angel Syndicate on its UK tech investments.  

We prepare clear, compliant privacy policies tailored to business models, data flows, and regulatory requirements. Our expertise helps organisations meet GDPR-level standards while building user trust and operational resilience. 

• Advised Stint on early-stage regulatory and product advice, developing customer and student-facing app terms/privacy notices.   
• Advised on big data/innovation aspects of online business (rights and licensing, data analytics, data exchanges, machine learning, AI).  
• Advised a bespoke healthcare provider on supplier contracts, international data transfers, and broader data protection.  
• Provided data protection advice to Tessian, a highly rated and fast-growing provider of online security solutions.  
• Advised on all aspects of an internal data privacy audit of the European subsidiaries of a US-headquartered training services company including implementation of necessary remediation.  
• Advised international publishers and industry bodies on GDPR compliance.  
• Set up the GDPR compliance structure at several EU and US companies in the life science sector.  
• Advised on GDPR compliance programs for software companies.  

Our technology team advises on software and hardware development agreements, from initial scoping through to delivery, licensing, and ongoing support. We help clients manage IP ownership, milestones, payment models, testing obligations and supplier risks, ensuring development projects are contractually robust, commercially aligned, and future-proof. 

• Advised software developer Codegen on agile software development contracts.  
• Advised start-ups and software developers on data protection and IP issues including AI development.   
• Dealt with a start-up medical diagnosis company on a software development agreement to provide a SaaS platform for medical diagnosis.  
• Drafted and negotiated a software development agreement for an online wills provider with a third-party software developer, to ensure appropriate ownership and control of the IP rights in the software developed, including access to the source code.   
• Supported an autonomous vehicle software developer on implementation of governance and compliance programme review and update.   
• Assisted negotiation of development and collaboration agreements between an autonomous vehicle software developer and autonomous vehicle hardware manufacturers and suppliers.  

Our team of experts advises on software licences, helping clients navigate rights ownership, usage terms and compliance, and drafting and negotiating licensing agreements, managing risks around IP, data and opensource components, and ensuring contracts align with commercial goals while protecting businesses from legal, technical, and operational exposure. 

• Negotiated an ERP software licensing and services agreement for a national agricultural machinery company.   
• Advised on the launch of innovative online financial services, including Zopa and Prodigy Finance, covering regulatory filings, service terms, software/data licensing, application processes, customer service, supplier contracts.   
• Designed purchase and licence terms for IT hardware and software including negotiations with BT, Microsoft, Ingenico, Parkeon and BT. Provided creative escrow solutions for source code access.   
• Lead adviser to a major insurance software vendor on licensing, SaaS, APIs, and managed services.  
• Negotiated an ERP software licensing and services agreement for a national agricultural machinery company.  

Guiding clients through complex regulatory frameworks, licensing requirements, and network service agreements, we negotiate contracts with providers, manage compliance with sector-specific rules, address data, privacy and security obligations, and help businesses structure robust, future-proof telecoms arrangements that support reliable connectivity and commercial growth. 

• Advised a satellite operating company on a series of contracts for the procurement and operation of a telecommunications satellite.   
• Key legal advisor to Vodafone on its negotiations with Apple, Nokia, Samsung, and the other key mobile handset providers.  
• Advised an international car parts manufacturer on the terms of a major technology licensing transaction.  
• Advised Telenor on the development and implementation of a mobile-based healthcare solution for use in southeast Asia.  
• Advised a national energy infrastructure company on a number of procurement and services agreements for telecommunications services.  
• Drafted the satellite launch services agreements for the first UK launch operator.  
• Advised top 3 high-street banks in respect of data centre agreements and offsite storage capacity agreements.  
• Advised on commercialisation of patented vertical windturbine technology with a major telecoms operator.  
• Counselled a multinational hardware and services provider on NIS2 classification and notification obligations across the EU.  
• Acted on various content acquisition and licensing deals for Satellite Information Services Limited.  

We advise on terms of business to help organisations create clear, enforceable contractual frameworks. We draft and negotiate terms covering responsibilities, liabilities, pricing and service standards, ensure compliance with consumer and commercial laws, and protect businesses by reducing ambiguity, managing risk and supporting smooth, legally robust trading relationships. 

• Worked with project leads to launch a new mobile phone product including creating terms and conditions and assessing legal risks.  
• Advised a startup telecoms company on its standard terms of business for consumers and business customers.  
• Advised on distance selling and E-Commerce Regulations.  
• Advised Stint on early-stage regulatory and product advice, developing customer and student-facing app terms/privacy notices.   
• Advised on the launch of innovative online financial services, including Zopa and Prodigy Finance, covering regulatory filings, service terms, software/data licensing, application processes, customer service, supplier contracts.   
• Advised notonthehighstreet.com on its B2C terms and liability for supplier default. 

Our technology lawyers help studios and publishers navigate IP rights, licensing, and content creation. They negotiate development and publishing contracts, address data, privacy and online safety obligations, manage user-generated content risks, and ensure compliance across global platforms, enabling games to launch and scale securely and commercially. 

• Advised on app platform requirements, including for digital magazines, games and news apps, and free, freemium and paid apps. 
• Advised on the development and publication of a host of major UK apps for the BBC, including smart TV apps, news, iPlayer and games apps.  

With extensive experience advising on website audits and reviewing online content, policies and user journeys for legal compliance, our lawyers assess data protection, ecommerce, accessibility and consumer-law risks, update terms and privacy notices, and help businesses identify and remedy issues to ensure their websites operate safely, transparently, and lawfully. 

• Advised a global e-commerce company on compliance with various requirements under the UK Online Safety Act, including illegal content risk assessments and age-verification measures.  
• Advised on web publishing, including content creation, the incorporation of third-party tech, moderation of content, advertising and traffic-creation strategies.

Our team of experts lawyers advise on website hosting and development agreements, helping clients to structure clear, enforceable contracts covering build, performance, uptime, security, and intellectual property rights. They negotiate service levels, delivery milestones and risk allocation, ensuring websites are developed, hosted, and maintained reliably while protecting commercial, technical, and legal interests. 

• Advised on web publishing, including content creation, the incorporation of third-party tech, moderation of content, advertising and traffic-creation strategies.  
• Advised on privacy policies, online terms and conditions, and end-user licence agreements, acceptable use policies, website development and hosting agreements, and white label agreements.   
• Advised on contracts for web, ecommerce and app related services – design and development agreements, hosting and maintenance agreements, support services agreements, digital marketing services agreements.   

We ensure that businesses have clear, enforceable rules governing user behaviour, content use, data handling, and liability by drafting tailored terms, aligning them with consumer and privacy laws, and helping organisations manage risk while maintaining transparent, compliant online operations. 

• Advised on privacy policies, online terms and conditions, and end-user licence agreements, acceptable use policies, website development and hosting agreements, and white label agreements.  
• Advised on website/app service terms and e-retailer terms.  
• Advised on web publishing, including content creation, the incorporation of third-party tech, moderation of content, advertising and traffic-creation strategies.  
• Advised on privacy, data protection: advising on privacy and personal data aspects of online businesses, including data mapping, policies, security, international transfer, notices, processing agreements, training, and breach/crisis management.